Judith Graham | (TNS) KFF Health News Carolyn Dickens, 76, was sitting at her dining room table, struggling to catch her breath as her physician looked on with concern. “What’s going on with your breathing?” asked Peter Gliatto, director of Mount Sinai’s Visiting Doctors Program. “I don’t know,” she answered, so softly it was hard to hear. “Going from here to the bathroom or the door, I get really winded. I don’t know when it’s going to be my last breath.” Dickens, a lung cancer survivor, lives in central Harlem, barely getting by. She has serious lung disease and high blood pressure and suffers regular fainting spells. In the past year, she’s fallen several times and dropped to 85 pounds, a dangerously low weight. And she lives alone, without any help — a highly perilous situation. This is almost surely an undercount, since the data is from more than a dozen years ago. It’s a population whose numbers far exceed those living in nursing homes — about 1.2 million — and yet it receives much less attention from policymakers, legislators, and academics who study aging. Consider some eye-opening statistics about completely homebound seniors from a study published in 2020 in JAMA Internal Medicine : Nearly 40% have five or more chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease. Almost 30% are believed to have “probable dementia.” Seventy-seven percent have difficulty with at least one daily task such as bathing or dressing. Almost 40% live by themselves. That “on my own” status magnifies these individuals’ already considerable vulnerability, something that became acutely obvious during the covid-19 outbreak, when the number of sick and disabled seniors confined to their homes doubled. “People who are homebound, like other individuals who are seriously ill, rely on other people for so much,” said Katherine Ornstein, director of the Center for Equity in Aging at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. “If they don’t have someone there with them, they’re at risk of not having food, not having access to health care, not living in a safe environment.” Related Articles Health | Weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy are all the rage. Are they safe for kids? Health | Rural governments often fail to communicate with residents who aren’t proficient in English Health | Some breast cancer patients can avoid certain surgeries, studies suggest Health | Who gets obesity drugs covered by insurance? In North Carolina, it helps if you’re on Medicaid Health | How the FDA allows companies to add secret ingredients to our food Research has shown that older homebound adults are less likely to receive regular primary care than other seniors. They’re also more likely to end up in the hospital with medical crises that might have been prevented if someone had been checking on them. To better understand the experiences of these seniors, I accompanied Gliatto on some home visits in New York City. Mount Sinai’s Visiting Doctors Program, established in 1995, is one of the oldest in the nation. Only 12% of older U.S. adults who rarely or never leave home have access to this kind of home-based primary care. Gliatto and his staff — seven part-time doctors, three nurse practitioners, two nurses, two social workers, and three administrative staffers — serve about 1,000 patients in Manhattan each year. These patients have complicated needs and require high levels of assistance. In recent years, Gliatto has had to cut staff as Mount Sinai has reduced its financial contribution to the program. It doesn’t turn a profit, because reimbursement for services is low and expenses are high. First, Gliatto stopped in to see Sandra Pettway, 79, who never married or had children and has lived by herself in a two-bedroom Harlem apartment for 30 years. Pettway has severe spinal problems and back pain, as well as Type 2 diabetes and depression. She has difficulty moving around and rarely leaves her apartment. “Since the pandemic, it’s been awfully lonely,” she told me. When I asked who checks in on her, Pettway mentioned her next-door neighbor. There’s no one else she sees regularly. Pettway told the doctor she was increasingly apprehensive about an upcoming spinal surgery. He reassured her that Medicare would cover in-home nursing care, aides, and physical therapy services. “Someone will be with you, at least for six weeks,” he said. Left unsaid: Afterward, she would be on her own. (The surgery in April went well, Gliatto reported later.) The doctor listened carefully as Pettway talked about her memory lapses. “I can remember when I was a year old, but I can’t remember 10 minutes ago,” she said. He told her that he thought she was managing well but that he would arrange testing if there was further evidence of cognitive decline. For now, he said, he’s not particularly worried about her ability to manage on her own. Several blocks away, Gliatto visited Dickens, who has lived in her one-bedroom Harlem apartment for 31 years. Dickens told me she hasn’t seen other people regularly since her sister, who used to help her out, had a stroke. Most of the neighbors she knew well have died. Her only other close relative is a niece in the Bronx whom she sees about once a month. Dickens worked with special-education students for decades in New York City’s public schools. Now she lives on a small pension and Social Security — too much to qualify for Medicaid. (Medicaid, the program for low-income people, will pay for aides in the home. Medicare, which covers people over age 65, does not.) Like Pettway, she has only a small fixed income, so she can’t afford in-home help. Every Friday, God’s Love We Deliver, an organization that prepares medically tailored meals for sick people, delivers a week’s worth of frozen breakfasts and dinners that Dickens reheats in the microwave. She almost never goes out. When she has energy, she tries to do a bit of cleaning. Without the ongoing attention from Gliatto, Dickens doesn’t know what she’d do. “Having to get up and go out, you know, putting on your clothes, it’s a task,” she said. “And I have the fear of falling.” The next day, Gliatto visited Marianne Gluck Morrison, 73, a former survey researcher for New York City’s personnel department, in her cluttered Greenwich Village apartment. Morrison, who doesn’t have any siblings or children, was widowed in 2010 and has lived alone since. Morrison said she’d been feeling dizzy over the past few weeks, and Gliatto gave her a basic neurological exam, asking her to follow his fingers with her eyes and touch her fingers to her nose. “I think your problem is with your ear, not your brain,” he told her, describing symptoms of vertigo. Because she had severe wounds on her feet related to Type 2 diabetes, Morrison had been getting home health care for several weeks through Medicare. But those services — help from aides, nurses, and physical therapists — were due to expire in two weeks. “I don’t know what I’ll do then, probably just spend a lot of time in bed,” Morrison told me. Among her other medical conditions: congestive heart failure, osteoarthritis, an irregular heartbeat, chronic kidney disease, and depression. Morrison hasn’t left her apartment since November 2023, when she returned home after a hospitalization and several months at a rehabilitation center. Climbing the three steps that lead up into her apartment building is simply too hard. “It’s hard to be by myself so much of the time. It’s lonely,” she told me. “I would love to have people see me in the house. But at this point, because of the clutter, I can’t do it.” When I asked Morrison who she feels she can count on, she listed Gliatto and a mental health therapist from Henry Street Settlement, a social services organization. She has one close friend she speaks with on the phone most nights. “The problem is I’ve lost eight to nine friends in the last 15 years,” she said, sighing heavily. “They’ve died or moved away.” Bruce Leff, director of the Center for Transformative Geriatric Research at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, is a leading advocate of home-based medical care. “It’s kind of amazing how people find ways to get by,” he said when I asked him about homebound older adults who live alone. “There’s a significant degree of frailty and vulnerability, but there is also substantial resilience.” With the rapid expansion of the aging population in the years ahead, Leff is convinced that more kinds of care will move into the home, everything from rehab services to palliative care to hospital-level services. “It will simply be impossible to build enough hospitals and health facilities to meet the demand from an aging population,” he said. But that will be challenging for homebound older adults who are on their own. Without on-site family caregivers, there may be no one around to help manage this home-based care. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggles, shouts while entering courthouse
Former AZ goalkeeper Marco Bizot shut out PSV Eindhoven as French underdogs Brest took a giant stride towards qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League in Brittany. Julien Le Cardinal scored the only goal of the game towards the end of the first half, while PSV twice struck the post through Ismael Saibari and Ricardo Pepi and had a penalty appeal denied by the video referee. Captain Luuk de Jong was visibly frustrated as he looked back on a disjointed performance that leaves the Eindhoven club on eight points, just above the cut-off line with two matches of the group stage to play. “It was very sloppy, we kept losing the ball and couldn’t get into our game,” he told Ziggo Sport. “We had the better chances but they scored from a free-kick and from then on we knew it was going to be difficult.” PSV had the better chances in the first half, with De Jong twice denied by Bizot at close range and firing a rebound into the side netting. Instead it was the home side who took the lead in the 43rd minute as Le Cardinal was first to react to Mama Baldé’s knock-down from a free-kick. Resilient Brest Brest’s well organised defence and constant pressing gave PSV constant headaches in the second half, assisted by the home side’s inability to keep possession. The French side had chances to extend their advantage as Kamory Doumbia fired a shot from long range over the crossbar, before Walter Benitez spread himself to stop Romain Castillo from turning in a cross on the edge of the six-yard box. Saibari was unlucky to see a curling shot from just outside the penalty area come back off the inside of the post with Bizot well beaten. The Brest keeper’s best save came in the 77th minute when he pushed the ball onto the post from Pepi’s shot. In between PSV looked to have been thrown a lifeline when referee José María Sánchez awarded a penalty for handball, only to reverse the decision after studying the video replay. PSV now face a crunch game in Belgrade against Red Star on January 21 before wrapping up their campaign at home to Liverpool, the only team to have won all six of their matches so far, on January 29.
South Korea's suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol authorised the military to fire their weapons if needed to enter parliament during his failed bid to impose martial law, according to a prosecutors' report seen by AFP on Saturday. The 10-page summary from former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun's prosecution indictment report, which was provided to the media, also says Yoon vowed on December 3 to declare martial law three times if necessary. Yoon, who was stripped of his duties by the National Assembly this month, is under investigation for his short-lived attempt to scrap civilian rule, which plunged the country into political turmoil and led to his impeachment. Yoon's lawyer Yoon Kab-keun dismissed the prosecutors' report, telling AFP it was "a one-sided account that neither corresponds to objective circumstances nor common sense". As lawmakers rushed to parliament on December 3 to vote down Yoon's martial law declaration, heavily armed troops stormed the building, scaling fences, smashing windows and landing by helicopter. According to the prosecution indictment report, Yoon told the chief of the capital defence command, Lee Jin-woo, that military forces could shoot if necessary to enter the National Assembly. "Have you still not got in? What are you doing? Break down the door and drag them out, even if it means shooting," Yoon told Lee, according to the report. Yoon also allegedly told the head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, General Kwak Jong-keun, to "quickly get inside" the National Assembly since the quorum for the martial law declaration to be lifted had not been met. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our
Sorority and two fraternity members face charges after student died at partySee the 4,800+ rejected designs for Illinois' new state flag
Article content Two Second Cup café locations at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital have been shut down after the franchise owner was filmed making Nazi references at a pro-Palestinian protest on Thursday. The CEO of Foodtastic, which owns the Second Cup coffee chain, confirmed the news in an interview with The Gazette on Sunday. The franchisee was recorded outside Concordia University giving the Nazi salute and appearing to tell pro-Israel counter-protesters: “The final solution is coming your way, the final solution. You know what the final solution is?” The phrase, infamous for its association with Nazi Germany’s plan to exterminate Jews, sparked immediate outrage on social media. Foodtastic CEO Peter Mammas said Sunday morning that the company acted swiftly to address the incident. “We found out at around two o’clock on Saturday afternoon,” Mammas said, adding that he was watching Gladiator II in the theatre with his kids at the time. Given the magnitude of the incident, he said, the company moved quickly to then review video evidence and speak to employees and people on the ground to verify the allegations. “The final solution is coming your way.” Today in Montreal, a masked extremist, supposedly on strike, violently threatens a Jewish bystander, using Nazi terminology, demonstrating their intent to import the intifada here and kill Jews. This public hate speech, inciting... pic.twitter.com/XyB1hT601Z “We actually talked to her as well. We basically said, ‘Listen, we cannot allow this to happen.’ We spoke to our lawyers, and we prepared a press release. We could not send out the press release for a few hours, until the lawyers actually sent her a termination letter,” Mammas explained. He said the franchisee did not explicitly confirm the allegations during their discussions but “didn’t deny it either.” The franchisee is now seeking legal counsel, Mammas added. The franchisee and her family members are listed as business owners in Quebec’s registry, with the business’s primary sector of activity listed as takeaway services and coffee counters. One of her family members was featured in Second Cup’s 2015 annual report. Attempts to reach the franchisee for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication. Second Cup first announced the termination of the franchisee via a social media statement on Saturday, emphasizing its “zero tolerance for hate speech” and its commitment to inclusion and community values. Official Statement pic.twitter.com/7gSUjcjAJZ Reflecting on the situation, Mammas said the company stands completely against this type of “violent and hateful” remarks. “Political views are up to individuals, but things like this? We can’t tolerate that.” The two affected Second Cup locations have since been closed, with Foodtastic planning to bring them under temporary corporate ownership. “We’re going to figure out a way to reopen the stores quickly,” Mammas said, adding that the roughly 12 employees at the locations will continue to be paid during the transition. Mammas said that the response to the company’s decision has been “overwhelmingly positive,” including support from franchisees of diverse backgrounds. However he added he had seen some negative responses online, including “silly” threats like breaking Second Cup windows. Carl Thériault, a spokesperson for the Jewish General Hospital, said in a statement Sunday that the hospital was made aware of the videos relating to one of its franchisee and “fully supports” Second Cup’s decision. “This video is related to a franchisee of Second Cup, one of the private tenants operating within the Jewish General Hospital. We fully support Second Cup’s decision to take swift and decisive action in this matter by shutting down the franchisee’s cafes and terminating their lease agreement,” Thériault said. He added: “Our CIUSSS is deeply committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and stands firmly against antisemitism and any other form of discrimination or hate speech.” The incident comes amid heightened tensions in Montreal following a series of protests. Thursday’s pro-Palestinian demonstration saw students march through downtown Montreal in protest of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they say their universities are complicit in. On Friday, a pro-Palestinian, anti-Nato protest escalated into violent clashes , with two vehicles set ablaze, windows smashed, and three arrests made. Montreal police said Sunday that further arrests may follow concerning Friday’s protest. In regards to the Nazi reference, police said no hate crime investigation is underway as “ we have not received any complaints yet.”Kochera's 34 lead Davidson over Eastern Michigan 86-64Suspect Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. —Benjamin B. Braun/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP ALTOONA, Pennsylvania — The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggled with deputies and shouted Tuesday while arriving for a court appearance in Pennsylvania, a day after he was arrested at a McDonald’s and charged with murder. Luigi Nicholas Mangione emerged from a patrol car, spun toward reporters and shouted something partly unintelligible referring to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people” while deputies pushed him inside. Prosecutors were beginning to take steps to bring Mangione back to New York to face a murder charge while new details emerged about his life and how he was captured. The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family was charged with murder hours after he was arrested in the Manhattan killing of Brian Thompson, who led the United States’ largest medical insurance company. At the brief hearing, defense lawyer Thomas Dickey informed the court that Mangione would not waive extradition to New York but instead wants a hearing on the issue. He has 14 days to challenge detention. Mangione, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion but was quieted by his lawyer. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of his hand-written notes and social media posts. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, according to police bulletin. Mangione remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors have obtained an arrest warrant, a step that could help expedite his extradition from Pennsylvania. Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania — about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City — after a McDonald’s customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said. Officers found him sitting at a back table, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint. He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether he’d been to New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake,” the complaint says. When he pulled his mask down at officers’ request, “we knew that was our guy,” rookie Officer Tyler Frye said. Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and beanie. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione also had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America.” A law enforcement official who wasn’t authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone,” the document said, according to the official. It also had a line that said, “I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Pennsylvania prosecutor Peter Weeks said in court that Mangione was found with a passport and $10,000 in cash, $2,000 of it in foreign currency. Mangione disputed the amount. Thompson, 50, was killed Wednesday as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. Police quickly came to see the shooting as a targeted attack by a gunman who appeared to wait for Thompson, came up behind him and fired a 9 mm pistol. Investigators have said “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on ammunition found near Thompson’s body. The words mimic “delay, deny, defend,” a phrase used to criticize the insurance industry. From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the shooter quickly fled fled the city, likely by bus. A grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist, Mangione is a cousin of a current Maryland state legislator. Valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, he went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland Del. Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. —AP
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I used this for the first time this spring using the planting chart/guide and it has worked out perfectly. I have had little to no weeds (I mean come on, you're gonna get some weeds). Planting per the Seed Square will for the most part choke out the weeds, while promoting growth for the plants. I even used this to plant growing plants and not just seeds. Just put the square on the ground used the stick to mark the spot and dug a hole where it was marked. Simple enough. Would highly recommend. Super easy!" — Jennifer Geisel Get it from Amazon for $29.95 . 16. And vegetable, fruit, and herb markers to help you *actually* keep track of what you planted where — each stick is individually sold and with over 40 options to choose from you should have no problem finding exactly what you need to keep your garden in check. WoodNSparks Co. is a small business based in Montana making wooden garden makers. Get it from WoodNSparks Co. on Etsy for $1.99 a stick. 17. A garden dibber to make planting bulbs, sowing seeds, and breaking up clumps of dirt easier than ever — every gardener should have one of these babies! Rockin K Creations Shop is a family-owned small business based Lemont, Illinois. Promising review: "Beautiful and very well made! They fit in my hand and are very comfortable to use. It looks amazing in my garden tote next to my other wooden tools!! Will purchase more as gifts!" — Kimberly B Get it from Rockin K Creations Shop on Etsy for $22.75 (available in three styles). 18. Pretty gardening gloves , so you can continue to get down 'n' dirty keeping your plants and yard looking fresh without ruining your manicure. My Little Belleville is a small business based in Salt Lake City, Utah that sells kitchenware, stationary and other home goods. Promising review: "Such a fun way to add more of a thrill into our gardening skills. One set was for my daughter and one for a friend who shares the green thumb phenomena. Adorable designs." — Barbara Get them from My Little Belleville on Etsy for $17.25 (available in seven styles). 19. Or a pair of breathable and absorbent bamboo gloves you can count on to keep your hands cool if 1. you're hard at work in the heat or 2. you're just a sweaty human (like myself) who the second they exert themselves in any way they are just too hot . They have a textured rubber coating on the palm and fingers that'll make grabbing things a cinch. Promising review: "Snug fit, and they preserve my dexterity. I feel very protected from wet soil and yard debris (probably not thorns — I haven't pushed it). I love these gloves for gardening and even for light construction, like sanding wood. Grip's really good and helps me get my hands dirty when I don't really feel like it. No need for a nail brush after gardening with these gloves." — Delayed Gratification Get it on Amazon for $8.99+ (available in five sizes). 20. A scent-free mosquito repellent to keep those lil' bloodsucking buggers at bay while you're trying to plant your daisies or pick your cherry tomatoes. This device uses scent-free repellent mats using naturally occurring repellents found in plants to rid of mosquitoes. Promising review: "This thing is amazing. No smell, No noise, no open flame to have to worry about and it keeps those "spawns from hell" we call mosquitoes away. As long as your not too far from the device of course. But this little guy has range and I highly recommend if you plan on doing some gardening or painting or any kind of hobby outside around mosquito season. A++" — Know One Get it from Amazon for $22.97 . 21. A soaker hose you can attach to the hose you already own to provide your bushes, plants, and trees with the shower they've always dreamt of (especially during those too-hot summer days). Promising review: "I bought a couple of different soaker hoses and this is the best by far. Unlike the rubbery ones that are heavier and more difficult to intertwine and stay where you place them within your plantings, these are easy to curve around, reposition, or remove . They have clamps to securely connect the hose at the hose ends which helps avoid leaks or breaks. By comparison, the other kind that has the texture of recycled tires, without clamps, leaked at the connection points and disconnected/failed resulting in separation of the hose from hose ends. Any leaking tends to negate the whole function of the soaker hose. In contrast, this style and brand provides a steady, consistent drip along the hose which is exactly what I want. So far, durability has been good and the hose will fold up nicely for storage during the winter months." — Gail Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in five sizes). 22. Knee pads you can count on to make the many hours you typically spend gardening on a Saturday morning a bit more comfortable — a must-have for anyone whose knees simply aren't what they used to be. Promising review: "These are the best knee pads I have ever used. They allow me to stay on my knees for an extended period of time without getting uncomfortable. I have worn them for 9-hour working days without any issues with fit, adjustment, or comfort. They have great cushioning and are very comfortable, but in my opinion what really makes them better than most other knee pads on the market is the fact that they have two adjustable straps with slip buckles instead of one of the straps being Velcro . — Shannon Huett Get them from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two styles). 23. An expandable garden hose to help you water your grass, the vegetables you planted and prayed will actually grow, and your flower bed without worrying about any kinks getting in the way. Promising review: "Have used this for about three weeks, watering flowers, grass and washing cars. Have used it almost every day in some way or another. It's very light, easy to maneuver, and doesn't kink. However, I think that's because I followed the directions on the box for how to unwind it for the first time. When I was first unraveling, it kinked in multiple places, so I had to carefully unravel and lay it out fully extended before I even hooked it up to the water source. Has been kink-free ever since." — Sean Cotter Get it from Amazon for $13.69+ (available in seven sizes). 24. An adjustable gardening bench complete with padding for your knees and handles on the sides to assist you in getting up from the crouched position you've likely been in for a *tad* too long while tending to your veggies. It can even be turned into a seat so you can take a true break! Promising reviews: "This is great for the garden. It keeps my knees out of the stickers, and the padding is very comfortable, it helps me get up and down — it is easy to maneuver around the garden and in between the rows. I haven't tried sitting on it, but I'm heavy, and it feels very sturdy under me. Pockets deep enough for tools and seed packets, easy to remove and wash if necessary." — Cpt Dragon "I bought this for my mother as she had knee surgery, and now she can sit on it while working in her flower and vegetable boxes. Definitely will purchase it again." — Johnnette Murray Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in three versions). 25. A plant supporter that'll give your tomato plants and bushes a bit more support so they can grow big and tall — since they're powder-coated in green they wont' ruin your garden's *~aesthetic~*. Promising review: "These plant supports each consist of two semi circles that fit together to encircle the plant. I have two snake plants that are getting taller and needed support. These plant stakes are working perfectly . They can easily be inserted into the soil to the desired height, and the green color obscures their appearance. My plants look prettier and stronger now that they are standing tall." — A.Consumer Get a pack of four from Amazon for $18.29 (also available in an eight-pack). 26. A pack of seeds that contain, basically, any kind of vegetable you'd want to grow in your garden — beets, cucumbers, cabbage, butternut squash, and more. You've got a biiiiiiig salad in your future. Each pack includes 1,300+ seeds consisting of zucchini, eggplant, beet, pumpkin, butternut squash, cabbage, bok choy, cauliflower, broccoli, rapini rabe, celery, cucumber, kohlrabi, radish, bell pepper, cayenne pepper, okra, Brussels sprout, beefsteak tomato, and cherry tomato. Organo Republic is a small business! Promising review : "I purchased it for my mother as a gift and I absolutely love the product. Huge variety and very affordable price! The package looks great and each seed bag is individually labeled along with a QR that takes you directly to all the information you need pertaining to that type of vegetables. Love it." — V. G Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (also available in a a variety of 15 and 25 veggie seeds). 27. A sturdy garden tool set so no matter what kind of planting plans you've got in your future, you'll be ready. The set includes a hand trowel, transplant trowel, and cultivator hand rake. Each tool has a nonslip ergonomic handle to make long hours of planting easier! Promising review: "Purchased these since several other brands/types that I've used over the years just bend when any pressure from digging is done. If you want something that can dig in regular soil rather than potting blend — these are for you." — Joe in MO Get it from Amazon for $20.80 (available in three colors). 28. Or a rather on-theme set of gardening tools including a trowel, cultivator, and pruning shear with the loveliest all-over floral print. Not only will they help you get the job done, but they'll help you look cute as a button while you do it! Promising review: "This is a very nice set of garden tool they are not cheaply made. Highly recommend will be buying another set." — Rickey Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in two styles). 29. Joyful Dirt concentrated plant food and fertilizer designed to be mixed into a watering vessel or sprinkled directly onto the soil to help plants grow bigger and faster. Added bonus? It's organic! Joyful Dirt is a small business based in Portland, Oregon making organic, all-purpose plant food since 2013. Promising review: "I never write reviews but had to share what a great find this was! I have routinely killed every living plant I've ever brought home. Joyful Dirt has completely changed that. All my plants look full and healthy with little to no effort on my part! I am so amazed that for teacher gifts this year, I am giving terrariums and will include a shaker of Joyful Dirt to go with each. If you have any trouble keeping plants alive, this is the solution." — KB13 Get a bottle from Amazon for $19.95 . 30. A pack of bamboo garden stakes available in an array of thickness levels that'll support your plants and veggies as they grow. Reach for the sky, babies! Promising review: "I over-planted with tomatoes this year in the garden, and with the way they were still growing, I splurged on the 6-foot stakes. Strong and sturdy, these fit the bill well. The thicknesses differ slightly within the bundles, too, which is perfect for using them with different plants/stages of growth, too, as the plants need more or less support. After using them for a season, they are also still very strong and have little if any signs of weakening in the bottom foot that I'd pushed into the ground, which means I will be able to get multiple years out of them, even though my soil isn't the best draining — one of the best garden investments I have made in a long time for sure! " — JJ Get a 25-pack from Amazon for $21.48 . 31. And The Complete Gardener's Guide by Simon Akeroyd — AKA the bible for plant parents. It explains how to sow, plant, and prune while also providing tips on selecting plants, protecting your plants, and designing your garden. Promising review: "I bought a new home in the woods and haven’t really gardened before. The previous owners already had a very impressive garden. Me being new to the scene, I wanted to learn as much as possible to keep up my garden beautiful, fresh, and healthy. This book has everything a first timer like myself could need. From plans, designs, sowing, pruning etc. I was also excited about the fruit and vegetable section, as I plan to grow my own. I definitely recommend the Complete Gardener’s Guide book. It just arrived today and I’ve been flipping through bunny earring pages all night. Excited to prune my rose bushes tomorrow after reading the section on them." — QueenJ Get it from Amazon for $16.61 . Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
CONWAY, Ark. (AP) — Elias Cato scored 23 points as Central Arkansas beat UNC Asheville 92-83 in double overtime on Sunday. Jordan Morris made two free throws with one second left for UNC Asheville (2-3) to force overtime tied at 71. Fletcher Abee's 3-pointer with 33 seconds left in the first overtime tied the game at 79 and led to the second extra period. Michael Evbagharu's layup gave Central Arkansas (2-4) the lead in the second OT and Cato followed with a 3-pointer as the Bears outscored the Bulldogs 21-12 to pull out the victory. Cato added nine rebounds for the Bears. Layne Taylor totaled 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals. Brayden Fagbemi pitched in with 19 points, seven assists and five steals. The Bulldogs (2-3) were led by Fletcher Abee, who recorded 27 points. UNC Asheville also got 17 points from Josh Banks. Toyaz Solomon finished with 15 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Lorenz scores 20, Wofford downs Kentucky Christian 100-55Smith & Nephew chief Deepak Nath in 'last chance saloon' By JESSICA CLARK Updated: 21:50 GMT, 28 December 2024 e-mail View comments Smith & Nephew's boss has been warned that he is in the 'last chance saloon' and must turn the company around. Activist investors have given Deepak Nath, the US-based chief executive of the medical equipment giant, two months to demonstrate improvements. Shareholders have run out of patience with the pace of his strategy, The Mail on Sunday understands. They will pressure Nath to resign in the New Year unless he proves that the FTSE 100 firm has made operational improvements by the time that the company's full-year results are announced in February. Smith & Nephew, founded in Hull in 1856, develops technology for surgeries such as repairing soft tissue injuries and degenerative joint conditions. It is chaired by Rupert Soames, 65, who is the former boss of outsourcer Serco and is Sir Winston Churchill's grandson. Borrowed time: Deepak Nath Smith & Nephew is made up of three divisions: sports medicine, wound management, and orthopaedics. Its sports medicine and wound management arms are both considered to be the second best in the world for those specialisms.However, investors have lobbied for a shake-up in the orthopaedics division. Shareholders also want the company to slash central costs and overhaul its troubled Chinese business. Shares in the company are down nearly 7 per cent this year and have tumbled 42 per cent in the past five years. Overall profit margins are around 17 per cent – much lower than at its competitors, which include Johnson & Johnson and Stryker. The company's largest shareholder is asset manager BlackRock with 5 per cent, while activist hedge funds Cevian Capital and Harris Associates are also top-ten holders. Cevian has not made its intentions for Smith & Nephew public, but under founder Christer Gardell, it has developed a fearsome reputation. The hedge fund is best known for its role in trying to split up German steel giant ThyssenKrupp back in 2018. Ulrich Lehner, ThyssenKrupp chairman at the time, accused the activist investors involved of 'psycho-terror' tactics to force the resignation of several senior executives. Dan Coatsworth, an investment analyst at investment platform AJ Bell said: 'Investors are notoriously impatient and time is running out for Smith & Nephew chief Deepak Nath to provide evidence that the current turnaround programme is the right one. 'The longer Smith & Nephew's share price stays weak, the greater the likelihood that Nath's days are numbered.' RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Smith & Nephew chairman Rupert Soames fires back at investor... Break-up bombshell rocks Smith & Nephew Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account Smith & Nephew has seen fast chief executive turnover, notching up four bosses in five years. Nath was hired in April 2022 to replace Roland Diggelmann, who left by 'mutual agreement' after less than three years. A former Siemens executive, Nath launched a plan to attempt to boost shareholder value, but investors have been unimpressed with the results. Some 43 per cent opposed a plan to raise his pay to more than £9 million at the company's annual meeting this year amid disappointment at his performance. But it is understood that the high chief executive salary could be beneficial in attracting Nath's successor if he is ousted. A Smith & Nephew spokeswoman said: 'Over the last two years, we have delivered revenue growth significantly above historical levels and increased profitability. There is clear momentum across the business, with sharper operational and commercial execution, including returning US hip and knee implants to growth. We are totally focused on delivering shareholder value.' DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. 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There is a spot in the MLS Cup Final up for grabs in the MLS Cup Playoff East final on Saturday, Nov. 30 when Orlando City SC hosts the New York Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcast exclusively on Apple TV+ . Fans looking to watch this MLS game can do so with an Apple TV+ subscription. Apple TV+ offers a 7-day free trial for new users and is $9.99 a month afterward. The only way to watch Friday’s game will be via the Apple TV+ app, which you can watch on phones, streaming devices, smart TVs and computers. Apple TV+ joined the sports streaming world last season with a major broadcasting deal with Major League Baseball that includes a weekly Friday Night Baseball broadcast exclusively on the app’s platform. The service also has MLS Season Pass , which allows fans to watch every MLS match. Fans can find more info on how to watch MLS games on Apple TV+ here. Who : Orlando City SC vs. New York Red Bulls When : Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. EST Where : Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Stream : Stream with an Apple TV+ subscription. Apple TV+ offers a 7-day free trial for new users and is $9.99 a month afterward. RELATED CONTENT: Vancouver Whitecaps fire coach Vanni Sartini following elimination from MLS playoffs VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Coach Vanni Sartini was fired by the Vancouver Whitecaps on Monday, 2 1/2 weeks after the team’s elimination in the MLS playoffs. Sartini became the 10th MLS coach to depart since the start of the 2024 season. He took over from Marc Dos Santos in August 2021 at first as an interim coach and then was given the job that November. Vancouver had 13 wins, 13 losses and eight draws in MLS this season, beat Portland 5-0 in the play-in round of the postseason and lost to Los Angeles FC in a three-game, first-round series that ended Nov. 8. “The desperation on my side is absolutely there,” CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster said. “I had to make a professional decision (for) how we can get the biggest impact to make this step forward and to get to a progression.” The 47-year-old Sartini, who is from Florence, Italy, had a MLS regular-season record of 44 wins, 40 losses and 32 draws and had 57 wins, 51 losses and 39 draws in all competitions. He joined Vancouver as an assistant in 2019 and became coach of its under-23 team in September 2020. He was suspended for the first six games of this season, fined $20,000 and ordered to complete a league-approved behavioral assessment after criticizing referee Tim Ford following a season-ending 1-0 playoff loss to LAFC and making a joke about being a suspect if the official were to be found dead. Vancouver has not won the MLS title since starting play in 2011. Its deepest postseason runs were to the quarterfinals 2015 and ’17. The Whitecaps won their third straight Canadian championship, beating Toronto 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie. “I took my time with this decision, and it was not taken lightly,” Schuster said. Other teams that changed coaches this season include Nashville’s Gary Smith (May 16), Atlanta’s Gonzalo Pineda (June 3), Dallas' Nico Estévez (June 9), San Jose’s Luchi Gonzalez (June 24), St. Louis' Bradley Carnell (July 1), Austin’s Josh Wolff (Oct. 6), Chicago’s Frank Klopas (Oct. 19), Philadelphia’s Jim Curtin (Nov. 7) and Miami’s Gerardo “Tata” Martino (Nov. 19). Replacements include Nashville’s B.J. Callaghan (July 3), Chicago’s Gregg Berhalter (Oct. 8), Austin’s Nico Estévez (Oct. 25) and San Jose’s Bruce Arena (Nov, 7). Luis Suarez signs to stay with Messi and Inter Miami for 2025 season By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Luis Suarez is going to play alongside Lionel Messi for at least one more year. Suarez and Inter Miami have agreed on a one-year contract extension for the coming season, the team announced Wednesday. The financial terms weren’t disclosed. Suarez made $1.5 million this year in his first Inter Miami season, one in which the Uruguayan striker scored 20 goals — tied with Messi for the team lead — in Major League Soccer regular season play and a team-best 25 goals across all competitions. “I’m very happy, very excited to continue for another year and to be able to enjoy being here with this fanbase, which for us is like family,” Suarez said in comments distributed by the team. “We feel very, very connected with them, and hopefully, next year, we can bring them even more joy.” Inter Miami set MLS records for points (74) and winning percentage (.765) during this MLS regular season, one in which the club went 22-4-8 and captured the Supporters Shield. The club failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs, falling to Atlanta United in the best-of-three series. The contract extension for Suarez, who turns 38 in January, keeps the Inter Miami core of stars with Barcelona ties together. Suarez plays at Inter Miami alongside Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, a group that teamed up with the powerhouse Spanish club in past years. And newly named Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano — his hiring was made official on Tuesday — also played with that foursome at Barcelona. “In 2024, Luis brought to Inter Miami all of the elements that make him one of the greatest strikers of all time,” Inter Miami football operations president Raul Sanllehi said. “He performed at an elite level for us, and we’re excited to see that continue next season. Luis was not only our leading scorer this season, but also a leader for the group. His impact cannot be understated.” Suarez has represented Uruguay in the last four World Cup competitions. He’s played for Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, among other clubs, and has earned a slew of honors — Dutch player of the year, FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball, Premier League Player of the Season and World Cup All-Star Team among them. The Associated Press contributed to this article. More Sports Content
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