Utah football is known for many things, but one that catches the eye of the entire college football world every year is the hand-painted helmets the program rolls out for one game every season. This year, the team decided to pay homage to the Polynesian culture that has shaped the program over the years, and former Utah player Isaac Asiata broke down the meaning behind the design in a post via X. Asiata revealed that the helmet's design was created by famous Samoan tattoo artist Fred Frost of Frost City Tattoos, and the design is a culmination of specific designs and tribal pieces, from every major island of Polynesia. It’s all in the DETAILS🎨 #GoUtes | @BookSeatscom pic.twitter.com/gyw5ex8Wum He also highlighted that the fusion represents each island and ethnicity of the Polynesian people who have come through as a player or coach in the program. The inscription on the left side of the helmet reads "Malama Lahaina" which is a tribute to the recovery efforts in Lahaina, Hawaii, in the wake of the 2023 fires. In the background of the phrase is an outline of Lahaina’s iconic Front Street, which was decimated as a result of the fire, and the inscription “Malama Lahaina” when broken down consists of the Hawaiian word “Malama” which means to care for, nurture, and preserve the land and its people. An incredibly profound statement on a night in which the players who helped achieve this incredible era of Utah football are set to move on from their collegiate days, this helmet will easily go down as one of the best the program has commissioned, and the Utah faithful will be hoping to associate them with a win come Saturday.Wade Taylor IV racked up 19 points that included eight in the final 3:22 of the game as No. 22 Texas A&M outlasted Texas Tech 72-67 on Sunday afternoon in the USLBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. Texas A&M (8-2) led by as many as 11 points in the first half and by three at halftime before the Red Raiders surged to the front early in the second half. Down 52-49, the Aggies produced an 11-0 surge capped by a jumper by Zhuric Phelps to take a 60-52 advantage with 5:02 to play The Aggies' margin was just two points when Taylor went hard to the hole on back-to-back possessions for layups that pushed the lead to 64-58. A 3-pointer by Tech's Chance McMillian cut lead to three but Taylor, Henry Coleman III and Solomon Washington converted free throws over the final 27 seconds to provide the deciding points for A&M. Jace Carter added 16 points and Phelps had 12 for the Aggies, who have won four straight games. McMillian's 23 points were a game high, while Kevin Overton added 17 and Darrion Williams had 11 for Texas Tech (7-2), which had a three-game winning streak snapped. The Aggies ruled the game's first five minutes, blitzing to a 13-2 lead thanks to eight early points from Taylor and a stifling defense that forced Tech into four turnovers. The Red Raiders responded with an 8-2 run capped by a jumper by Federiko Federiko to close the gap to five points at the 10:57 mark. Texas Tech continued to battle back, clawing to within 26-24 with 5:16 left in the first half thanks to a 9-0 run. Texas A&M boosted the margin to as many as six points after Manny Obaseki hit a layup with 2:23 remaining before McMillian canned a pair of free throws with 41 seconds to play to pull to within 34-31 at the break. Overton led all scorers with 14 points before halftime while Carter paced the Aggies with 13. The Red Raiders pulled even on Federiko's jumper 46 seconds into the second half, went in front on a jumper by Elijah Hawkins with 18:22 to play and pushed their advantage to five points on another Hawkins jumper at the 16:30 mark of the half. The Aggies swung back, tying the contest at 49 when Washington sank a 3-pointer with 10:48 left, setting the stage for the furious finish. --Field Level Media

With a combined 42 years on the Hobart School Board, Terry Butler and Karen Robbins cast their final votes Dec. 19. Both members retired after presiding over a sea of physical and academic changes from the construction of two new schools to the pioneering of an AI platform. “All in all, it’s been a great ride,” said Butler, who joined the board in 2000 when Indiana had its last Democratic governor, Frank O’Bannon, who died in office in 2003. Retiring Hobart School Board member Karen Robbins removes her nameplate after her final board meeting Dec. 19. (Carole Carlson/Post-Tribune) Superintendent Peggy Buffington said Robbins was her room mom when she began her teaching career at Foreman Elementary, which has since been replaced by Joan Martin Elementary. “You always made the right choice — for students. It didn’t matter if it was controversial. You never faltered,” Buffington told Butler and Robbins during their final board meeting. Their final votes were cast in favor of the renewal of a $22.5 million operating referendum. It will appear on the May ballot, if approved by the state. Butler said his journey to running for school board began about 25 years ago when he attended a community meeting about whether students should wear school uniforms. Butler, the former director of transportation at the School City of Hammond, didn’t like the idea and made his views known. Someone approached him and suggested he run for school board and Butler was elected. He became a board member in 2000. Robbins, an accountant, had served in many volunteer roles including serving on a school improvement committee to PTA officer. “My kids had graduated, I had time and I thought ‘why not’,” she said. “It seemed like the next step.” Nearly 18 years ago, Robbins was selected to fill a vacancy when a school board member resigned. When Butler first joined the board, he said there were rumblings of the need for a new high school but money was scarce. He said the district’s guidance counselors still filled out schedules by hand and the system needed to be computerized. To shore up support for a new high school, Butler said elementary schools were updated so the focus could shift to a new school. Meanwhile, the state reformed its property tax assessment method to a fair market assessment. The changes and community support paved the way for a bond issue to build the new high school. Jack Leach, who retired in 2008, served as Hobart’s superintendent when Butler and Robbins joined the board. With Butler as president, the board elevated Buffington from assistant superintendent to succeed Leach. “She was so far ahead of the other candidates, her abilities were so much better...” said Butler who praised Buffington’s technology vision and savvy. By 2006, work had begun on the construction of the new $63 million high school on 10th Street. The school board included a swimming pool in its original plan for a new high school, but the state cut the pool out of the final plan in 2006. Butler is still bitter over the move he blamed on GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels. “They said we had to cut $5 million so we lost the pool. That’s when the community came together, they were upset,” said Butler. The new school opened in 2009 sans pool, but a 2017 successful $41.2 million capital projects referendum provided about $18 million for the construction of a 50-meter pool and natatorium on the high school’s southwest side. Veterans Elementary was also constructed at the site of the former razed Mundell Elementary on Wisconsin Street. Buffington pointed the board toward its technology course, Robbins said. “We used to get these large paper packets,” she said of the school board’s information folders, then we sat in a session on the electronic school board and we did it.” Audience members can watch board members vote by pressing a computer key and their vote is flashed on a screen in the meeting room. Both Butler and Robbins harbor skepticism at state policy changes during their tenures on the board that shifted state money to charter and private voucher-funded schools. “The whole problem is taking money from public schools and giving it to private schools,” said Butler. “It upsets me that my tax dollars are going to these schools, there’s no accountability,” Robbins said of private schools funded by parents with state vouchers. “We need to reverse the tide and get people to vote for people who value education,” she said of the General Assembly. Robbins said she gained motivation to retire from the board after watching new board member Brad Keehn Jr. faithfully attend meetings and contribute to discussions. He’ll join the board next month along with newcomer David Kostbade. “When you see someone like Brad in the audience, it’s good. “It’s time for the younger generation to take it,” Robbins said. Butler and Robbins acknowledged they navigated a few controversies during their combined time on the board and boasted of accomplishments like one of the first all-day kindergarten programs, early learning and early college programs, and the embrace of technology. Buffington said the closing of Ridge View stirred up concern among west side residents who later came to appreciate the new Veterans Elementary their children attended. “It’s a beacon on the west side,” she said. “Those children love their school.” She also cited the popularity of the new aquatic center that’s drawn swimmers from Illinois for competitions. “I hope you walk away and know you were a major factor in this,” Buffington told Butler and Robbins. Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter AUTOMOTIVE SALES may hit 500,000 units next year as lower interest rates and upcoming elections spur economic activity, according to the Federation of Automotive In dustries of the Philippines, Inc. “We can hit that (target) in 2025, and the growth factors will be the election, interest rates that are starting to go down, plus the economy is again most likely to grow by another 5-6%,” Vicente T. Mills, the federation’s president, told reporters last week. “But the demand for vehicles is still there because the fleet is still old, so there’s fleet replacement, and then, of course, fleet growth because gross domestic product will go up,” he added. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) started its easing cycle last August, cutting rates by 50 basis points to 6%. More cuts are expected in 2025 as inflation is expected to stay within the 2-4% target range. Economic managers are targeting 6.5-7.5% gross domestic product growth for 2025, and 6.5-8% from 2026 to 2028. Mr. Mills said that compared with Thailand and Indonesia, the local vehicle density is still lower per population, which explains the still huge local demand. “So, it will really go up; it is just that our countrymen do not have enough buying power... but now that the central bank is bringing down the interest rates, it will be more affordable,” he said. “And as business improves, they will start to buy. And naturally, as the economy improves, vehicle population improves because that’s how it is. It goes together,” he added. Mr. Mills said sales growth next year will also be driven by commercial vehicles, which comprised 73.77% of the total industry sales as of October. A joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association showed that total industry sales reached 384,310 in the first 10 months, up 8.9% from 352,971 in the same period last year. Broken down, sales of commercial vehicles reached 283,501 units as of October, up 7.8% from the 262,875 units sold in the same period last year, while the industry sold 100,809 units of passenger cars, which represented an 11.9% increase from 90,096 last year. Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said the auto industry could reach its sales target if the BSP continues to cut policy rates. “Lower inflation and interest rates could help reach the target... as this would effectively lower the cost for borrowing across the board,” said Mr. Limlingan in a Viber message. Toby Allan C. Arce, head of sales trading at Globalinks Securities and Stocks, Inc. said that the launch of new models could drive sales growth. “Fresh and diverse vehicle offerings, including EVs (electric vehicles), hybrids, and fuel-efficient models, could attract a broader customer base and stimulate demand,” Mr. Arce said in a Viber message. “Favorable government policies or tax incentives for EVs and other eco-friendly vehicles may catalyze market growth, especially as environmental sustainability becomes a focus,” he added. Despite the positive outlook for the automotive sector, Mr. Mills said road tra ff ic remains an issue. “That is another problem. Infrastructure and mass transit must improve. But still, in all countries, vehicles for individuals and for commercial vehicles are still going up,” he said. According to Mr. Arce, the improvement of road networks will help to increase the demand for new vehicles. “Ongoing infrastructure projects improving road networks could encourage consumers to invest in private vehicles for convenience,” said Mr. Arce. “As urban areas expand, the need for personal transportation could rise, bolstering sales in the automotive sector,” he added.

Sean "Diddy" Combs' Twins Celebrate Milestone Birthday as He's in Jail

DAYTON — Teeny McMunn will leave the Dayton City Council at the end of December, one year before her four-year term expires. McMunn, 73, was elected to City Council position No. 3 in November 2021. She served as the City Council’s representative at the Dayton Chamber of Commerce and, this year, as mayor pro tempore. She will attend her final city meetings remotely. “I felt it was time to close this chapter of my life,” she said in an email. McMunn is returning to Miles City, Montana, where she was born and raised, to be with her sister and extended family and friends, she said. “Dayton has been like a warm cozy blanket,” she wrote. Now retired, McMunn co-owned and managed a flooring business that migrated to Dayton, as well as a property rental company. At the Waitsburg Times, she sold ads, did bookkeeping and wrote a recipe column. She also served as a church deacon and board member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Dayton, and has volunteered for numerous causes and organizations. For now, McMunn is still a board member, bookkeeper and treasurer of Neighbors United for Progress , a political action committee that advocates for moderate candidates and in 2023 successfully sued to block a measure from getting on the general election ballot that would have dissolved the Columbia County Rural Library District. A group of residents had sought to shut down the district after they failed to get the county’s only library to jettison books on anti-racism, gender identity and sexual identity, the U-B reported. "The mainstay of last year was keeping them from closing the library," McMunn said in an interview. "And then the fight continues, because they continue to try to control the library ... what the books are and what the displays can look like, and so we've got our job cut out for us." At the Tuesday, Dec. 3, city council meeting — the last that McMunn attended in person — she was presented with goodbye gifts, cookies and cake. “It was heartfelt, and I was a little embarrassed, but I was pleased that they did the effort,” she said. The City Council will soon advertise for McMunn’s open seat, consider letters of interest and interview candidates. The council will appoint a candidate to serve for a year, until the next election. They will also choose a new mayor pro tem. Dayton city councilors are elected to at-large positions. “City of Dayton is a business with expenses and income. It’s always a balancing act,” she said in a text. “I became more aware that two people can see the same thing, differently.” Last year, Councilor Tiger Dieu resigned from position No. 7 and was replaced by Mike Smith, whose fill-in term also expires at the end of 2025.Lightweight portion of the Bucs’ schedule begins with an easy win vs. Giants