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Timothy P. Griffin, 73, of North Walpole, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, after a period of declining health. Tim was born in Bellows Falls on Oct. 24, 1951, to the late Dennis J. and Mary E. (Gillis) Griffin. He attended schools in North Walpole and Bellows Falls, graduating from Fall Mountain Regional High School in 1969. He attended college at Plymouth State College, and served his country faithfully in the U.S. Navy from 1971 to 1975. He and Mary E. Dennis were married at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Ellicott City, Md., on Oct. 16, 1982. Tim played on two state championship baseball teams at Fall Mountain, as well as the first football teams at Fall Mountain and Plymouth State. He was very proud of his Irish heritage and took several trips to Ireland with many friends and family over the years, including a special trip with his mother, Aunt Peg Pintello, and cousin, Jon Pintello. Tim had a successful career as a terminal manager in the trucking industry, working for New Penn, St. Johnsbury and APA. He was the owner of the Stage Stop Pub in Springfield, Vt., from 1985 to 1988, and worked many years behind the bar at PK’s Public House in Bellows Falls. His later professional life took him into the school bus business, where he was reunited with some colleagues from his St. Johnsbury Trucking days. His greatest pride in life were his two sons, Dennis and Sean, and his five grandchildren. He enjoyed watching Dennis and Sean step into fatherhood and embraced his role of grandfather. He always made sure the house was stocked with his grandchildren’s favorite snacks and loved extra time spent with Tess and Joe, driving them to practices, and laughing alongside Ellie. He spent many hours on the phone with Timmy and Paddy listening to recaps of their sporting events, always ready to lend sage advice after a win or a loss and to make friendly wagers on sports teams they enjoyed watching. His grandchildren gave him life even as his health began to decline. He was adored by his many friends, spending time with them at American Legion Post 37 and the Bellows Falls Polish American Club. He was a member of the Bellows Falls Country Club and Hooper Golf Club for several years, where he introduced his sons to the great game of golf. He and Mary spent many great years together, with many date nights and trips to Cape Cod, Las Vegas and Ireland. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Frannie Scott, and by countless friends, including Ed Podgurski, John Neal, Richard Boucher, Michael Shaughnessy, Maurice J. Kelly Jr., Patrick Kelly, David (Buddha) Heaslip, Danny Lynch, Jerry Mitchell, Jack Meade, Dale Burke and many others. He had a special bond with his cousin, Sean Griffin, of Ballysaggart, County Waterford, Ireland, who passed away in 2004. He is survived by his wife; and his sons: Dennis Griffin and his wife, Andrea, of Essex Junction, Vt.; and Sean Griffin and his wife, Jen, of Walpole; and his grandchildren, Tess, Joe, Ellie, Timmy and Paddy. He is also survived by his brothers, Michael Griffin of Crestwood, Ky., and Terry Griffin of Leesburg, Fla.; and by his sister, Eileen Griffin of Keene. There will be no calling hours. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday Dec. 11, 2024 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church in North Walpole, with a reception and Irish Wake to follow at American Legion Post 37 in Bellows Falls. Burial will be held in the spring. Tim will be remembered fondly by a great number of people. Please think of him when you root for your favorite sports team, sing a great karaoke song, and raise a pint in cheers to his memory and for the numerous gifts he gave to all around him for so long. Memorial donations can be made to the Connecticut Valley Pee Wee Football League and to American Legion Post 37, organizations that Tim supported regularly during his life.

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Memphis Grizzlies vs. Chicago Bulls FREE LIVE STREAM (11/23/24): Watch NBA regular season | Time, TV, ChannelNAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Narin An handled the windy conditions with a hot putter on Thursday, making four straight birdies around the turn and finishing with an 8-under 64 for a one-shot lead in the CME Group Tour Championship. At stake for the 60-player field is a $4 million prize to the winner, the largest single-day payoff in women’s golf. Nelly Korda already has won more than that during her sterling season of seven wins. Now she faces an eight-shot deficit over the next three days at Tiburon Golf Club if she wants to end her year in fitting fashion. Korda, coming off a victory last week, couldn’t make amends for her three bogeys and had to settle for an even-par 72. She has come from behind in four of her victories, and still has 54 holes ahead of her. But it has made the task that much tougher. Everything felt easy for An, a 28-year-old from South Korea who has never won on the LPGA and has never cracked the top 10 in any of the 16 majors she has played. “Today my putt really good,” An said. “The speed was good and the shape was good. I just try to focus a little bit more.” She had a one-shot lead over Angel Yin, who shot 30 on the back nine, including an eagle on the par-5 17th hole that most players can easily reach in two. Former U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz and Marina Alex were at 66, with Lydia Ko leading the group at 67. Despite the wind so typical along the Gulf Coast of Florida, 27 players — nearly half the field — shot in the 60s. “It’s a good head start for the big ol’ prize we get at the end of the week,” Yin said. Whoever wins last week is assured of breaking the 17-year-old LPGA record for most money earned in season. The record was set by Lorena Ochoa in 2007 at $4,364,994, back when the total prize money was about half of what it is now. Ochoa earned $1 million for winning the Tour Championship in 2007. The opening round followed a big night of awards for the LPGA Tour, where Korda officially picked up her first award as player of the year, which she clinched earlier this month . Ko was recognized for her big year, highlighted by an Olympic gold medal that put her into the LPGA Hall of Fame. She regained plenty of focus for the opening round on a course where she won just two years ago. “The course isn’t easy,” Ko said. “I set a goal of shooting 3 under today, and somebody shot 8 under. I was like, ‘OK, maybe I need to make a few more birdies.’ It’s a course that can get away from you as much as you can shoot some low scores, so I’m just trying to stick to my game plan and go from there.” Also in the group at 67 was Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland, already celebrating a big year with her debut in the Solheim Cup and her first appearance in the Tour Championship. She made a late run at her first LPGA title last week at Pelican Golf Club, and kept up her form. And she can see the finish line, which is appealing. “I everyone is looking at that $4 million price tag,” Valenzuela said. “I try not to look too much at the result. I feel like in the past I’ve always been stuck on results, and ultimately all I can do is control my own round, my own energy, my own commitment. “It’s the last week of the year. It’s kind of the bonus week. No matter what, everyone is having a paycheck.” AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

LG's CineBeam Q projector is a compact, premium 4K projector on sale right now for $799 ($500 off the regular price). Its auto keystone screen adjustment, vivid projection, and portability make it a top-tier projector. However, the CineBeam Q is expensive and requires an external speaker to really feel cinematic. Projectors are cool; they can take whatever media you want and blow it up tenfold, making screens out of blank walls and transforming the most mundane of spaces into mini theaters. The problem is that these devices are usually cumbersome, unportable, loud, fragile, and finicky. LG CineBeam Q easily solves all those problems as a three-pound, portable projector capable of screening in 4K at an image size of up to 120 inches. The Q has a laser RGB light source (instead of the traditional lamp projectors) that creates a vibrant, robust image across a wider spectrum of color, turning any wall that's big enough into a cinematic movie screen or gaming display. Also: The best Black Friday deals: Live updates LG CineBeam Q Projector The CineBeam Q is an ultra-portable 4K projector with a responsive auto-adjusting screen. Focusing and image arrangement -- typically a lengthy process of trial and error with other projectors -- is a snap with the Q, which has keystone screen adjustment technology that automatically senses and adjusts the picture to whatever space you're projecting on. Achieving the right image is as easy as adjusting the rotating kickstand to the proper height, allowing projection at any angle, including straight up, if you want to project onto the ceiling (which is awesome when you're lying down). The maximum size "screen" you can achieve on the CineBeam Q is about 120 inches and requires a distance of about 12 feet away from the wall or projector screen to get that big. On the flip side, the smallest the image can go is around a 50-inch projection, at about five feet distance. Anything closer or further than these extremes will see a drop-off in image quality and focus. The CineBeam Q operates much like an LG smart TV when you fire it up. LG's webOS 6 pulls up an app menu where you can load different streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube, as well as use AirPlay to connect directly to your mobile device. You can also plug in an Apple TV or Chromecast with Google TV. Also: I tested the world's smallest projector with Google TV, and it blew me away On the back is one HDMI port, one USB-C port, and a power port, allowing for physical connections to other devices such as a gaming console or soundbar . Speaking of sound, you will definitely want to consider getting an accompanying soundbar or Bluetooth speaker to pair up with the Q, as its internal three-watt speakers don't do much to convey a theatrical experience. Also like a smart TV, there are a number of preset image profiles you can play with to get the optimal color and image, and it's worth cycling through these to see if you're getting the best possible image. When I was testing, setting it to 'Vivid' resulted in a significantly better image. The thing with projectors is that they're not TVs ; they don't have their own light source illuminating each pixel on the screen, so to get the optimal image quality, you really need to be in a dark space. Under these optimal lighting conditions, the Q looks fantastic, projecting at 500 ANSI lumens of brightness: the picture is vibrant, bright, and visibly 4K with a high degree of contrast. Also: I replaced my TV with this long-throw projector and it's absolutely worth it - especially for $200 off But if you're in a space with any amount of ambient light, the image quality degrades quickly. Those vibrant, saturated colors quickly become washed out and cloudy. Again, this isn't necessarily an issue with the Q specifically, but with all projectors, and should be considered as part of their limitations. While the Q isn't designed to replace your TV full-time, its flexibility and portability make it best for certain use cases, like movie nights. The experiential device transforms any wall big enough into a theater screen in a hardware package that screams premium. There are other portable projectors out there, such as Samsung's Freestyle 2 , which are smaller and less expensive, but they don't provide quite the same visual quality as the Q. The use cases for this device are varied, and may not be for everyone. Kids will absolutely go crazy for the Q, and I can see this being used in a kids' room as part of a movie night or fort-building adventure. Likewise, movie buffs who want to have a nighttime screening in the backyard or on a rooftop will love the portability and easy adjustment built into this projector. The only caveat is that the projector is not battery powered and can only be taken as far as its cord will go. This is perhaps one of the more limiting traits of the projector, as it's portable enough to go anywhere, but in practice is actually tethered to the power outlet. The device's power cord is also quite short, and I can't see this being used without an extension cord if you're going for that massive cinematic screen, especially if you're taking it outside. ZDNET's buying advice The CineBeam Q is a premium device that looks and feels high-end. Even when not in use, it's unique and well-designed enough to add personality to a desk or bookshelf. In terms of usability, it couldn't be easier: anyone who's navigated a smart TV menu will be able to fire it up, and the auto-adjustment technology makes focus and image arrangement seamless. In order to achieve a cinematic experience (and honestly, even if you're using it for gaming), you'll want to complete the package with a soundbar or Bluetooth speaker, but that's something that isn't too big of a deal: its small, compact form factor is the tradeoff for the lack of powerful sound. The price point does represent its niche market, but if you're looking for a top-tier projector that brings fantastic image quality, the CineBeam Q is where it's at. The fact that it's $500 off right now makes this deal impossible to overlook. What are the best Black Friday 2024 deals? ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far, by category: Black Friday TV deals Black Friday phone deals Black Friday laptop deals Black Friday gaming PC deals Black Friday smartwatch and fitness tracker deals Black Friday Amazon deals Black Friday Best Buy deals Black Friday Walmart deals Black Friday Sam's Club deals Black Friday Apple deals Black Friday iPad deals Black Friday AirPods deals Black Friday Apple Watch deals Black Friday Kindle deals Black Friday streaming deals Black Friday soundbar and speaker deals Black Friday robot vacuum deals Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals Black Friday PlayStation deals And more Black Friday deals: Black Friday deals under $25 Black Friday deals under $100 Black Friday Samsung deals Black Friday Verizon deals Black Friday headphone deals Black Friday tablet deals Black Friday monitor deals Black Friday gaming deals Black Friday security camera deals Black Friday storage and SSD deals Black Friday portable power station deals Black Friday VPN deals Black Friday Chromebook deals Black Friday HP deals Black Friday Dell deals Black Friday Roku deals Black Friday Roborock deals Best Black Friday deals Black Friday phone deals Black Friday TV deals Black Friday laptop dealsTORONTO — The Progressive Conservative government has announced that it is bringing forward legislation to crack down on homeless encampments by giving municipalities new powers and funding to allow cities to disband them. But after weeks of floating — and defending — the possible use of the notwithstanding clause to allow cities to disband encampments, Ford is now saying it may not be necessary. At issue is a 2023 Ontario Superior Court decision involving the Region of Waterloo that forbids homeless encampment evictions when there is no other housing available. In a letter to the mayors who, at his behest , asked the premier to pass anti-encampment legislation using the notwithstanding clause, Ford wrote he is "confident" the measures contained in his proposed bill will be "common sense, practical and entirely aligned with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms . " But should the courts disagree on that last point, Ford said he would still use the controversial clause of the constitution to allow the legislation to override Charter rights for five years. "I do not expect the legislation will need to proactively invoke (the notwithstanding clause). However, should the courts interfere with our shared goal of effectively addressing and clearing out encampments using these enhanced tools, with your support, our government is fully prepared to use the Notwithstanding Clause," said Ford. In October, Ford expressed frustration when the 29-member Big City Mayors (OBSM) caucus watered down a motion put forward by Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall and Bradford Mayor James Leduc calling on the province to use the notwithstanding clause to allow individuals living in encampments with severe mental illnesses or addiction to be forced into treatment. He then called on the big city mayors to write him a letter asking them to "make sure that we move the homeless along." "And why don't they put in, 'use the notwithstanding clause,' or something like that," suggested Ford at the time. Fifteen mayors accepted what they called the premier's "invitation" and asked him to use the clause. There was backlash against the idea, with city councillors, civil rights organizations, shelter operators and legal community members all calling on Ford not to override the charter and evict encampment denizens with nowhere else for them to go. Ford hasn't articulated where he expects them to go if evicted either, but insisted the province is "going to make sure we find proper shelter for these people." The premier has been weighing his options, saying he was working with Waterloo Region Chair Karen Redman about appealing the 2023 court decision. Last week, he said that even if the province did use the notwithstanding clause, he would not force municipalities to pass bylaws to evict homelessness encampments. “If they want encampments in their community, so be it,” said Ford. Opponents of the use of the notwithstanding clause said they were "relieved" that Ford has agreed not to pre-emptively use it to insulate it from charter challenges, but found his threat to use the clause if the courts interfere with its implementation to be troubling as well. "We are deeply concerned with the declared intention of using the notwithstanding clause if the government disagrees with the outcome of court decisions," the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said in a statement. Constitutional lawyer and University of Ottawa professor, Martha Jackman, who was one of 450 members of the legal community who signed an open letter this week calling on Ford not to use the clause, agreed. "The premier seems to be holding Sec. 33 as a bit of a sword of Damocles hanging over any reaction to the legislation in the courts," she said while arguing that Ford's attacks on the courts are "extremely problematic." "The courts have been extremely deferential to government in these complex areas of socio-economic policy. From the point of view of many of us, the courts have been far too conservative. There's never been a situation where you could characterize in a Canadian court as too activist around, you know, encampments in particular." Jackman argues that the 2023 court decision doesn't require municipalities to provide adequate or safe housing to encampment dwellers — they just needs to have available shelter beds that are accessible to those being evicted. For instance, a shelter that requires clients to be sober would not be accessible to someone using drugs. While speaking to reporters at the legislature on Thursday, Mayor Nuttall argued that accessibility requirements can be the hurdle. "If an individual has a dog, we need to find a place right now that takes both, and sometimes that's not possible. Sometimes it's accessibility, with relation to some of the drug problems that those individuals are suffering from and not willing to go get help for," explained Nuttall. Jackman says it would be "fabulous" if Ford is correct and whatever legislation the government is about to propose is compliant with the Charter, but it is unclear how likely that is. Ford's letter states that the province is still finalizing the details of the new initiatives, and the descriptions of these new initiatives are a bit ambiguous. It promises "greater service manage accountability and alignment with provincial and local priorities" without providing any detail on the accountability mechanisms or priorities. The letter also proposes "New approaches to treatment and rehabilitation that prioritize pathways to recovery over incarceration," but it is unclear if that could include any involuntary mental health treatment for encampment dwellers that some mayors have been calling for. It also promises additional funding to create "more capacity in the shelter system," but adds that this will come with new "accountability measures to ensure these funds support dismantling encampments." "This is tricky of Doug Ford," said community worker and activist Diana Chan McNally on social media. "His government doesn't need to put the Notwithstanding Clause on the table; his government is making new funding for shelters contingent on evicting encampments. This is his workaround for the 2023 Waterloo ruling." The Trillium asked Ford's office to clarify all of these points but was told that more specific details would be available next week. The proposed bill will also "explicitly" prohibit public drug use and provide police with "new tools" to enforce this. There will also be "enhanced penalties for people who deliberately and continually break the law." Nuttall and other mayors are praising the premier's proposal, however. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said that "new legislation is necessary to help protect public safety and dismantle encampments" and that he understands Ford's decision to not use the notwithstanding clause. "We all agree that there is no perfect solution, and many nuances to consider. That’s what I’ve been advocating for all along," said Dilkens. Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra was asked if the legislation will lead to a repeat of the controversial clearing of encampments a few years ago where police clashed with protesters when evicting encampments by force. "We want encampments gone," said Calandra. "We want people to be able to enjoy their parks again. We fully understand that many people who are in encampments are suffering from mental health and addictions."aja’a is a displaced 63-year-old widow from south Lebanon who has been praying for a ceasefire deal to end the between Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel. To date, the conflict has killed thousands and . As the winter months set in on the Lebanese mountains Raja’a, whose name means hope, grew more desperate. Her phone calls have become more frequent. “Firas my dear, do you think peace is near? I’m cold.” The U.S.-brokered truce that Lebanon signed on to and Israel’s war cabinet , is a far cry from any kind of “divine victory” Hezbollah proclaimed after its last major war with Israel in 2006. indicates the group will be required to withdraw its heavy weaponry from south Lebanon, a key Israeli demand. The deal also creates an American-led monitoring and enforcement mechanism to verify that withdrawal, and to prevent Iran from replenishing the group’s historically formidable arsenal. But will U.S. supervision and guarantees bring lasting stability to this ? Or will it prove to be just another intermission between wars as Hezbollah regroups now that its ? Israel is skeptical. The arrangement that ended the , U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, was largely left unenforced. In its wake, Hezbollah grew exponentially stronger as Iran furnished it with ballistic missiles and precision-guided munitions while U.N. peacekeepers and the Lebanese Armed Forces looked the other way. To address these concerns, the U.S. has reportedly provided Israel a that consents to continued aerial reconnaissance over Lebanon, and Tel Aviv’s right to strike at emerging threats if the monitoring and enforcement mechanism fail. Senior Israeli officials have privately told their American counterparts, “We will do less if the mechanism does more, but we will have to do more if it ultimately does less.” But Washington’s assurances and the U.S.-led monitoring mechanism can only do so much without a willing and capable partner in Beirut, a Lebanese government that is ready to work with the international community to expand the state’s sovereignty, enforce border controls, and curb what remains of Hezbollah’s military might. The Lebanese army is the most respected institution in an otherwise diverse and sectarian country. But it cannot be the required partner without political directives from a sovereign-minded President. Even if the in Lebanon comes to an end, the country cannot possibly work with international donors to undertake the mammoth task of reconstruction without a reformist government—one that no longer consents to Hezbollah’s brandishing of under the rubric of resistance to Israel. Amos Hochstein, the charismatic U.S. envoy leading the ceasefire talks, has largely shied away from Lebanon’s archaic internal affairs and the question of the day after. Much more is required, not only to reboot the stalled political process in Beirut, but also to prevent Lebanon from backsliding into civil strife, as it did following the last major Hezbollah-Israel war. In 2008, the militant group against a Lebanese government that tried to limit its power. Lebanon is a country that will need active management to achieve any sustained progress. Before Washington is fully consumed by the in January, Hochstein would do well to enlist the help of France and Saudi Arabia, U.S. partners who have traditionally wielded significant influence in Lebanon and who have a long track record of mediating between the bickering Lebanese parties. France has been grudgingly watching from the sidelines as Hochstein asserted American leadership at the expense of French diplomacy over its former protectorate. But in the days ahead, as the guns finally fall silent, Hochstein should support Paris and encourage it to resume talks with the disparate Lebanese factions to end years of political gridlock that have crippled state institutions and left the . The Saudis, who hosted and facilitated the talks that ended the 15-year Lebanese civil war in 1990, have also been hands-off, foregoing a role in Lebanon to focus on their country’s . But they too now have an interest in stepping up, realizing that progress on their vision of regional integration and will depend on durable ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza. Both the Saudis and the French maintain a pragmatic, if still largely adversarial, relationship with Iran. This will matter for the politics surrounding a diminished, but still significant . When French President Emanuel Macron visits Saudi Arabia on a , he should propose co-hosting a post-war national dialogue of Lebanese leaders under American, French, and Saudi patronage to reboot Beirut’s stalled politics, and to set clear conditions for the billions of U.S. dollars needed for reconstruction. And as Trump returns to office next year, appointing a capable successor to Hochstein to work with all the parties should be a foreign policy priority. The Italian political philosopher Antonio Gramsci famously warned that a great variety of morbid symptoms appear in the interregnum that occurs when the old is dying and the new cannot yet be born. We must beware of what might follow a much-anticipated Israel-Lebanon ceasefire if Beirut is left unattended. If the millions like Raja’a, a second mother to me, return to shattered villages with no prospect of rebuilding and little hope of a dignified existence, Hochstein’s ceasefire won’t last long.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Bennett Stirtz scored 20 points as Drake beat Belmont 65-46 on Sunday night. Stirtz added three steals for the Bulldogs (12-0, 2-0 Missouri Valley Conference). Daniel Abreu scored 15 points while shooting 5 for 11, including 3 for 9 from beyond the arc and added five rebounds. Mitch Mascari had nine points and shot 3 for 7, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs prolonged their winning streak to 12 games. Sam Orme led the Bruins (9-4, 1-1) in scoring, finishing with 11 points. Brody Peebles added 10 points for Belmont. Jonathan Pierre had nine points. Drake took the lead with 10:21 left in the first half and never looked back. Stirtz led their team in scoring with 13 points in the first half to help put them up 39-21 at the break. Drake outscored Belmont in the second half by one point, with Abreu scoring a team-high eight points after intermission. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chase Artopoeus threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score to lead Chattanooga to a 24-17 victory over Austin Peay in a nonconference regular-season finale on Saturday. Chattanooga (7-5) jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead on Jude Kelley's 28-yard field goal and Artopoeus' 9-yard touchdown toss to Javin Whatley with 42 seconds left. The score came five plays after Alex Mitchell intercepted a pass from Austin Smith, giving the Mocs the ball at the Governors' 26-yard line. Austin Peay answered in the second quarter with help from a Chattanooga turnover. Ellis Ellis Jr. picked off Artopoeus and the Governors took over at the Mocs' 30. Smith completed three straight passes — the last one covering 4 yards to Jaden Barnes to get Austin Peay within three points. Carson Smith followed with a 35-yard field goal to tie it at 10. Chattanooga regained the lead with 4:01 left in the third quarter when Artopoeus capped a nine-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Smith had a 23-yard touchdown run to get Austin Peay within seven with 8:08 left in the game. The Governors drove to the Mocs' 30, but Smith's fourth-down pass fell incomplete with 41 seconds to go. Artopoeus completed 15 of 21 passes for 161 yards for Chattanooga. He had a 7-yard scoring toss to John McIntyre to put the Mocs up 24-10 early in the final quarter. Smith finished with 192 yards on 21-for-36 passing for Austin Peay, which finishes its first season under head coach Jeff Faris with a 4-8 record. Rusty Wright became the first Chattanooga coach to finish .500 or better in each of his first six seasons. Chattanooga snapped Austin Peay's nine-game win streak with a 24-21 victory on the road to close out the regular season last year. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballThis Black Friday, Samsung is offering an incredible (and unprecedented) deal on its flagship tablet, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra . As part of its extensive holiday sale which includes discounts on smartphones, earbuds, TVs and home appliances, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra stands out as the best deals available. With an immediate discount of $200 off the original price, the 256GB model is now priced at $999 instead of $1,199. However, the real excitement comes from Samsung’s trade-in offer that can bring the price down to an astonishing $199—an impressive 85% off the original price . See Tab S10 Ultra at Samsung.com Samsung’s unique trade-in program adds a true layer of value to this offer: by trading in any old tablet—regardless of age or brand—you will receive a guaranteed credit of at least $300 towards your new purchase . This means that even if you have an older device lying around, you can still benefit from significant savings on this luxury Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. For those who might find the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra a bit too premium (and too expensive) for their needs, Samsung also offers the Galaxy Tab S10+ which is available for just $149 instead of $999 through similar trade-in discounts . While slightly less powerful than its Ultra counterpart, the Tab S10+ still boasts impressive features and performance that make it an excellent choice. See Tab S10+ at Samsung.com Forget About iPad Pros The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a powerhouse of technology designed to meet the demands of both productivity and entertainment, and it competes with the latest iPad Pro. It features a stunning 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (probably better than the iPad’s one) with a resolution of 2960×1848 pixels which delivers vibrant colors and deep contrasts that make everything from streaming your favorite shows to working on graphic design projects a visual delight. The screen’s HDR support enhances brightness and color accuracy and ensures that every image pops with life. At the heart of this device is the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chip which provides exceptional performance that rivals many... laptops! This means whether you’re multitasking or diving into high-performance gaming, the Tab S10 Ultra handles it all with ease. It also has a robust battery life that offers up to 16 hours of usage on a single charge so that you can rely on this tablet to keep up with your busy lifestyle. In addition to these fantastic savings, Samsung Rewards members will earn 1.5% cashback on their purchase which can be redeemed for future purchases or accessories. This means that not only are you getting a great deal on the tablet itself but you’re also rewarded for your loyalty with additional savings. And if you’re considering accessories, purchasing the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra also grants you access to over 40% off select accessories like the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro . This makes it easier than ever to create an interconnected ecosystem of devices that work seamlessly together. See Tab S10 Ultra at Samsung.com

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield ( ELV -1.38% ) (BCBS) is backing off of a plan that would have placed a cap on the amount of time it covers for anesthesia used during medical procedures. The change, announced on Thursday, comes after the insurer faced pushback regarding the plan from a professional group as well as intense backlash on social media. “There has been significant widespread misinformation about an update to our anesthesia policy. As a result, we have decided to not proceed with this policy change,” a spokesperson told Quartz in an emailed statement. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services. The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Antehem BCBS announced last month that the now-cancelled policy would have gone in effect starting February 2025 in Connecticut, New York, and Missouri. The changed triggered immediate disapproval from the American Society of Anesthesiologists. “With this new policy, Anthem will arbitrarily pre-determine the time allowed for anesthesia care during a surgery or procedure,” the industrty group said in a statement at the time. “If an anesthesiologist submits a bill where the actual time of care is longer than Anthem’s limit, Anthem will deny payment for the anesthesiologist’s care.” Among the wider public, the rule change received little attention until UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in New York City on Wednesday, sparking heightened public scrutiny over health insurers . Multiple outlets reported on Thursday that shell casings from the shooting had the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” written on them. Some have speculated that these words refer to terms industry critics use to describe tactics that insurers employ to deny claims. Several posts on social media brought attention to the rule. On Thursday evening, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon posted on the social media site X that they were able to get Anthem to reverse their policy. “We pushed Anthem to reverse course on their decision to strip anesthesia coverage away from New Yorkers and today they will be announcing a full reversal of this misguided policy,” Hochul wrote in the post. 📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.

Big Ten slate features Indiana-Ohio State showdown and Penn State-Minnesota matchup Things to watch this week in the Big Ten Conference: This marks the 98th matchup between these two teams, but it's only the fourth time both teams have been ranked. Although Indiana is unbeaten, its soft schedule means the Hoosiers aren't assured of making the 12-team field if they lose this game. The only team with a winning record that Indiana has beaten is Washington (6-5). Ohio State needs a win to have a realistic shot at a rematch with top-ranked Oregon in the Big Ten championship game. Ohio State has beaten Indiana 28 straight times since the Hoosiers posted back-to-back victories in 1987-88. This is likely Penn State's biggest obstacle on its way to a potential playoff berth. The Nittany Lions' lone remaining regular-season game is a Nov. 30 home matchup with Maryland (4-6, 1-6). Minnesota has had an extra week to prepare this game since its 26-19 loss at Rutgers on Nov. 9, which snapped a four-game winning streak. Penn State and Minnesota have split their last four meetings, with the home team winning each time. Penn State DE Abdul Carter has multiple tackles for loss in each of his last three games. He ranks second among all Bowl Subdivision players in tackles for loss (17 1⁄2). Southern California RB Woody Marks rushed for a career-high 146 yards in a 28-20 win over Nebraska. Marks has six 100-yard rushing performances this season. Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai is the first Scarlet Knight to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Ray Rice did it three straight years from 2005-07. Monangai has run for 1,028 yards this season and rushed for 1,262 yards last year. Oregon OLB Matayo Uiagalelei recorded a sack and had a game-clinching interception as the top-ranked Ducks won 16-13 at Wisconsin last week. He has 8 1⁄2 sacks this season to rank second in the Big Ten. Four of the top seven Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks in passer rating are from the Big Ten. Indiana's Kurtis Rourke is second, Ohio State's Will Howard is third, Penn State's Drew Allar is fifth and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel is seventh. ... Illinois QB Luke Altmyer has thrown 18 touchdown passes with only three interceptions. The only Power Four quarterback with a better touchdown/interception ratio while throwing at least 10 touchdown passes is Clemson's Cade Klubnik, who has 26 touchdowns and four interceptions. ... Rutgers' three Big Ten wins matches its largest total since joining the league in 2014. Rutgers also had three conference wins in 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023. A victory Saturday over No. 24 Illinois would give Rutgers three straight Big Ten wins for the first time. ... Washington's 31-19 win over UCLA was its 20th straight home victory, representing its second-longest such streak in school history. The Huskies won 45 straight home games from 1908-17. ... Wisconsin heads to Nebraska this week having won its last 10 matchups with the Cornhuskers. Penn State justifiably is favored on the road against Minnesota, but Bet MGM's 12 1⁄2-point spread seems way too big. Expect this game to have a single-digit margin. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Cooper, Batcho lead Louisiana Tech past Richmond 65-62Drake wins 65-46 against Belmont

( MENAFN - Gulf Times) Qatar University (QU) will host the Gulf-wide“Three-Minute Thesis (3MT)” competition, sponsored by ConocoPhillips on Nov 28. The event, the first-of-its-kind in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region, will take place at the QU campus. The competition will feature graduate students from various higher education institutions across the GCC. Participating alongside QU are several prominent universities, including King Abdulaziz University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Khalifa University, the American University of Sharjah, Kuwait University, Sultan Qaboos University, the University of Bahrain, and the Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) in partnership with Northumbria University. QU's Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies, Prof Aiman Mahmoud Erbad, stated,“Since 2019, QU has successfully organised this competition at the national level. This year, the event has expanded to the Gulf level, with participation from nine GCC educational institutions and a significant increase in student involvement.” Prof Erbad also highlighted the diversity of academic fields represented in this year's competition, which spans humanities, social sciences, and other scientific disciplines. Dean of Graduate Studies at QU, Prof Ahmad Al-own remarked on the significance of the Gulf-wide competition, saying,“This inaugural GCC edition seeks to create a unified graduate studies community that encourages the exchange of ideas and expertise while promoting research excellence at national, regional, and global levels. The competition will showcase the exceptional research capabilities of graduate students across the Gulf.” Prof Al-own added,“The competition started as a local initiative and has now expanded to the Gulf level. Future plans include collaborating with the University of Queensland, the originator of this competition, to extend it to the Arab and global stages.” MENAFN23112024000067011011ID1108918864 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Hidalgo leads No. 6 Notre Dame over JuJu Watkins and third-ranked USC 74-61 in big matchup out West

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 9:15 a.m. ESTAlan Shearer launches scathing attack on Man City with damning three-word verdict after Feyenoord