Gov. Kathy Hochul has asked the Department of Homeland Security to reverse course and fully staff the northern border with Canada, after the department announced last month it was cutting operating hours at four ports of entry. RAISED CONCERNS In a letter to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas dated Nov. 27, Hochul said the decision to put four of New York’s border crossings with Canada on twelve- and sixteen-hour schedules, a reduction from the usual 24-hour operations, is a mistake. “These changes are wholly inconsistent with what is needed now in this state,” she wrote. “I have previously raised my concerns in meetings with the Biden-Harris Administration, and write to once again request the Department of Homeland Security immediately direct staffing and resources to expand enforcement activities along the U.S.-Canada border. In light of this week’s actions, I ask you to immediately reverse the decision to suspend 24/7 staffing along our northern border at critical locations.” The letter was first reported by the Albany Times-Union. POPULAR ROUTE In it, Hochul said the trend of increasing numbers of attempts to cross the border illegally should warrant a firmer response and said the historically relaxed policies around northern border security are partially to blame. “Long-standing immigration policies of the U.S. and Canada have contributed to the northern border becoming an increasingly popular route for non-citizens seeking entry into the U.S., policies which New York does not control,” she wrote. She cited Border Patrol statistics, showing that there were nearly 19,000 reported encounters with people illegally crossing at some point along the entire northern border in August of this year, compared to 4,500 in August of 2021. The region with the sharpest increase in encounters along the border is the Swanton Sector, covering St. Lawrence County east to New Hampshire, while also hosting one of the smallest complements of Border Patrol agents. “As of early 2024, the Swanton Sector has funding for 338 Border Patrol agents, with only 260 filled, but this area of the border requires 728 agents to carry out sufficient enforcement for elevated levels of border crossings,” she wrote. She warned that illegal crossings come with steep risks for those attempting it. In upstate New York and New England, a wintertime or even early spring crossing comes with the risk of losing the way, freezing to death, or drowning. In a much-publicized case from March 2023, an attempt to smuggle a group of Indian and Romanian nationals into the U.S. through the Akwesasne, St. Regis Mohawk lands between Ontario and St. Lawrence County, resulted in nine drowning deaths. Both the U.S. and Canada have moved to charge those involved in the human smuggling operation. GREATER RESOURCES Hochul said she is doing what she can at her level to address the issue—directing $5 million from the federal State Homeland Security Program to enhance state-level security at border crossings. The state Division of Criminal Justice Services is rolling out a broader license plate reader network along border roads, and the State Police are investing in increased staffing and technology, including drone-based surveillance and handheld x-ray machines to examine cargo. She also said she was disappointed that the bipartisan border legislation proposed earlier this year, which would have directed more federal resources to northern border enforcement among other changes to immigration and border security policies, did not pass. “Had it passed, states like New York would have greater resources to handle the influx of migrants nationwide,” she said. “Despite it not passing, New York still needs to expand enforcement at the northern border today.” A change in border policies is likely to come with the new Presidential administration in January, with border policies to be led by West Carthage native and recent Jefferson County resident Thomas D. Homan. Homan has started discussions with the mayor of New York City to discuss expedited deportation of migrants and people seeking asylum that have been sent to that city from the southern border. He has pledged to carry out President-Elect Donald J. Trump’s campaign promise to conduct a major nationwide deportation push.Kevin Huerter's 26 points leads Kings in 141-97 blowout over Jazz

The Pittsburgh Steelers look to get back on the winning track Sunday in Cincinnati with a Week 13 matchup against Joe Burrow and the rival Bengals . The teams are scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday at Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium with tickets still available to watch the game live . How to get Steelers vs. Bengals tickets: Seats are still available for the Steelers-Bengals game on secondary sites Vivid Seats , StubHub , SeatGeek and Viagogo . As of Nov. 26, starting prices for seats were as follows: Vivid Seats starting at $106 StubHub starting at $101 SeatGeek starting at $107 Viagogo starting at $95 Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) NFL Week 13 matchup at a glance When: Sunday, Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. ET Venue: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio Tickets: Vivid Seats | StubHub | SeatGeek Flights/hotels: Expedia | Travelocity | Booking.com | Hotels.com TV channel: CBS Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | DirecTV Stream (free trial) | Sling (low intro rate) The Steelers went into Cleveland last Thursday night as 3.5-point favorites over a struggling Browns team and exited with a 24-19 loss that came in the final minute of action. Pittsburgh stormed back from an 18-6 deficit in the fourth quarter, only to allow Jameis Winston to orchestrate a game-winning touchdown drive capped by a Nick Chubb TD with 0:57 to play. That loss snapped a five-game winning streak and gave way to a challenging closing stretch that includes two matchups with the Bengals, a revenge game with the Browns, and a run of three straight games from Weeks 15-17 against the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs. Pittsburgh knows how dangerous even a 4-7 Bengals team can be, especially with quarterback Joe Burrow, who has played at a high level despite a supporting cast struggling to win games. PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2024 NFL SCHEDULE Here’s a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ full 2024 schedule and results with TV and time info (where applicable), ticket prices, travel info and live stream links: Week 1: Steelers 18, Falcons 10 Week 2: Steelers 13, Broncos 6 Week 3: Steelers 20, Chargers 10 Week 4: Colts 27, Steelers 24 Week 5: Cowboys 20, Steelers 17 Week 6: Steelers 32, Raiders 13 Week 7: Steelers 37, Jets 15 Week 8: Steelers 26, Giants 18 Week 9: BYE WEEK Week 10: Steelers 28, Commanders 27 Week 11: Steelers 18, Ravens 16 Week 12: Browns 24, Steelers 19 Week 13: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals When: Sunday, Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. ET Venue: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio Tickets: Vivid Seats | StubHub | SeatGeek Flights/hotels: Expedia | Travelocity | Booking.com | Hotels.com TV channel: CBS Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | DirecTV Stream (free trial) | Sling (low intro rate) Week 14: Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers When: Sunday, Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. ET Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa. Tickets: Vivid Seats | StubHub | SeatGeek Flights/hotels: Expedia | Travelocity | Booking.com | Hotels.com TV channel: CBS Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | DirecTV Stream (free trial) | Sling (low intro rate) Week 15: Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles When: Sunday, Dec. 15 at 4:25 p.m. ET Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa. Tickets: Vivid Seats | StubHub | SeatGeek Flights/hotels: Expedia | Travelocity | Booking.com | Hotels.com TV channel: FOX Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | DirecTV Stream (free trial) | Sling (low intro rate) Week 16: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens When: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4:30 p.m. ET Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md. Tickets: Vivid Seats | StubHub | SeatGeek Flights/hotels: Expedia | Travelocity | Booking.com | Hotels.com TV channel: FOX Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | DirecTV Stream (free trial) | Sling (low intro rate) Week 17: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers RECOMMENDED • pennlive .com How to get Philadelphia Eagles tickets for Ravens game in NFL Week 13: Prices, options Nov. 26, 2024, 5:00 p.m. How to get tickets for Lions vs. Bears Thanksgiving Day NFL game: Prices, options Nov. 25, 2024, 4:35 p.m. When: Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 1 p.m. ET Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa. Tickets: Vivid Seats | StubHub | SeatGeek Flights/hotels: Expedia | Travelocity | Booking.com | Hotels.com TV channel: N/A Live streams: Netflix exclusive Week 18: Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers When: TBD Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa. Tickets: Vivid Seats | StubHub | SeatGeek Flights/hotels: Expedia | Travelocity | Booking.com | Hotels.com TV channel: TBD Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | DirecTV Stream (free trial) | Sling (low intro rate)Lewandowski scores his 100th Champions League goal. He is the 3rd player to reach the milestoneNYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #269 (Wednesday, November 27 2024)

I’m A Celebrity’s Danny Jones in talks for massive new ITV roles following jungle success

Apollomics Regains Compliance with Nasdaq's Minimum Bid Price RequirementDominic Grieve: human rights convention will block assisted dying bill( MENAFN - Investor Ideas) Investorideas, a go-to platform for big investing ideas releases market commentary Antonio Di Giacomo, Senior Market Analyst at XS On December 23, 2024, the Nasdaq delivered an exceptional performance, reaching the 21,500 point mark. This surge was primarily driven by the technology sector, particularly Semiconductor companies. The day marked a positive end to a challenging year, reflecting renewed investor confidence in innovative technologies and their crucial role in the global economy. Analysts highlighted the positive impact of advancements in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, which continue to attract substantial investments. This bullish behavior also reflects an optimistic response to the international economic outlook. Key players of the day included companies such as Broadcom, Nvidia, and Qualcomm. Broadcom achieved a 5% rise, consolidating its excellent monthly performance. This growth is attributed to its strong financial position and the launch of products promising to transform the networking and data storage markets. Furthermore, the company recently announced strategic partnerships with major industry players, strengthening its market position. This positive performance underscores the importance of product and market diversification to remain competitive. Nvidia also significantly contributed to the rise of Nasdaq. As a leader in developing graphics cards and processors specialized for artificial intelligence, the company continues to capture investor attention. The demand for AI solutions and high-performance computing has boosted Nvidia's growth expectations for upcoming quarters. This momentum positions Nvidia as a key player in the evolution of modern technology. Qualcomm, another standout company of the day, rose more than 3% following a favorable ruling on its core processors in an agreement with Arm Holdings. This development bolstered investor confidence in Qualcomm and secured its competitiveness in a sector where innovation and strategic alliances are critical. The agreement with Arm Holdings is a victory that could have significant implications for the future of chip development. Additionally, Qualcomm has stood out for its investment in emerging technologies such as 5G, which promises to transform global connectivity. As for the broader market, the day was also marked by anticipation of the year-end holidays. The New York Stock Exchange will close for Christmas Eve on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and remain closed on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024. This reduced schedule reflects the annual tradition of adjusting operations for holiday celebrations, allowing traders to enjoy the festivities. Moreover, the holiday season tends to generate lower activity but also provides opportunities to prepare for the coming year's challenges. In conclusion, the Nasdaq demonstrated its resilience and growth potential by closing on December 23 in the 21,500-point range. Companies such as Broadcom, Nvidia, and Qualcomm played a crucial role in this advance, cementing the technology sector's role as a driver of the global economy. With the year closing, the market is preparing to face the challenges and opportunities of 2025 while celebrating the achievements 2024. This positive performance also reflects renewed investor optimism and the transformative impact of technology across all sectors. Disclaimer/Disclosure: disclaimer and disclosure info MENAFN24122024000142011025ID1109028083 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.DALLAS (AP) — More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated , conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate . President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld. At this point, only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldn't anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. “Anybody waiting for a smoking gun that’s going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed,” said Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” which concludes that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Friday's 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy's motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy touched down in Dallas , they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasn't quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that he'd allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released during President Joe Biden's administration, some still remain unseen. The documents released over the last few years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said what's been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving “a great picture” of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that haven’t yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someone's Social Security number. There are about 500 documents where all the information is redacted, Posner said, and those include Oswald's and Ruby’s tax returns. “If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history,” Posner said. Trump's transition team hasn’t responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his sniper's perch. “People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime," said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made “a pretty compelling case” against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. “It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century," Sabato said. “But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis.”

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield already has matched his career high for touchdown passes in a season, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won three straight games to climb back to the top of the NFC South standings. The quarterback is trying to lead Tampa Bay to a fourth consecutive division title, and he thinks the Buccaneers (7-6) are going to have to play even better down the stretch not only to achieve their goal of earning a playoff berth but making a deep postseason run. “We will take wins. I don’t really care how it looks,” Mayfield said after a lifted Tampa Bay back over .500 in its bid to overcome a stretch in which it lost five of six games. “But offensively, we will have to be a lot more consistent for us to be able to make this push that we want to do, and we know that,” Mayfield added. “There is a lot of ball left, and we have to continue to get better.” Mayfield threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns against the Raiders. He also turned the ball over three times in the first half to help Las Vegas stay close until the fourth quarter. This is the third straight season the Bucs have needed a strong stretch run to pull out of a midseason tailspin and give themselves a chance to get back to the postseason. Mayfield has thrown for 28 TDs to match the total he threw in resurrecting a stalled career with Tampa Bay a year ago. The Bucs, 7-1 in December/January games dating to last season, are the only NFC team that made the playoffs each of the past four seasons. “We’ve got four weeks to play. We’re happy to be playing meaningful football in December. We understand what that means,” coach Todd Bowles said. “We have to go out every week and try to squeeze out these games, but it feels good.” What’s working The improvement of the running game has been a big part of the team’s success. The Bucs rushed for 152 yards against the Raiders, giving them 100-plus on the ground in 10 of 13 games. They reached that number in nine of 34 games over the previous two regular seasons. Rachaad White scored the team’s 14th rushing touchdown. That’s one more than the Bucs had combined in 2022 (five) and 2023 (eight). What needs help While the offensive line opened gaping holes for the running game against Las Vegas, it failed to provide adequate pass protection for Mayfield. The Raiders had four sacks and eight quarterback hits. Mayfield was intercepted twice and lost a fumble that led to Las Vegas’ only touchdown. Stock up Rookie WR Jalen McMillan had four receptions for 59 yards and two TDs — all season highs — against the Raiders. He’s the first Tampa Bay rookie with multiple TDs receiving in a game since O.J. Howard in 2017. Stock down Rookie punter Jack Browning didn’t distinguish himself in his Bucs debut. After hitting a 49-yarder that was returned 16 yards on his first punt, he had a 39-yarder returned 14 yards and a 40-yarder that Raiders punt returner Ameer Abdullah was able to fair catch at the Las Vegas 20. “It’s a work in progress,” Bowles said of how Browning, the third punter the Bucs have used this season, looked. “I’m going to brush it off to rookie jitters and we’ll go from there.” Injuries S Antoine Winfield Jr (knee) and RB Bucky Irving (back) were lost during the first half against the Raiders. Bowles said Monday that Winfield may be sidelined a couple of weeks, meaning he could miss road games against the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. Irving’s status will be determined later in the week. Key numbers 19, 37 1/2. LB Lavonte David continues to impress in his 13th season. He had a sack, quarterback hit and fumble recovery against Las Vegas. The fumble recovery was the 19th of his career, most among players since he entered the NFL in 2012. He has 37 1/2 career sacks, including four this season. Next up Visit the Chargers, the only opponent the Bucs will face over the remaining four games that has a winning record. ___ NFL:PM boasts timeless ties with S ArabiaAP News Summary at 5:15 p.m. EST

Rupert Murdoch's attempt to change his family's trust over Fox News media empire control rejectedPublished 5:20 pm Tuesday, December 10, 2024 By Data Skrive There is no shortage of excitement on Tuesday in college basketball play, including the Penn State Nittany Lions squaring off against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights — that’s one of the 10 games our computer model recommends in terms of picks against the spread. Watch men’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. Bet on this or any men’s college basketball matchup at BetMGM. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . > Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are Nvidia shares fall after China opens investigation Shares of artificial intelligence darling Nvidia were under pressure after a regulator in China said it was investigating the chipmaker over possible violations of the country's antimonopoly law. This investigation was in relation to Nvidia's 2020 acquisition of Israeli firm Mellanox and some agreements made during the acquisition, the Chinese government said Monday. Oracle falls after missing earnings forecast Oracle shares slid 7% in extended trading on Monday after the database software company reported fiscal second-quarter results that fell short of analysts' estimates and issued revenue guidance that was weaker-than-expected. Revenue during the September quarter came in at $14.06 billion, compared to the $14.1 billion expected, while earnings per share was at $1.47, compared to forecasts of $1.48. 26-year-old detained by police in connection with fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO University of Pennsylvania graduate Luigi Mangione was detained by police as a "strong person of interest" in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson after police found him carrying a pistol, a silencer, a mask and fake identification cards. Mangione had in his possession a suspected "ghost gun" — which lacks a serial member — capable of firing 9 mm rounds, authorities said. Markets retreat from record highs The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite pulled back from record highs Monday, with tech shares lagging. The tech-heavy Nasdaq shed 0.62%, while the S&P fell 0.61%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 0.54%. Over in Europe, the pan-European Stoxx 600 closed higher for an eighth straight session, marking its longest winning streak since May. [PRO] Investing in mid-caps may be the way to go in 2025 Mid-cap stocks could be the sweet spot for investors in 2025, having been outperforming recently. Many investors expect further gains for mid-caps, which offer better quality businesses than small-caps, as well as stronger growth prospects than large-caps. Technology stocks have underpinned the impressive rally in US stocks this year. But they are not immune from the laws of gravity. Monday's session saw large technology stocks underperform the broader market. Oracle missed forecasts and AMD was downgraded by Bank of America . But perhaps the biggest news of the day concerned Nvidia, whose shares have surged an astounding 188% this year. China's State Administration for Market Regulation opened an investigation into the chipmaker in relation to the acquisition of Mellanox and some agreements made during the acquisition. The news prompted Nvidia's shares to fall 2.6% overnight. The development suggests that while the year is ending, the fight for tech dominance around the world may just be intensifying. Competition between the U.S. and China over chipmaking is rising, with the Biden administration on Dec. 2 announcing a slew of curbs targeting semiconductor toolmakers. China then retaliated by banning exports of critical minerals such as gallium, and on the same day, four of the country's top industry associations said Chinese companies should be wary of buying U.S. chips as they were "no longer safe" and buy locally instead. Previous trade skirmishes have centered on areas such as metals, farm products, and automobiles. With a tougher stance on China expected from the incoming Trump administration, could the next trade war instead be focused around chips, which arguably have permeated every facet of our lives? — CNBC's Samantha Subin contributed to this report.(WXYZ) — It seems the social media posts of a local turkey farmer may be behind an unexpected boost in sales ahead of Thanksgiving. Roperti's turkey farm in Livonia has been in the business of selling freshly dressed turkeys for 76 years. "I spend a lot of money on feed, so when you feed something correctly, it's gonna taste correctly, so my turkeys are very juicy, flavorful and tasty," said owner Christine Roperti. The farm typically sells out of its 4,000 birds in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. After seeing a 16 percent decline in sales last year, this Thanksgiving, Roperti says they are seeing more customers and have already sold 4,100 turkeys. "I think I might have maybe 50 left over this year," said Roperti who is still hoping to attract customers. In 2023, there were enough left behind to be sold for Christmas. "Now that I'm on TikTok, I've got a few more customers and more people are seeing it," Roperti said. Roperti who loves purple, the Detroit Lions, and goes by " The Turkey Lady " on TikTok, says this year's sales may be a sign that the economy is getting slightly better. According to The American Farm Bureau Federation's data, food inflation is down from last year. Their research for a Thanksgiving meal of Turkey, cubed stuffing, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, frozen peas, fresh cranberries, celery, carrots, pumpkin pie mix and crusts, whipping cream and whole milk for 10 will cost $58.08, down 5% from last year. However, this is still 19% higher than five years ago. It's a trend some customers shopping for Thanksgiving say they've noticed. "I am more concerned, so I shopped at different stores, used coupons," said Laura Lukasiewicz. Lukasiewicz's husband suggested they shop locally at Roperti's for their turkey. She excitedly put the turkey in the trunk as she prepares to make dinner for a larger group than normal. " He heard about fresh turkeys being better,” she said. Charlie Harris has traveled from Grosse Ille for the past four years to support the small business. His wife owns a small buisness in Wyandotte and understands how important local support can be. Harris also picked up a turkey for another family. "I really appreciate the opportunity to help a small business and get a nice size turkey," said Harris. The overall cost of the Thanksgiving meal is something he has paid attention to. "Over the last couple of years it has gone up quite a bit having a large family, there's eight of us, so it does hit the pocket book a little bit," said Harris. "I'm optimistic about the coming years and the price of food coming down. It's gonna be tight this year, but it's gonna be be all right."When you hear a $20 million-a-year salary, the first thought should gravitate toward an athlete getting paid. But not in 2024. Even analysts, who aren’t actually on the field but are off it, talking about a game, are about to reset the market by a margin that’s never been done before. Yes, we are talking about Stephen A. Smith, who is set to be paid more than the current highest-paid NFL running back. After months of negotiations between WME (Smith’s agency) and ESPN (Smith’s employer), the bar has been set at a $20 million-a-year contract. This deal is structured for multiple years — at least five but possibly up to six. This adds up to a $120 million contract, which is not even being earned by several quarterbacks. Notably, highest-paid running back Christian McCaffrey ($17.2 million), highest-paid tight end Travis Kelce ($17.1 million), and highest-paid center Creed Humphrey ($18 million) will neither make as much money (per year) as Stephen A. Smith, nor have contracts as long. And wait till you hear how much Smith’s analyst peers are getting paid. While there is no clear information about how much Shannon Sharpe is making at ESPN, estimated reports suggest that he earns about $3 million per year. Despite having a playing background and two decades of broadcasting experience, he is getting paid significantly less. The former tight end has arguably become the soul of First Take , the face of which is Stephen A., yet a $17 million gap doesn’t make sense. Even Pat McAfee is making less than Stephen A. He signed a five-year, $85 million contract with ESPN, which comes down to $17 million per year. Troy Aikman, too, is making less, with a $18.5 million salary per year. So, why is ESPN paying Stephen A. this much money? Well, the truth is, the leading analyst is delivering the results that the media giant would expect from someone earning $20 million a year. Stephen A. has turned First Take into a household staple, especially in the morning. While cable TV is losing business, losing customers, and shifting to digital, Stephen A. hasn’t lost his viewers; he’s doubled them instead, maybe more. Per episode, First Take is averaging over 500k viewers, something no other show can rack up. The one show that could — the Undisputed — is no longer relevant . It’s the Stephen A. Smith effect. His charisma has always played a key role in attracting viewers. His engaging conversations, too, are fun to listen to, even when answering the silliest queries. He has also spread his spider’s web on social media, often interacting with fans. His own YouTube shows and side gigs are very successful as well. And last but not least, he’s so famous that even team owners and player agents are watching him, trying to gauge the audience’s feelings and what a leading analyst like Smith has to say. If that doesn’t impress you or ESPN, nothing will.

Josh Hubbard scored 25 points and Claudell Harris Jr. scored 21 on 6-of-9 shooting as Mississippi State escaped with a 91-84 win against Prairie View A&M on Sunday in Starkville, Miss. Prairie View A&M took a 65-64 lead with 10:38 remaining, but Hubbard and Harris Jr. each scored seven points to power the ensuing 14-1 run that put Mississippi State up for good. Hubbard punctuated the rally with a 3-pointer that made it 78-66 with 5:51 to play. The Bulldogs (8-1) stretched their lead to as many as 13 points in the closing minutes to notch their second straight win. Shawn Jones Jr. added 11 points for Mississippi State, while Michael Nwoko added 10 points and 10 rebounds. RJ Melendez also netted 10 points. The Panthers (1-8) were led by the trio of Nick Anderson (21 points) Tanahj Pettway (20) and Marcel Bryant (19). Pettway drilled 4 of 5 3-pointers and Bryant grabbed seven rebounds. Prairie View A&M got off to a hot start, opening up a 27-12 lead with 10:42 left in the first half. It was a surprising haymaker from the visitors, who entered the game winless in Division I play and faced a Bulldogs team that was ranked last week. Mississippi State eventually found its stride offensively, turning things around with a 32-17 run to tie the game at 44 entering halftime. The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the field overall in the first half, but only made six of their 17 attempts from 3-point range (35.3 percent). Their defense remained an issue throughout the half, with the Panthers hitting 16 of their 27 shots (59.3 percent) and canning 5 of 8 3-pointers. Neither team led by more than five early in the second half until Mississippi State pulled away. The Bulldogs finished the game shooting 55.6 percent from the floor (30-of-54) and drilled 11 of 26 attempts (42.3 percent) from long range. They outrebounded Prairie View A&M 35-22 and outscored them 31-20 in bench points. The Panthers held a 34-32 advantage in points in the paint and shot 56.4 percent overall for the game, including 52.6 percent (10-of-19) on threes. --Field Level MediaCanada’s privacy commissioner says LinkedIn has paused training its artificial intelligence models on data from Canadian users. Philippe Dufresne says his office was informed of the pause by the tech platform, which he had reached out to after media reports suggested LinkedIn was training AI models with data from Canadian users it had not informed of the practice first. Dufresne says he has requested information from LinkedIn about the company’s training practices as well as how it obtains consent from its members. He says LinkedIn believed it had taken a “privacy protective” approach to training its AI models but will now work to ensure it has met the requirements of privacy laws before restarting the practice. Dufresne says even when personal information is publicly accessible, it is subject to privacy laws and must be adequately protected. LinkedIn suspended using U.K. user data to train its artificial intelligence models in September, after Britain’s information commissioner raised similar concerns. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2024.

How Systematic Withdrawal Plans (SWPs) Help Retirees Beat Inflation and Manage RisksIt's been a hot minute since "point shaving" - the act of intentionally not scoring in an effort to manipulate the point spreads of basketball games - was a public problem in college basketball. But now it appears that one ex-player is the subject of a serious investigation into the crime. According to ESPN insiders Pete Thamel and David Purdum, federal authorities are investigating former Temple and Virginia Tech guard Hysier Miller over allegations that he bet on his own games and manipulated the outcome of said games while he was a member of the Owls. Miller averaged 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while playing 36 games for Temple. The team went 16-20 and missed the postseason. He has since been dismissed from the Hokies basketball program following the investigation and an ensuing NCAA inquiry. "Federal authorities are investigating whether former Temple men's basketball player Hysier Miller bet on his own games and manipulated the outcome of Owls games he played in, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation," the outlet reported. "Miller, Temple's leading scorer last season, transferred to Virginia Tech during the offseason but was dismissed by the Hokies on Oct. 23 because of the federal investigation and an NCAA inquiry into Temple games, sources said. A regular-season Temple game drew attention for unusual betting activity in March." Aric Becker/ISI Photos/Getty Images An attorney for Miller has already released this statement: "Hysier Miller has overcome more adversity in his 22 years than most people face in their lifetime. He will meet and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead," Jason P. Bologna of the law firm Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney said in a statement. The NCAA has not commented. The FBI would not confirm nor deny the existence of the investigation. Virginia Tech has stated that Miller's dismissal stems from actions that occurred prior to his enrollment. ESPN says that authorities were first alerted back in March when the line of a game between Temple and UAB mysteriously started moving rapidly without any breaking news directly influencing the slew of spread bets. The line moved from UAB -2 to UAB -8 in the course of a single day, causing one New Jersey sports book to close the betting and report the unusual betting activity. UAB went on to win the game, 100-72 with Miller scoring eight points. Related: Report: Former College Basketball Player Investigated For Point ShavingArmy, Navy have bowls to play in, but are only focused on Army-Navy game