SOLON, Ohio , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tarkett, a global leader in innovative and sustainable flooring solutions, recently led the renovation of the Niles Township Respite Center near Chicago, Illinois . The initiative was part of the company's charitable giving program, Tarkett Cares , which encourages employees to share their time, talents and corporate flooring donations with local communities where the company operates. While planning Design Days 2024, an annual, three-day interior design show in Chicago , the Tarkett team wanted to find a way to contribute to their host city in a new way. "Instead of focusing on one-off customer giveaways, we wanted to invest in something that could create lasting value for the community that hosts our industry each year," said Roxane Spears , vice president of sustainability for Tarkett. Spears contacted Lisa Kaplan , a Chicago -area resident and former commercial flooring professional, who directed her to the Niles Township Respite Center as a place in need. Located in Skokie, Illinois , the Niles Township Respite Center provides relief to residents facing housing and food insecurities. The space offers access to showers, laundry facilities, a clothing closet, food pantry and more. "The Respite Center's efforts to serve community members struggling with housing and food insecurity align perfectly with Tarkett's commitment to social equity and the Tarkett Cares program," Spears said. "While the center operates on a tight budget, it does so much to help so many. If we can support the center's work by providing cleaner, safer spaces for people as they work through challenging circumstances—that's the impact we want to make." With a deep knowledge of how thoughtfully designed interiors and healthy materials can contribute to better indoor air quality and an overall sense of well-being, the team updated the center's flooring with third-party certified products featuring soothing patterns and colors that would help everyone at the center feel more at home and at peace. Tarkett donated new floors (including the costs of labor for installation) for a quiet room, multi-purpose room, entryway and stairs. The team's enthusiasm for the project spread to other local contractors; FloorsMD provided installation services and their president, Michelle DeLuco , served as an onsite coordinator throughout the project. Tarkett's ethos® carpet tile was installed in the quiet room. ethos is Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver and has a non-PVC backing that can be recycled back into itself. Contour LVT, which can be recycled into auto mats when taken back through Tarkett's ReStart® take-back and recycling program, was installed in the entryway and multi-purpose room. Coordinating Johnsonite® stair treads were also added to enhance safety and durability. After seeing the newly installed floors, DeLuco felt energized and determined to find a way to go a little further. The project scope grew to include a room expansion, ceiling height adjustment, fresh coat of paint and additional carpet tile for four offices that had suffered flood damage. The additional flooring materials and labor were covered by Tarkett and FloorsMD. ECI and its Executive Construction Foundation, Maxxon and Aspen Commercial Painting also contributed to the expanded project scope. The Respite Center was not charged for any portion of the renovation. "The center had such good bones and was already doing tremendous work for the community. It was very heart-pleasing to see what impact we could make with just a little bit of elbow grease and a group of people who cared," DeLuco said. Ruth Orme-Johnson , a social worker for the Respite Center, said the renovations drastically improved the energy of the space. "It was just wonderful to know that we're giving our clients the kind of calm, positive and inviting environment that we really have always wanted to. You can just feel everyone relax a little bit," Orme-Johnson said. "Our new floor, our new space has been such a gift in terms of being welcoming to everybody. It's also helped me feel proud of the work I do. The space allows the people we help believe they're capable and have the agency to take those steps that will have a positive impact on their lives long term." Mike Isaacs , public relations outreach coordinator for Niles Township Government, said the impact of the renovation exceeded everyone's expectations. "It's been really inspiring," he said. "Our gratitude is forevermore, that's for sure." In addition to corporate giving, the global Tarkett Cares program empowers employees to donate two days of volunteer activity each year. Globally, Tarkett employees have volunteered 3,800 days and contributed to over 900 community initiatives between 2017 and 2023. Take a virtual tour of the renovated Niles Township Respite Center. About Tarkett With a 140-year history, Tarkett is a worldwide leader in innovative and durable flooring and sports surface solutions, generating net sales of 3.4 billion euros in 2023. The Group has around 12,000 employees, 23 R&D centres, 8 recycling centres, and 34 production sites. Tarkett designs and manufactures solutions for hospitals, schools, housing, hotels, offices, shops, and sports fields, serving customers in more than 100 countries. To build "The Way to Better Floors", the Group is committed to the circular economy and sustainable development, in line with its Tarkett Human-Conscious Design ® approach. Tarkett is listed on the Euronext-regulated market (compartment B, ISIN: FR0004188670, ticker: TKTT). www.tarkett-group.com Every Step Matters For years, Tarkett has raised the sustainability standards of the flooring industry. The company designs floors with transparency you can trust as it creates healthy impacts on indoor spaces and protects our air, water, soil, and every living thing. Tarkett's ReStart ® take-back and recycling program will either repurpose or recycle every type of flooring from any manufacturer. Its near-term science-based carbon emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and are fully aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement objective to limit global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius. For more information, visit commercial.tarkett.com/sustainability . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tarkett-leads-effort-to-renovate-chicago-area-respite-center-as-part-of-tarkett-cares-program-302315799.html SOURCE Tarkett USA , Inc.

Beirut: Syrian rebels announced they had gained full control over the key city of Homs early on Sunday after only a day of fighting, leaving President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule dangling by a thread as insurgents marched on the capital, Damascus. Thousands of Homs residents poured onto the streets after the army withdrew from the central city, dancing and chanting “Assad is gone, Homs is free” and “Long live Syria and down with Bashar al-Assad”. A giant portrait of Bashar al-Assad sits on a building in Damascus. Credit: AP Rebels fired guns into the air in celebration, and youths tore down posters of the Syrian president, whose territorial control has collapsed in a dizzying week-long retreat by the military. The fall of Homs gives the insurgents control over Syria’s strategic heartland and a key highway crossroads, severing Damascus from the coastal region that is the stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect and where his Russian allies have a naval base and air base. Homs’ capture is also a powerful symbol of the rebel movement’s dramatic comeback in the 13-year-old conflict. Swaths of Homs were destroyed by gruelling siege warfare between the rebels and the army years ago. The fighting ground down the insurgents, who were forced out. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the main rebel leader, called the capture of Homs a historic moment and urged fighters not to harm “those who drop their arms”. Syrian opposition fighters on a seized Syrian air force fighter plane at the Hama military airport on Friday. Credit: AP Rebels freed thousands of detainees from the city prison. Security forces left quickly after burning their documents. Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdul Ghani said in a statement early on Sunday that operations continued to “completely liberate” the countryside around Damascus and rebel forces were looking towards the capital. In one suburb, a statue of Assad’s father, the late former president Hafez al-Assad, was toppled and torn apart. The Syrian army said it was reinforcing around Damascus, and state television reported on Saturday that Assad remained in the city. People arrive at the Jordanian side of the border as others wait in their cars on Saturday, after a ban on crossings into Syria. Credit: Getty Images The lightning rebel advance suggests Assad’s government could fall within the next week, US and other Western officials said. Since the rebels’ sweep into Aleppo a week ago , government defences have crumbled at a dizzying speed as insurgents seized a string of major cities and rose in places where the rebellion had long seemed over. The twin threats to Damascus and the strategically vital city of Homs now pose an existential danger to the Assad dynasty’s five-decade reign over Syria and the continued influence in the country of its main regional backer, Iran. The rebels’ moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of the southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is backed by Russia and Iran, but both are bogged down in separate conflicts. Credit: Saudi Press Agency/AP The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaeda and is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad’s government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian Army. The UN’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition”. Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, Pedersen said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad’s chief international backer, said he felt “sorry for the Syrian people”. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria’s border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the city were shuttered, a resident told the Associated Press, and those still open had run out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle [in Damascus] or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018 when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a years-long siege. The UN said it was moving non-critical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad rumours Syria’s state media denied social media rumours that Assad had left the country, saying the president was performing his duties in Damascus. Assad has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad’s forces, has been weakened by a year-long conflict with Israel. Iran has had its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that the US should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. A Syrian opposition fighter holds a rocket launcher in front of the provincial government office. Credit: AP Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on implementing a 2015 UN resolution calling for a Syrian-led political process would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with UN-supervised elections. Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pedersen, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha summit on Saturday to discuss the situation. No details were immediately available. The insurgents’ march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were also marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he said. An insurgent commander, Hassan Abdul Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani. Credit: Al Jazeera HTS controls much of north-west Syria and, in 2017, set up a “salvation government” to run daily affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaeda, ditching hardline officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. Syria’s military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third-largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The shock offensive began on November 27, during which rebel fighters captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama, the country’s fourth-largest city. Opposition activists on Friday said insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites that had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra, including the main Baath City, activists said. The Syrian Observatory said government troops had withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and were sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle loomed. If the insurgents were to capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The army said in a statement that it had carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists”. The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area”, apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since the conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is the main backer of the rebels. Qatar’s top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticised Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there was a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity”. He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. AP, Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter .

What does your horoscope say about you today: Wednesday, November 27Overwatch 2's new tank character is here, check it out

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Players Era Festival organizers betting big NIL is future of college tourneys

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia's House of Representatives passes bill banning children younger than age 16 from social media.Women investors in Indian mutual fund industry grow 2.5 times in 2024

GAINESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — As word spread across Jackson County, a gathering of friends quickly grew into an impromptu town hall. One woman, with her freshly coiffed hair, rushed over after hearing about the gathering at the local beauty salon, as did the owners of two restaurants and the coffee shop that all sit on the east side of the Gainesboro town square. One by one, local townspeople — about 50 in all — seemingly appeared out of nowhere from the quiet streets of Gainesboro and quickly ducked into the events center that sits just across the street from the historic Jackson County Courthouse. FULL REPORT: Watch NC5 at 6 p.m. Some just came with questions — others, with deep concerns. "We don't want one news story to portray something of Jackson County that we're not," said Kara Smith, whose husband Beau had spread the word that we were coming to town. It followed NewsChannel 5’s revelations about the white Christian nationalists — led by podcasters Andrew Isker and C.Jay Engel — now setting their sights on Jackson County, hoping to turn this quaint community of just over 12,000 people into a political haven for others just like themselves. Jackson County is located about 90 minutes northeast of Nashville. "We're building a town, right? We're building a community there,” Isker said during a July podcast when he and Engel announced their move to Tennessee. Yet, for the people who already have a community here, the news took them by surprise. "Did anyone have any sense about these people prior to this story?" I asked. A loud chorus of local residents responded in unison, “No, no." Among those we met, some had deep roots. "My family has been here for seven generations," said Mark Dudney, a public historian with an agency that serves the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee. Others were drawn here by the openness of the people they now call neighbors. “I'm a ‘mover-inner.’ I think that's what you all call people who move in from other areas,” said Diane Murphy, glancing around the room with a smile. "This town is such a loving group of people. I've been accepted, even though I came in from outside." And we were there to listen. "What has this story done to this community's sense of well-being?" I asked. "I think mainly people are scared," answered Murphy, who is vice chair of the local Republican Party. I had explained to the crowd that I had used the online story to provide documentation for every remark attributed to Isker and Engel, Murphy added: "I listened to the podcasts. I did research on what you mentioned," Murphy added. "It scares me that they are very clear about taking over." Developers with right-wing ties have purchased hundreds of acres of land in the area, trying to recruit other like-minded people to join Isker and Engel in relocating to Gainesboro. In a video posted online by one of the developers, Isker talked about the ability of those people to get their way in a small community. "You could exercise far, far more political power – even with a few hundred or a few thousand people – than you can on your own, widely dispersed across the entire country,” the right-wing Minnesota pastor said. I asked the Jackson County residents, "When you hear them talking about coming here to build a town, to build a community, what's your reaction?" Diana Mandli quickly chimed in. "I would love to speak to that. That makes me mad," she said. Mandli co-owns a local restaurant, the Bull and Thistle, and she sees a community remaking itself without the help of strangers from out of state who don't understand what Jackson County already has. "People from all different walks of life, genealogies, nationalities, race — you name it — we have got a melting pot right here in this small town, all working together to make this town come back to life,” she explained. So, I wanted to know, “What is it you're afraid of losing?" "I don't want to lose what we already have — the sense of community." Mark Dudney, the public historian, agreed. “It is a very welcoming community, but I think they kinda came in under the radar and want to recreate it in their own image," he said. On election night, the podcasters monitored the results of the 2024 presidential election during a nearly nine-hour show from Gainesboro. The real estate developer behind the project, Josh Abbotoy, provided live reports from a watch party he had hosted for local Republicans at the same events center. One of their podcast buddies also set up an account on X, formerly Twitter, that claimed to represent the views of the local Republican Party. Jackson County Republican Party chair Beau Smith was surprised when NewsChannel 5 Investigates first told him about the X account. "It said it was the official account of the Jackson County GOP." "But it was not," said Smith, who immediately insisted that the podcaster remove the claim that the account was endorsed by the local party. We also showed him where Engel had tweeted that "the best way forward" for Christian nationalists "is to take over local level outlets of the Republican Party." "So that's not going to happen especially now due to your reporting,” Smith said. “We're thankful for that, and knowing these people are in our community is a big deal." Still, not everyone is so concerned. The administrator of a local Facebook group lashed out at those who were also upset that a white supremacist group, the Asatru Folk Assembly, had bought property in Jackson County in December 2022. “I think you guys just don’t like outsiders,” Mickie Davis posted. “Just live and let live.” Late Friday, Engel appeared on a YouTube program run by a local minister to try to quell some of the public backlash following NewsChannel 5’s report. As the host took calls from local residents, Engel was asked about the podcasters’ claims that they are coming to Jackson County to “start a town.” Engel described it as being an “analogous” statement. “Our plan is to assimilate into the culture of the area and to participate in making Gainesboro a better place to live, to the extent that we are welcomed to,” he said. Back inside the events center, I asked the group, "Have these Christian nationalist podcasters, these developers tried to have a meeting like this, to sit down and answer your questions?" “No,” they again responded in unison. One woman called out from across the room, "They're a wolf in sheep's clothing." But what really concerned these Jackson County residents — some who were reluctant for their faces to be on camera — are the podcasters' views that the Civil Rights movement was a mistake, that foreigners who have become U.S. citizens still don't belong in America. I asked, "What is it that you would like for these people coming in from out of state to know? What message would you have for these people?" "This town is not for them," said local business owner Barry Naff. Another woman called out, "Bigotry is not going to work." "No, it's not going to work," Naff agreed. Yet another woman chimed in from off camera, "We are not that community, and we don't want to be a part of a racial hate community." Then, Isker and Engel’s views on women are discussed. On social media, Engel had posted that he "detest(s) the specific impact of college-educated White women on the culture of the world" he sees around him. That comment had brought a spirited response on Facebook. "The White women on Facebook that you are referring to, they are probably the scariest thing these guys are going to have to deal with now," Mark Dudney said, drawing laughter from the crowd. Over and over, the townspeople made clear that, if the Christian nationalists think Gainesboro and Jackson County is a place where people all think like them, they don't know Jackson County. "These people's views do not represent our community,” said lifelong resident Nan Coons. "And if they think they are going to come in here and take over and force their views on everybody else, they are going to have a fight on their hands." —————————— Do you have information that would help me with my investigation? Send me your tips: phil.williams@newschannel5.com RELATED STORIES: June 24, 2024: Data compiled by watchdog groups suggests that neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups have targeted the Volunteer State with racist flyers at an alarming rate in the past year, signaling a more brazen and calculated focus on the state. The statistics are alarming. July 19, 2024: Standing on what is now the Diane Nash Plaza — named after the civil rights legend who came here to confront a Nashville mayor and a community's racism — I decided to confront the hate that has once again reared its ugly head. Click here to watch my exchange. August 20, 2024: He warned me there would be consequences if I failed to comply with his demands to air a white-supremacist video. Then, nothing happened. And now that man faces his own consequences. Read more about Kai Liam Nix. September 16, 2024: Millersville, Tennessee, is gaining national attention for an approach to governing that democracy advocates fear. Here, conspiracy theorists carry guns and badges, using their police powers to explore notions that are sometimes completely divorced from reality. You can find a series of stories here. Related videos, stories: Hate Comes to Main Street

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia's House of Representatives passes bill banning children younger than age 16 from social media.LAS VEGAS — Players Era Festival organizers have done what so many other have tried — bet their fortunes in this city that a big payoff is coming. Such bet are usually bad ones, which is why so many massive casino-resorts have been built on Las Vegas Boulevard. But it doesn't mean the organizers are wrong. They're counting on the minimum of $1 million in guaranteed name, image and likeness money that will go to each of the eight teams competing in the neutral-site tournament that begins Tuesday will create a precedent for other such events. EverWonder Studios CEO Ian Orefice, who co-founded Players with former AND1 CEO Seth Berger, compared this event to last year's inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament that played its semifinals and final in Las Vegas by saying it "did really well to reinvigorate the fan base at the beginning of the year." "We're excited that we're able to really change the paradigm in college basketball on the economics," Orefice said. "But for us, it's about the long term. How do we use the momentum that is launching with the 2024 Players Era Festival and be the catalyst not to change one event, but to change college basketball for the future." Orefice and Berger didn't disclose financial details, but said the event will come close to breaking even this year and that revenue is in eight figures. Orefice said the bulk of the revenue will come from relationships with MGM, TNT Sports and Publicis Sport & Entertainment as well as sponsors that will be announced later. Both organizers said they are so bullish on the tournament's prospects that they already are planning ahead. Money made from this year's event, Orefice said, goes right back into the company. "We're really in this for the long haul," Orefice said. "So we're not looking at it on a one-year basis." Rick Giles is president of the Gazelle Group, which also operates several similar events, including the College Basketball Invitational. He was skeptical the financial numbers would work. Giles said in addition to more than $8 million going to the players, there were other expenses such as the guarantees to the teams. He said he didn't know if the tournament would make up the difference with ticket sales, broadcast rights and sponsorship money. The top bowl of the MGM Grand Garden Arena will be curtained off. "The math is highly challenging," Giles said. "Attendance and ticket revenues are not going to come anywhere close to covering that. They haven't announced any sponsors that I'm aware of. So it all sort of rests with their media deal with Turner and how much capital they want to commit to it to get these players paid." David Carter, a University of Southern California adjunct professor who also runs the Sports Business Group consultancy, said even if the Players isn't a financial success this year, the question is whether there will be enough interest to move forward. "If there is bandwidth for another tournament and if the TV or the streaming ratings are going to be there and people are going to want to attend and companies are going to want to sponsor, then, yeah, it's probably going to work," Carter said. "But it may take them time to gain that traction." Both founders said they initially were met with skepticism about putting together such an event, especially from teams they were interested in inviting. Houston was the first school to commit, first offering an oral pledge early in the year and then signing a contract in April. That created momentum for others to join, and including the No. 6 Cougars, half the field is ranked. "We have the relationships to operate a great event," Berger said. "We had to get coaches over those hurdles, and once they knew that we were real, schools got on board really quickly." The founders worked with the NCAA to make sure the tournament abided by that organization's rules, so players must appear at ancillary events in order to receive NIL money. Strict pay for play is not allowed, though there are incentives for performance. The champion, for example, will receive $1.5 million in NIL money. Now the pressure is on to pull off the event and not create the kind of headlines that can dog it for years to come. "I think everybody in the marketplace is watching what's going to happen (this) week and, more importantly, what happens afterwards," Giles said. "Do the players get paid on a timely basis? And if they do, that means that Turner or somebody has paid way more than the market dictates? And the question will be: Can that continue?" CREIGHTON: P oint guard Steven Ashworth likely won’t play in the No. 21 Bluejays’ game against San Diego State in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Ashworth sprained his right ankle late in a loss to Nebraska on Friday and coach Greg McDermott said afterward he didn’t know how long he would be out. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Neighbors: Cañon City High School junior Ashlynne Goss aims to make the world a better placeLos Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is set to celebrate his 40th birthday on Dec. 30. However, he has not shown signs of slowing down despite being on the older side of the NBA. The fact that James has remained a top basketball player has left his current head coach, JJ Redick, in awe. James has tied basketball legend Vince Carter for playing 22 seasons in the league. However, unlike Carter, the 6-foot-9 forward is still putting up All-Star numbers, setting him apart from other aging stars in the league. One person who has witnessed James’ longevity from the start is Redick. When the former Duke star entered the league, the Lakers star was already an established star, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers . The head coach still can’t believe how the four-time champion has continued to dominate and stay at an elite level. “I played against LeBron in high school so I knew that he was gonna be great in the NBA,” Redick said. “I don’t think you could ever predict, no matter how much the prognosticators label people that 16, 17, 18 years old whether or not they’re gonna be all-time greats, which he turned out to be. And to be clear, it hasn’t gone quickly for me the last 21 years.” “It’s kind of mind-boggling just to be in this position coaching him, playing against him for 15 years, taking three years of calling his games and then he’s still playing at this level. Feels like he’s just been doing this forever and not a small stretch in human history, but forever. And that just speaks to his competitive stamina and love for the game.” JJ Redick called it 'mind-boggling' that LeBron James is still this good as he gets set to celebrate his 40th birthday. https://t.co/bydJaXWJe0 — Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) December 30, 2024 For the 2024-25 NBA season, James is averaging 23.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 9.0 assists. The numbers he’s putting up this season aren’t usually what 40-year-old players have. However, the star continues to perform like a star and has gone above and above. Anthony Davis reveals what gift he’ll give his Los Angeles Lakers teammate While the NBA world is waiting for the Los Angeles Lakers star to turn 40, his teammate must not have the date circled on his calendar. Following the Lakers’ 132-122 win over the Sacramento Kings , Anthony Davis was asked about his plans for what to give to James as a gift. “He is turning 40, huh?” reflected Davis, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin . “It is a big milestone. I’ll probably get him a bottle of vino or something... thank you for reminding me. I’m a bad friend.” One does one NBA star get for another as a 40th birthday present? Can never have too much wine. pic.twitter.com/V2GZg3PXRB — Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 29, 2024 With the star’s birthday a day away, Davis can prepare something special to give to the player who helped him win his first championship. This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

Popular brunch spot, , in the west end of is looking for a new owner. The unit on Queen Margaret Drive in North Kelvinside is a local favourite, known for their tasty rolls. However, following the sad passing of owner Jenny earlier this year, her husband Chris has decided to sell the business and search for a new dedicated owner. Listed with Kirkstone Property Consultancy, offers in the region of £45,000 are expected, this includes the goodwill of the business, fixtures and fittings - with stock also available at valuation. The current lease is £11,000 per annum and will soon increase to £12,000 in 2027. The unit, situated in a busy prime location, is on the ground floor of a mixed use four-storey tenement red sandstone building and is accessed via a single aluminium framed and glazed door. Internally, the café is rectangular in shape with customers table and chairs to the front and serving counter to the rear. Behind the serving counter is the commercial kitchen which, as expected, is fitted out to a professional standard with extract ventilation and a range of stainless steel sink units, utility basins and fitments. A comprehensive range of floor and wall mounted style units are installed with appropriate worktops. The walls are covered in stainless steel and PVC splashbacks and the suspended ceiling incorporates LED lighting. Part of the listing description reads: "Comet Pieces is an established café / takeaway business which enjoys regular all year round trade from customers, such is the trading position. The bespoke menu the current operators offer is reflective of the success of the business and, in turn, benefits from high levels of repeat custom from locals. "The business trades Monday to Saturday from 9am to 8pm. The current operators have decided to sell the business due to a change in circumstance, thus creating an exciting self-employment opportunity. Proof of sales will be made available to seriously interested parties post viewing stage." For more information, click .DirecTV extends its agreement as title sponsor of the Holiday Bowl

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Russias Renewed Attacks Ukraines Grain Infrastructure Why Now What NextLAS VEGAS (AP) — Brett Howden scored his 15th goal of the season and Ilya Samsonov stopped 31 shots as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Calgary Flames 3-0 on Sunday night. Howden redirected defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s shot from the top of the slot late in the second period and is now tied with Ivan Barbashev for the team lead in goals. Howden has scored a goal in four of the last five games. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia quarterback Carson Beck will not return after he was hit on his throwing hand on the final play of an ugly first half Saturday in the Southeastern Conference championship game against Texas. Beck was hit by outside linebacker Trey Moore, forcing a fumble recovered by Anthony Hill Jr., who then lost the ball on an errant attempt to extend the play with a lateral as time expired. Beck was one of the last players to return to the field following halftime. He was holding his helmet but did not warm up remained on the sideline as backup Gunner Stockton led the offense to its first touchdown on the Bulldogs' first drive of the second half. Georgia coach Kirby Smart told ESPN Beck would not return to the game and said he had no details on the hand injury. Beck had the right arm wrapped in ice on the Georgia bench. No. 2 Texas outgained No. 5 Georgia 260-54 but led only 6-3 at halftime. The Bulldogs netted minus-2 yards rushing and Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and Charles Odum, The Associated Press