METAIRIE, La. (AP) — If Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi has any definite ideas about who'll play quarterback for New Orleans against Washington on Sunday, he's not ready to share that information. Rizzi maintained on Wednesday that there's still a chance that Derek Carr could clear the concussion protocol and function well enough with his injured, non-throwing left hand to return against the Commanders. Meanwhile, reserve QBs Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler split first-team snaps during Wednesday's practice, which Carr missed, Rizzi said. “We're not going to name a starter right now,” said Rizzi, who also made a point of noting that Carr would not be placed on the club's injured reserve list and would not need surgery. “We're going to see how that progression plays out, first with Derek and then obviously with Jake and Spencer.” Carr, whose latest injury occurred when he tried to dive for a first down during Sunday's 14-11 victory over the New York Giants , has already missed three starts this season because of a separate, oblique injury. New Orleans lost all three of those games, with Rattler, a rookie, starting and Haener, a second-year pro, serving as the backup. In his three starts, Rattler completed 59 of 99 passes (59.6%) for 571 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Haener has gotten sporadic work this season in relief of both Carr and Rattler, completing 14 of 29 passes (48.3%) for 177 yards and one TD without an interception. Rizzi said he finds the 6-foot-1 Haener and 6-foot Rattler “very similar in a lot of ways," adding that whichever of those two might play “doesn't change a whole bunch" in terms of game-planning. “They're both similar-size guys. Their athletic ability is very similar,” Rizzi said. “They're similar-style quarterbacks. We're not dealing with opposites on the spectrum.” The Saints also signed another QB this week — Ben DiNucci — to help take scout team snaps at practice, now that Rattler and Haener are not as available to do that while competing to possibly start if Carr is indeed unable to play. The Saints (5-8) have won three of four games since Rizzi took over following the firing of coach Dennis Allen. That allowed New Orleans to remain alive in the NFC South Division, currently led by Tampa Bay (7-6). Rizzi said Carr has not had any setbacks this week in terms of progressing through the NFL's concussion protocol. “By the end of the week, if's he's not able to get any reps in any form or fashion, then obviously we'll go with one of the other guys,” Rizzi said. NOTES: RB Alvin Kamara did not practice on Wednesday because of an illness. ... WR Chris Olave, who is out indefinitely because of concussions this season, has returned to meetings at Saints headquarters. He as not, however, made plans to return to practice yet because he still plans to meet first with neurological specialists to try to assess the risks of returning to action during what's left of this season. Rizzi said the possibility of Olave playing again this season remains “on the table” for now. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. donors gave $3.6 billion on Tuesday, an increase from the past two years, according to estimates from the nonprofit GivingTuesday . The Tuesday after Thanksgiving, now known as GivingTuesday, has become a major day for nonprofits to fundraise and otherwise engage their supporters each year, since the 92nd St Y in New York started it as a hashtag in 2012. GivingTuesday has since become an independent nonprofit that connects a worldwide network of leaders and organizations who promote giving in their communities. “This just really shows the generosity, the willingness of American citizens to show up, particularly collectively,” said Asha Curran, CEO of the nonprofit GivingTuesday. “We are just seeing the power of collective action and particularly collective giving over and over and over again.” This year, about 18.5 million people donated to nonprofits and another 9.2 million people volunteered, according to GivingTuesday's estimates. Both the number of donors and the number of volunteers increased by 4% from the group's 2023 estimates. “For us, it’s not just about the number of dollars," Curran said. "It’s about the number of people who feel like they have agency over the way their communities progress forward into the future.” The nonprofit GivingTuesday estimates the amount of money and goods donated and the number of participants using data from donor management software companies, donation platforms, payment processors and donor-advised funds. Curran said they are purposely conservative in their calculations. Nonprofits in the U.S. raised $3.1 billion in both 2022 and 2023 on GivingTuesday. That mirrored larger giving trends where the overall amount of donations dropped in 2022 and mostly held steady in 2023 after accounting for inflation. It’s never easy to predict current giving trends, but Una Osili, associate dean at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, said there were economic forces pushing in both directions. “At the very same time, there’s a lot of uncertainty, especially around prices, the cost of living, the supermarket toll that people are expecting to continue even though inflation has moderated,” she said. Donating or volunteering with nonprofits aren't the only ways people participate in their communities. Many give to crowdfunding campaigns , political causes or support people directly in their networks. But tracking charitable donations is one way that researchers use to understand people's civic engagement. “This country is undeniably in a lot of pain and very divided right now,” Curran said. “And so to have a day that felt as hopeful and as optimistic as yesterday did, I’m sure was not only comforting to me, but to many, many millions of people.” Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy .
Avalanche acquire young forward in another trade with Predators
Carl Wilkinson loved many things in life - animals, the beach, his friends, nature, spirituality, and helping the community through his work as a police officer. or signup to continue reading But nothing came close to the care and attention he showed to his family. However, his three young boys, all aged under three, will be growing up without their father after Detective Wilkinson died in a road tragedy at East Lynne, located near Ulladulla, on the South Coast of NSW, last week. The death, when his ute collided with a truck on the Princes Highway, has sent shock waves through the region, with communities rallying around those left behind. They include his partner Madeleine Cox, and three young sons - the oldest turning three next week, and the youngest just three months old. Mr Wilkinson, 37, and his young family moved to Batemans Bay from Burrill Lake just days before the accident. Since the crash, the Milton-Ulladulla and Batemans Bay communities have been pouring out their love and support for the young family, wrapping Ms Cox and the boys in their collective arms. A organised by Jo Thompson of North Nowra has already raised more than $26,000 to support the family, with hundreds of people rushing to give what support they can. The community also rallied together when Ms Cox wanted to locate Carl's guitar that had been donated to an op shop in Ulladulla just days earlier. The response was swift and wide-ranging with dozens of people offering their help, ensuring Ms Cox was soon reunited with the instrument that had taken on extra significance since the accident. Meanwhile, friends have been mourning the loss of Mr Wilkinson, better known simply as Wilko. They have spoken of his fun-loving nature, his caring attitude, and the mark he left on all people, but especially children. Several spoke of him being a natural-born father, long before having any children of his own. That changed after he met Ms Cox on January 1, 2018. She had moved to the Shoalhaven to work as a nurse at Milton Hospital, with Mr Wilkinson transferred to the area six months later. But it seemed they were destined to be together. Ms Cox said on their second date, "I brought him to our farm to meet my parents and he pointed out a painting in the shed of an angel standing proud, strong with long hair and beautiful white wings looking to the sky. "He asked where we got it. "I said my mum likes to collect things from the tip and op shops. "He said he painted it when he was 16, and that it had C. Wilko in the bottom corner," Ms Cox recalled "We were all in shock." She described it as "a painting of his future self - a guardian angel." Journalist with the South Coast Register Journalist with the South Coast Register DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement
Blackhawks have lots to prove in first of back-to-back games vs. Islanders
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. The team said Thursday that additional exams revealed enough damage to keep Lamb off the field Sunday at Philadelphia and in the final game at home against Washington. The team said surgery was not expected to be required. Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention a few hours before last weekend's 26-24 victory over Tampa Bay . The decision on Lamb means the Cowboys will finish the regular season with at least five former Pro Bowlers on injured reserve. Among the others are quarterback Dak Prescott, who was limited to eight games before a season-ending hamstring tear, and right guard Zack Martin. The seven-time All-Pro made it through 10 games before deciding on season-ending ankle surgery. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence didn't playing after Week 4 because of a foot injury, and cornerback Trevon Diggs battled a variety of injuries while playing 11 games before a knee injury ended his season. Lamb initially injured his right shoulder when it hit the turf hard twice in a 27-21 loss at Atlanta on Nov. 3. He kept playing and had at least 100 yards in each of his last two games — both victories — before getting shut down. The 25-year-old Lamb sat out the entire offseason and preseason in a contract dispute after getting career highs in catches (an NFL-best 135), yards receiving (club-record 1,749) and touchdowns (12) in 2023. The holdout finally ended with a $136 million, four-year extension in late August, but neither the Cowboys nor their star receiver could get that production going again this season. Dallas (7-8) is missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020, Lamb's rookie year. Lamb finishes the season with 101 catches for 1,194 yards and six TDs. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
NonePenn State looks to control offensive glass vs. Penn
Forrest's 30 lead N.C. A&T past North Carolina Central 85-72
LOS ANGELES — The four words were first spoken here on a bright spring afternoon at Camelback Ranch, my astonished syllables joining similar tones of amazement floating from every corner of a crowded press box. "Are you kidding me?" Down to his last pitch in his first spring training game as a Dodger, Shohei Ohtani had just launched a two-run home run. "Are you kidding me?" The crowd gasped in disbelief at the perfect timing and wondrous theater, the four words reverberating around the stadium like an anthem to the unimaginable. "Are you kidding me?" Eight months later, Los Angeles still asks that question. Was Shohei Ohtani's first season as a Dodger really real? Was the best baseball player on the planet even better than that? Could the man with arguably the highest expectations in baseball history actually exceed them? Yes, yes and unbelievably, yes. In being named the National League most valuable player on Thursday — becoming only the second player to win an MVP in both leagues — Ohtani completed a summer decorated with an even higher honor. Most Valuable Season Ever By A Los Angeles Athlete. This city has witnessed many memorable seasons by many legendary athletes, from Magic Johnson's rookie year to Fernando Valenzuela's rookie year to Sandy Koufax's 1963 to Eric Dickerson's 1984 to Shaquille O'Neal's 2000. But never before has one player during one season dominated the sport, transformed the town, awed the world and brought home a championship. After back-to-back playoff collapses, this was not a Dodgers town when Ohtani drove up the freeway from Anaheim this winter. It is overwhelmingly a Dodgers town now. His team was considered a bunch of underachievers before Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract. His team is now World Series champions. There was little international interest in the Dodgers before Ohtani brought his magical aura to Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers are now the most popular baseball team in the world. One man changed everything, an MVP of MVPs, the greatest Dodgers newcomer since Valenzuela, the greatest Dodgers season ever. "It will be a special moment that I will never forget," he said Thursday through an interpreter, after a special season that no one will ever forget. He led the league with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, a 1.036 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, and that doesn't tell half of the story. Ohtani made such an impact, he significantly and unselfishly improved the team before he ever even stepped on the field. By agreeing to annually defer all but $2 million of his contract, he gave Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman the financial flexibility to add other great players. Without Ohtani's generosity, Friedman might not have acquired Teoscar Hernández, Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Tyler Glasnow. Ohtani was a giant before he was a giant. Then the games started and here came those four words. You surely recognize them, because you've surely said them, time and again during a summer of dazzle. "Are you kidding me?" His season began in controversy, as longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara admitted to stealing more than $16 million from Ohtani to support a gambling addiction. The scandal was salacious. Ohtani was scrutinized. He was questioned. He was not believed. He finally was cleared, but only after his reputation was put through a wringer. Yet through it all he kept swinging, slugging seven home runs with a 1.017 OPS in the first 32 games. "Are you kidding me?" As the summer progressed, he quietly got stronger and faster, smoothly making the transition to leadoff hitter and base stealer, hitting a dozen home runs in June, stealing a dozen bases in July, all while rehabbing a surgically repaired pitching shoulder. "Are you kidding me?" On Aug. 23 against the Tampa Bay Rays, needing one home run to become the sixth person in the 40-homer, 40-steal club, Ohtani did it with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning. "Are you kidding me?" On his Aug. 28 bobblehead night, his dog, Decoy, delivered the first pitch in a sprint from the mound to the plate, then in the first inning Ohtani casually stepped up and homered. "Are you kidding me?" On Sept. 19 in Miami, on the verge of becoming the first member of the 50-50 club, Ohtani barged into the record books with arguably the greatest offensive game in baseball history, going 6 for 6 with three homers and two stolen bases. "Are you kidding me?" After consistently stating that he signed with the Dodgers to win a championship, on Oct. 5 he stared down the San Diego Padres in the third inning of his first playoff game and promptly hit a three-run home run. "Are you kidding me?" In the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees, he suffered a partial dislocation of his left shoulder on a slide into second. Even though the injury was serious enough to later require surgery, he insisted on playing the rest of the Series, and he did so with one arm, his left arm seemingly painfully stuck to his body. In those final three games he still managed a hit and drew a walk and forced the Yankees to account for his presence. "Are you kidding me?" This is not only Ohtani's record third unanimous MVP, it's the first one in history won by a player who didn't play an inning in the field, and he acknowledged Thursday that his inability to pitch led to an increased offensive focus. "My goal was to be able to pitch and contribute offensively and the fact that I knew I wasn't going to be able to pitch this season made me focus more on my offensive game," he said. "Fortunately I was able to produce and get this award which is very humbling." One wonders what he possibly can do for an encore, yet he's already preparing for one, undergoing the shoulder surgery immediately after the season, his elbow rehab in full fling, his aim clear. "The goal is to be ready for opening day," he said. "That includes hitting and pitching." March 18, in Tokyo, against the Chicago Cubs, starting on the mound and batting leadoff ... Shohei Ohtani! "Are you kidding me?" ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Teck Releases First Integrated Report on Climate Change and Nature
A musical inspired by viral Olympic breakdancer Raygun was shut down hours before it was due to open on Saturday, after lawyers representing the athlete threatened legal action, the show's creator said on social media. Steph Broadbridge, an Australian comedian who wrote and intended to star in "Raygun: The Musical," said in a video posted on Instagram that the breakdancer's "lawyers got in touch with the venue and threatened legal action." In its debut performance at Sydney venue Kinselas, the parody musical intended to retell the story of Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, widely known as Raygun, whose performance at the Paris Olympics spawned countless memes on social media as well as a backlash against her and the sport itself. The 37-year-old dancer's routine consisted of moves including a kangaroo hop, a backward roll and various contortions with her body while lying or crawling on the floor. She did not register a single point across her Olympic battles against breakers from the United States, France and Lithuania in August, losing 18-0 in all three rounds. "They were worried I was damaging her brand, which I would never do," said Broadbridge, adding: "They were very concerned that people would think that Rachael Gunn was affiliated with the musical. "I want to assure everyone that she will not be part of the show. She's very welcome to come; I would love for her to see it." Broadbridge said that anyone who had bought a ticket would be refunded their 10 Australian dollars ($6.45). The proceeds from the event were originally intended to be donated to the Women's and Girls Emergency Centre - a charity that supports women and children affected by homelessness, domestic violence and systemic disadvantage. She added that Gunn's lawyers trademarked the musical's poster, which featured a silhouette of the breakdancer's famous kangaroo hop and said she couldn't perform that dance as Gunn "owns" it. "That one did puzzle me - I mean, that's an Olympic-level dance. How would I possibly be able to do that without any formal breakdancing training?" Broadbridge said. The musical was advertised as including songs like "You May Be a B-girl But You'll Always Be an A-girl To Me," "I'm Breaking Down," and "I Would Have Won But I Pulled a Muscle," according to its Eventbrite listing. That listing now says the show is called "Breaking: The Musical." CNN has contacted Gunn's management team at the agency Born Bred for comment. In a statement to CNN affiliate 7news, the agency said that "Gunn's management and legal team is committed to protecting her intellectual property and ensuring that her brand remains strong and respected." "While we have immense respect for the credible work and effort that has gone into the development of the show, we must take necessary steps to safeguard Rachael's creative rights and the integrity of her work," it said. "This action is not intended to diminish the contributions of others, but rather to ensure her brand is properly represented and protected in all future endeavours." After the furor, Broadbridge apologized to Gunn for "any negativity" she had received as a result of the musical and told The Project that this was "supposed to be me trying to make you feel like the icon I believe that you can be in Australia." The-CNN-Wire & 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
Ghana Launches Citizen-Led iCollate App to Enhance Election Transparency
Special election dates set for vacant state Senate seat in Orange and Los Angeles counties
8 Las Posadas events in Southern California to get you in the Holiday spiritCanada 'Freedom Convoy' leader found guilty over trucker protest roleLIBERTY LAKE, Wash., Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), which is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water, marks a significant milestone with the 50th deployment of its Temetra ® solution in Australia, which is being deployed by Aqwest, the provider of drinking water to the City of Bunbury and its surrounding areas in Western Australia. With Itron’s cloud-based multi-vendor meter data collection and management solution, Aqwest will be able to manage its existing mechanical meters while enhancing and optimizing operations. Aqwest selected Temetra, Itron’s innovative cloud-based solution, to simplify meter data collection by utilizing a solution capable of incorporating multi-vendor meter reads. With the adoption of Temetra, Aqwest can now upgrade to digital meters at a pace best suited for its operations and seamlessly collect meter readings from existing mechanical meters and future smart meters through a single data collection and management platform. This multi-vendor capability allows Aqwest to gain comprehensive insights into consumption patterns through one unified platform. Utilizing Aqwest’s existing communication protocols and meter vendors, Temetra will collect, record and upload meter data using the handheld mobile Android devices currently in use by the utility. Temetra provides valuable insights by analyzing both current reads and historical data, enabling Aqwest to address customer billing questions and detect potential water leaks. This 50th customer milestone reinforces Itron’s commitment to addressing water scarcity in Australia and ensuring that communities are better equipped to manage water operations. The Temetra solution enables utilities to address critical water management tasks more efficiently. These capabilities are key to helping utilities anticipate and address potential water challenges before they turn into a crisis, such as losing water within the distribution system. “Aqwest is committed to providing sustainable, high-quality drinking water to the Bunbury Region. As the effects of climate change continue to impact on local water security, having an efficient water management system in place is crucial,” said Gary Hallsworth, chief executive officer at Aqwest. “We are delighted to be working with Itron to upgrade our water metering infrastructure to improve our customer consumption data and billing capabilities.” “Australia is no stranger to water shortages due to its dry climate, recurring droughts and the challenges caused by climate disruption, making water management a complex issue. On top of these challenges, population growth is increasing the demand on existing water infrastructure, much of which is aging and prone to inefficiencies,” said Don Reeves, senior vice president of Outcomes at Itron. “We are excited to celebrate this significant milestone. Working together with Australian utilities, we strive to deploy efficient solutions to address these challenges and to ensure that both remote and urban communities are equipped to tackle water management. With Temetra, utilities across the country are another step closer to water security.” Temetra is a globally adopted, cloud-based, multi-vendor, multi-commodity, meter data management solution. Temetra supports a variety of meter manufacturers and communications protocols enabling a smooth migration from automated meter reading to advanced meter reading. Temetra’s open ecosystem solution enables interoperability at all levels and supports multiple data collection technologies concurrently, providing utilities a smooth migration path from manual to smart metering. Storing meter read data from a variety of sources in one location, combined with other innovations like map-based routing, enhances operational efficiency. Temetra has demonstrated scalability, accommodating thousands of customers ranging in size from several hundred meters to several million. About Itron Itron is a proven global leader in energy, water, smart city, IIoT and intelligent infrastructure services. For utilities, cities and society, we build innovative systems, create new efficiencies, connect communities, encourage conservation and increase resourcefulness. By safeguarding our invaluable natural resources today and tomorrow, we improve the quality of life for people around the world. Join us: www.itron.com . Itron®, the Itron Logo and Temetra are registered trademarks of Itron, Inc in the United States and other countries and jurisdictions. All third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners and any usage herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron and the third party unless expressly stated. For additional information, contact: Itron, Inc. Sharon Chong Field Marketing Manager, Asia Pacific Office: +65 69837687 sharon.chong@itron.com Paul Vincent Vice President, Investor Relations 512-560-1172 Investors@itron.com Itron, Inc.