Traffic citations against Dolphins' Tyreek Hill dismissed after officers no-show at hearingRob Pelinka (Image via Getty) The Los Angeles Lakers have carried out a significant trade with the Brooklyn Nets , acquiring forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton in exchange for D'Angelo Russell, rookie Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round draft picks. NBA insider Shams Charania first reported the trade on December 29, 2024, marking a strategic move for both organizations. The deal represents a notable shift in the Lakers' roster construction while keeping funds for future transactions. For Russell, the trade meant that he would return to Brooklyn and this is where his NBA journey began. The former second-overall pick heads back to the Nets organization five years after being traded to the Golden State Warriors in the Kevin Durant deal. The main focus of the trade, Finney-Smith, brings his $14,924,167 contract to Los Angeles, while Milton joins the Los Angeles Lakers on a $2,875,000 deal. This financial structure allows the Lakers to maintain their two valuable tradeable first-round picks, preserving ammunition for potential future moves. Finney-Smith Dorian (Image via Getty) "The Lakers are sending D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks to the Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith," Charania reported through his social media channels, confirming the trade package involved in the transaction. The trade significantly impacts both teams' depth charts for the 2024-25 NBA season. For the Lakers, the addition of Finney-Smith provides defensive versatility and three-point shooting capability, while Milton adds backcourt depth to their rotation. The departure of Russell, who had been a key playmaker for the Lakers, opens up new opportunities in their guard rotation. The inclusion of rookie Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks demonstrates the Los Angeles Lakers' commitment to acquiring proven talent while managing their future assets responsibly. This trade represents another bold move by the Lakers' front office as they continue to reshape their roster around their core players. The acquisition of Finney-Smith and Milton suggests a focus on defensive versatility and shooting, addressing specific needs within their rotation. Also read: Top 30 most valuable NBA teams of 2024 The transaction's timing, occurring midway through the season, shows that both teams felt the need to make significant moves to improve their respective positions. As the season progresses, we will get to see how well this trade was for both organizations as they integrate their new players into their systems.
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Nifty and Bank Nifty Prediction for the week 02 Dec’24 to 06 Dec’24 by BL GURUNissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automakerI was deeply disturbed and disheartened upon witnessing university students at Federal University Dutsin-Ma resorting to hitching rides on tankers to get to school. This was may be due to a severe shortage of buses to transport them or financial constraints to afford paying transportation fee to the newly opened campus, which is located far from the main campus and town of Dutsin-Ma. The recent pictures circulating on social media of tankers carrying students to school at the new campus are so fearful,that necessitate immediate attention and action from the government and the management of the institution. Though I have seen a video clips of the of the Federal university Dutsin-Ma Dr. Muhammad Gazalli Garba in an interview stating that the picture is not true, I doubt what he said because the picture has been circulated by the students of the university on their social media platforms.However, whether the picture is true or not, it’s a matter of saving lives that are under serious risk!!! We all witnessed, the lives lost in the Majia area of Jigawa State, and other reports have also confirmed the incidents that occurred in so many states that led the lost of lives and huge amount of property due the frequent tanker exploitation in the country . This is only for the people who came to took fuel after Tanker exploitation or living close to the location where the tanker exploded, Sadly, still people are yet to learn a lesson from such tragic happenings and continuously using it for transportation or leaf in some places across the country. Why are we so forgetful about anything that multiple times done harm to us? The government in this country, at all levels, should set measures to ban people from using tankers for transportation to other places. This is because when a tanker explosion happens, there’s no guarantee that a single life might be rescued, as even people close by may be affected. It would be recalled that the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration on May 29, 2023, has brought about serious and undesirable conditions for citizens. This has forced the citizens to adopt new ways of life in their daily activities. This includes reducing their eating habits from three meals a day, and some find it difficult to have one meal a day in their houses. The policy has no doubt brought serious chaos and critical conditions to all individuals in Nigeria. Some lecturers in the university have been forced to abondan thier cars and choose alternatives because of the high prices in fuel . Indeed, not only lecturers at universities in Nigeria have been affected reports from national dailies showed how people have abandoned their cars and motorbikes for Keke Napep, while others have resorted to using bicycles in some states. Choosing alternative modes of transportation has become necessary for citizens, as the government has refused to reduce the fuel price.This is the harsh reality for salary earners, but how are the lives of students on campuses being affected? If salary earners and business owners are facing hectic situations and serious transportation challenges, there’s no doubt that students across campuses are also affected, particularly in some universities and colleges running their activities within two campuses. This may lead the students to use some alternative for transportation, which is not advisable. Furthermore, I call on the federal government and state government to provide adequate school buses that can transport students to some of their areas, which may ease the difficulties of transportation. Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umra Zulum, is doing well in this regard because students and people are provided with buses transporting students to some notable areas, making transportation easy for residents of Maiduguri and students at large. For instance, students from Borno State University are using these buses at just 100 naira, which transports them to the Post office Which is the main rounderbout in Maiduguri. If they were to use a private car, they would pay 400 to 500 naira, making the 1,000 or 800 -naira journey cost just 200 naira. Another development in the recent budget presented by the Governor of Borno State indicates that buses will be purchased to make transportation easier for residents and students at secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the state. This is a commendable initiative, and other states in the federation should emulate this example to make transportation easier and prevent the students and people from the use of tankers and trailers for travel.
Former Democratic U.S. President Bill Clinton, 78, was admitted to Georgetown University Medical Center on Monday with a fever, as confirmed by his deputy chief of staff. The situation is not deemed an emergency, according to NBC News. Clinton has undergone testing and observation, ensuring careful medical evaluation and support. Clinton is reported to be in good spirits and appreciative of the care provided by the medical team, as stated in a social media post by Angel Ureña. (With inputs from agencies.)
UCF coach Gus Malzahn reportedly resigning to take Florida State OC jobNYC syubway horror: Suspect Sabastian Zapeta has 'no memory of the attack'Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. Following is a quick look at what a combined Honda and Nissan would mean for the companies, and for the auto industry. Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, representing a 42% premium on the company’s stock as of March 18. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, while Erik and Pete Nordstrom — part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recused themselves from voting. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom Family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally. In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration. What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. American consumers feeling less confident in December, Conference Board says American consumers are feeling less confident in December, a business research group says. The Conference Board said Monday that its consumer confidence index fell back in December to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Consumers had been feeling increasingly confident in recent months. The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market tumbled more than a dozen points to 81.1. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda's U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse? Researchers and watchdog groups say the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce detailed and novel online reviews has put merchants, service providers and consumers in uncharted territory. Phony reviews have long plagued many popular consumer websites, such as Amazon and Yelp. But AI-infused text generation tools enable fraudsters to produce reviews faster and in greater volume, according to tech industry experts. The deceptive practice is illegal in the U.S. and becomes a bigger problem for consumers during the holiday shopping season, when many people rely on reviews to buy gifts. A tech company and watchdog group that uses software to detect fake reviews says AI-generated reviews have multiplied. Romanian lawmakers narrowly approve new pro-European coalition during period of political turmoil BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian lawmakers have voted narrowly in favor of a new pro-European coalition government led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move on Monday could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in the 466-seat legislature. The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party, the center-right National Liberal Party, the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. President Klaus Iohannis swore in the new government on Monday night. Government regulators close investigation into Ford Focus recalls Government safety regulators are closing an investigation into two previous recalls of the Ford Focus after determining that Ford Motor Co. has satisfied its concerns. Ford recalled around 1.5 million Ford Focus sedans from the 2012-2018 model years in 2018 because they could lose power. The issue was a malfunctioning canister purge valve and software that didn’t adequately detect when it was stuck open. Ford fixed the software in two separate recalls, but after cars continued to stall, the government opened an inquiry last year. Earlier this fall, Ford offered to replace the canister purge valve on all of the vehicles, satisfying regulators' concerns. AI will eavesdrop on world's wildest places to track and help protect endangered wildlife PUERTO JIMÉNEZ, Costa Rica (AP) — A biologist hid 350 audio monitors across Costa Rica’s tropical rainforests to spy on endangered spider monkeys in order to help protect them. But she had to go back to collect the data and feed those sounds into artificial intelligence systems that can recognize monkey calls. Now tech giant Microsoft's philanthropic arm is hoping to supercharge AI-assisted wildlife research with new solar-powered devices that can capture sounds, images and other wilderness data for a year or more without human intervention. Researchers say more AI wildlife surveillance is urgently needed to monitor the health of species at risk of extinction.
B.C. health executive fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccine loses EI appealCrowdsourced Healthcare Financing: Community-Funded Medical SupportTORONTO — Canada's main stock index pushed higher to end Monday up almost 150 points on light trading action, while U.S. stock markets also gained ahead of the Christmas break. "Today is a quiet pre-Christmas Day of trading," said Kevin Burkett, a portfolio manager at Victoria, B.C.-based Burkett Asset Management. While markets in both Canada and the U.S. were mild, Burkett suggests watching the markets closely during the holiday season, a contrast to what's typically a sleepy period for markets. "We're continuing to watch markets very closely here because you've got some tectonic plate shifting in terms of the macroeconomic backdrop," he said. "It's all the political conversations both in Canada and in the U.S." Burkett added fiscal policy seems to be disconnected from monetary policy in the post-pandemic period. "The fiscal policy may shift and that shift absolutely has market implications both in the short and long term," he said. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 149.50 points at 24,748.98. Statistics Canada released its latest numbers on Canada's economic growth, up 0.3 per cent in October — driven by the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector. The loonie continued its slide, trading for 69.47 cents US compared with 69.61 cents US on Friday. The telecom sector was the biggest loser at the closing on TSX, which Burkett attributed to "tax loss selling happening at the end of the year." Competition Bureau Canada announced on Monday it was suing Rogers Communications Inc. for allegedly making misleading claims about its infinite wireless plans. The stock price for Rogers, which is hovering near 52-week lows, fell 0.7 per cent on Monday. Meanwhile, BCE was down almost 1.4 per cent and Telus dropped 0.9 per cent. Burkett suggested the day's poor performance among telecom companies was likely tax loss selling since it's almost the end of the year. "It's been a tough year for the communication services sector," he said. South of the border, communications services was the top-performing sector, led by large-cap tech companies. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 66.69 points at 42,906.95. The S&P 500 index was up 43.22 points at 5,974.07, while the Nasdaq composite was up 192.29 points at 19,764.89. The February crude oil contract was down 22 cents at US$69.24 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was down six cents at US$3.35 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$16.90 at US$2,628.20 an ounce and the March copper contract was down one cent at US$4.09 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX: GSPTSE, TSX: CADUSD, TSE: BCE, TSE: RCI. B) Ritika Dubey, The Canadian PressJefferies Financial Group: I Keep Buying This Expensive Stock
Nifty opened with a wide gap-up last week but did not get a strong follow-through rise thereafter. That have left the near-term picture unclear. We can see a gap-down open on Monday following the weak GDP data release. However, we will have to see if the Nifty is sustaining lower or bouncing back again. We will have to wait and watch the price action this week to get clarity on the next direction of move. Nifty can trade in a broad range of 23,650 to 24,700. A breakout on either side of the range will decide whether Nifty50 can rise to 25,000 and 25,500 or fall to 23,300-23,000. Nifty Bank index retains its 49,800-52,600 range. A sustained break above 52,600 is needed to become bullish for the nifty bank index to see a rise to 54,000 and higher. Else the index can fall back again towards 50,000. -- BL Portfolio: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/portfolio/ --- Write to the following email ids for any queries on 1) Futures & Options (F&O) : derivatives@thehindu.co.in 2) Technical outlook on the specific stocks: techtrail@thehindu.co.in 3) Mutual Funds: mf@thehindu.co.in 4) Investments, Personal finance: blportfolio@thehindu.co.in --- SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES Facebook - Blportfolio https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086211032670 LinkedIn - BL Portfolio https://www.linkedin.com/in/bl-portfolio-314bb2220 Twitter - @BlPortfolio https://twitter.com/BlPortfolio?t=B3zkMfwKIMuoHWBWJfoZ3w&s=09 Comments
ROME (AP) — Robert Lewandowski joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only players in Champions League history with 100 or more goals. But Erling Haaland is on a faster pace than anyone by boosting his total to 46 goals at age 24 on Tuesday. Still, Haaland's brace wasn't enough for Manchester City in a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord that extended the Premier League champion's winless streak to six matches. Lewandowski’s early penalty kick started Barcelona off to a 3-0 win over previously unbeaten Brest to move into second place in the new single-league format. The Poland striker added goal No. 101 in second-half stoppage time. Ronaldo leads the all-time scoring list with 140 goals and Messi is next with 129. But neither Ronaldo nor Messi play in the Champions League anymore following moves to Saudi Arabia and the United States, respectively. The 36-year-old Lewandowski required 125 matches to reach the century mark, two more than Messi (123) and 12 fewer than Ronaldo (137). Barcelona also got a second-half score from Dani Olmo. The top eight finishers in the standings advance directly to the round of 16 in March. Teams ranked ninth to 24th go into a knockout playoffs round in February, while the bottom 12 teams are eliminated. Haaland converted a first-half penalty to eclipse Messi as the youngest player to reach 45 goals then scored City's third after the break to raise his total to 46 goals in 44 games. Ilkay Gundogan had City's second. But then Feyenoord struck back with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez and David Hancko. Inter Milan beat Leipzig 1-0 with an own goal to move atop the standings with 13 points, one more than Barcelona and Liverpool, which faces Real Madrid on Wednesday. The Serie A champion is the only club that hasn't conceded a goal. Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 — the same score from the 2020 final between the two teams. PSG ended with 10 men and remained in the elimination zone. The French powerhouse has struggled in Europe after Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid. Atalanta moved within two points of the lead with a 6-1 win at Young Boys. Also, Arsenal won 5-1 at Sporting Lisbon; and Bayer Leverkusen routed Salzburg 5-0. AC Milan followed up its win at Real Madrid with a 3-2 victory at last-place Slovan Bratislava in an early match. Christian Pulisic put the seven-time champion ahead midway through the first half by finishing off a counterattack. Then Rafael Leao restored the Rossoneri’s advantage after Tigran Barseghyan had equalized for Bratislava and Tammy Abraham quickly added another. Nino Marcelli scored with a long-range strike in the 88th for Bratislava, which ended with 10 men. Bratislava has lost all five of its matches. Argentina World Cup winner Julian Alvarez scored twice and Atletico Madrid routed Sparta Prague 6-0 in the other early game. Alvarez scored with a free kick 15 minutes in and Marcos Llorente added a long-range strike before the break. Alvarez finished off a counterattack early in the second half after being set up by substitute Antoine Griezmann, who then marked his 100th Champions League game by getting on the scoresheet himself. Angel Correa added a late brace for Atletico, which earned its biggest away win in Europe. Atletico beat Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round and extended its winning streak across all competitions to six matches. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerWASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. The platform is once again bringing influencers to Washington, this time to lobby members of Congress to reject a fast-moving bill that would force TikTok's Beijing-based parent company to sell or be banned in the United States. On Tuesday, some influencers began a two-day advocacy event in support of TikTok, which arranged their trip ahead of a House floor vote on the legislation on Wednesday. But unlike a similar lobbying event the company put together last March when talks of a TikTok ban reached a fever pitch, this year’s effort appeared more rushed as the company scrambles to counter the legislation, which advanced rapidly on Capitol Hill. Summer Lucille, a TikTok content creator with 1.4 million followers who is visiting Washington this week, said if TikTok is banned, she “don’t know what it will do” to her business, a plus-sized boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina. “It will be devastating,” Lucille said in an interview arranged by the platform. In an unusual showing of bipartisanship, a House panel unanimously approved the measure last week. President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if lawmakers pass it. But it’s unclear what will happen in the Senate, where several bills aimed at banning TikTok have stalled. The legislation faces other roadblocks. Former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds sway over both House and Senate Republicans, has voiced opposition to the bill, saying it would empower Meta-owned Facebook, which he continues to lambast over his 2020 election loss. The bill also faces pushback from some progressive lawmakers in the House as well as civil liberties groups who argue it infringes on the First Amendment. TikTok could be banned if ByteDance, the parent company, doesn’t sell its stakes in the platform and other applications it owns within six months of the bill’s enactment. The fight over the platform takes place as U.S.-China relations have shifted to that of strategic rivalry, especially in areas such as advanced technologies and data security, seen as essential to each country’s economic prowess and national security. The shift, which started during the Trump years and has continued under Biden, has placed restrictions on export of advanced technologies and outflow of U.S. monies to China, as well as access to the U.S. market by certain Chinese businesses. The Biden administration also has cited human rights concerns in blacklisting a number of Chinese companies accused of assisting the state surveillance campaign against ethnic minorities. TikTok isn’t short on lobbyists. Its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance has a strong lobbying apparatus in Washington that includes dozens of lobbyists from well-known consulting and legal firms as well as influential insiders, such as former members of Congress and ex-aides to powerful lawmakers, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will also be in Washington this week and plans to meet with lawmakers, according to a company spokesperson who said Chew’s visit was previously scheduled. But influencers, who have big followings on social media and can share personal stories of how the platform boosted their businesses — or simply gave them a voice — are still perhaps one of the most powerful tools the company has in its arsenal. A TikTok spokesperson said dozens of influencers will attend the two-day event, including some who came last year. The spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about how many new people would be attending this year’s lobbying blitz. The company is briefing them ahead of meetings with their representatives and media interviews. Lucille, who runs the boutique in North Carolina, says has seen a substantial surge in revenue because of her TikTok page. The 34-year-old began making TikTok content focusing on plus-sized fashion in March 2022, more than a decade after she started her business. She quickly amassed thousands of followers after posting a nine-second video about her boutique. Because of her popularity on the platform, her business has more online exposure and customers, some of whom have visited from as far as Europe. She says she also routinely hears from followers who are finding support through her content about fashion and confidence. JT Laybourne, an influencer who also came to Washington, said he joined TikTok in early 2019 after getting some negative comments on videos he posted on Instagram while singing in the car with his children. Laybourne, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was attracted to the short-form video platform because it was easy to create videos that contained music. Like Lucille, he quickly gained traction on the app. He says he also received more support from TikTok users, who reacted positively to content he produced on love and positivity. Laybourne says the community he built on the platform rallied around his family when he had to undergo heart surgery in 2020. Following the surgery, he said he used the platform to help raise $1 million for the American Heart Association in less than two years. His family now run an apparel company that gets most of its traffic from TikTok. “I will fight tooth-and-nail for this app,” he said. But whether the opposition the company is mounting through lobbyists or influencers will be enough to derail the bill is yet to be seen. On Tuesday, House lawmakers received a briefing on national security concerns regarding TikTok from the FBI, Justice Department and intelligence officials. AP Journalist Didi Tang contributed to this report. This story was originally published on March 12, 2024. It was updated on December 23, 2024 to clarify a quote by TikTok content creator Summer Lucille.
A number of elected Mohave County officials, and their counterparts across the state, have significant pay raises to celebrate this holiday season. The salary increases take effect the first of the year. In Mohave County, nine positions will see their annual salaries increased from $63,800 to $83,800. They include each of the five Board of Supervisors posts, the Assessor, Treasurer, Recorder and School Superintendent. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.As TikTok bill steams forward, online influencers put on their lobbying hats to visit WashingtonAdorable Peanuts Décor for a Holly Jolly Holiday DALLAS , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Spread cheer with Gemmy's charming Peanuts ® Christmas decorations, available at Lowe's. Life-Size Animated Snoopy For tons of festive fun, include the Life-Size Animated Snoopy in your setup. Dressed in a Santa suit, the fuzzy 3.6-ft Snoopy holds an antler-wearing Woodstock and dances to the iconic "Linus and Lucy" tune. Airblown ® Inflatables Make merry moments with Peanuts Airblown ® Inflatables: Car Scene : Snoopy and Woodstock's red car features a C9 light string, green bow, and a "SNOOPY" license plate. Wearing a Santa hat, Snoopy waves from the driver's seat while Woodstock perches on the hood. (6-ft) Igloo Scene : Chill out! Lounging atop an igloo with a candy cane, Snoopy takes a break from the festivities. In a matching Santa hat, Woodstock stands on the wreath-adorned entrance. (4.5-ft) Mistletoe Snoopy : Snoopy stands with outstretched arms, dressed in a mistletoe Santa hat and a "Mistletoe Tester" red sweater. (3.5-ft) Yard Décor Enhance your display with adorable Snoopy yard decorations, including a Doghouse Tinsel Sculpture and Blow Mold ! Shop Gemmy's Peanuts collection at Lowe's. About Gemmy Industries Gemmy Industries is a leader in the seasonal décor market, bringing festive fun and holiday cheer to homes everywhere. Dedicated to innovation and creative design, Gemmy has elevated industry standards and established recognizable brands like Airblown ® Inflatable and LightShow ® Lighting. For more information on products and retailers, visit www.gemmy.com . Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook . About Peanuts The characters of Peanuts and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, which is 41% owned by WildBrain Ltd., 39% owned by Sony Music Entertainment ( Japan ) Inc., and 20% owned by the family of Charles M. Schulz , who first introduced the world to Peanuts in 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. Since then, Charlie Brown , Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have made an indelible mark on popular culture. In addition to enjoying beloved Peanuts shows and specials on Apple TV+, fans of all ages celebrate the Peanuts brand worldwide through thousands of consumer products, as well as amusement park attractions, cultural events, social media, and comic strips available in all formats, from traditional to digital. In 2018, Peanuts partnered with NASA on a multi-year Space Act Agreement designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and STEM among the next generation of students. SOURCE Gemmy Industries
Ohio State, Michigan players involved in postgame scuffle
ORLANDO, Fla. — UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning after four seasons with the school. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the move, which will see Malzahn to leave to take the offensive coordinator job at Florida State. Malzahn previously worked with FSU coach Mike Norvell during their time at Tulsa under then-coach Todd Graham from 2007-08. The Knights ended a disappointing 4-8 season in which they lost eight of their last nine games, the longest losing streak since 2015. Malzahn, 59, was in the fourth year of a contract through 2028. His buyout, it is reported, would have been $13.75 million. He finished 27-25 at UCF but lost 16 of his last 22 games and was a dismal 4-14 in two seasons in the Big 12. After back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2021-22, the Knights went 6-7 in 2023 and 4-8 in 2024. This season started with high expectations as Malzahn made sweeping changes to the program. He retooled the strength and conditioning department and hired Ted Roof and Tim Harris Jr. as defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively. He also added nearly 50 new players to the roster, leaning heavily on the transfer market. UCF started by winning its first three games against New Hampshire, Sam Houston and a thrilling comeback at TCU, but offensive struggles saw the Knights tumble through a TBD-game losing streak to finish the season. Terry Mohajir hired Malzahn on Feb. 15, 2021, six days after he was hired to replace Danny White. The move came eight weeks after Malzahn had been fired at Auburn after eight seasons of coaching the Tigers. The two briefly worked together at Arkansas State in 2012 before Malzahn left for the Auburn job. “When he [Mohajir] offered the job, I was like, ‘I’m in.’ There wasn’t thinking about or talking about ...,” Malzahn said during his introductory press conference. “This will be one of the best programs in college football in a short time. This is a job that I plan on being here and building it.” UCF opened the 2021 season with non-conference wins over Boise State and Bethune-Cookman before traveling to Louisville on Sept. 17, where quarterback Dillon Gabriel suffered a fractured collarbone in the final minute of a 42-35 loss. Backup Mikey Keene would finish out the season as Gabriel announced his intention to transfer. The Knights would finish the season on the plus side by accepting a bid to join the Big 12 Conference in September and then by defeating Florida 29-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl. Malzahn struck transfer portal gold in the offseason when he signed former Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. Plumlee, a two-sport star with the Rebels, helped guide UCF to the American Athletic Conference Championship in its final season. However, Plumlee’s injury forced the Knights to go with Keene and freshman Thomas Castellanos. The team finished with losses to Tulane in the conference championship and Duke in the Military Bowl. Plumlee would return in 2023 as UCF transitioned to the Big 12 but would go down with a knee injury in the final minute of the Knights’ 18-16 win at Boise State on Sept. 9. He would miss the next four games as backup Timmy McClain took over the team. Even on his return, Plumlee couldn’t help UCF, on a five-game losing streak to open conference play. The Knights got their first Big 12 win at Cincinnati on Nov. 4 and upset No. 15 Oklahoma State the following week, but the team still needed a win over Houston in the regular-season finale to secure a bowl bid for the eighth straight season. From the moment Malzahn stepped on campus, he prioritized recruiting, particularly in Central Florida. “We’re going to recruit like our hair’s on fire,” Malzahn said at the time. “We’re going to go after the best players in America and we’re not backing down to anybody.” From 2007 to 2020, UCF signed 10 four-star high school and junior college prospects. Eight four-star prospects were in the three recruiting classes signed under Malzahn. The 2024 recruiting class earned a composite ranking of 39 from 247Sports, the highest-ranked class in school history. The 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 41 and has commitments from three four-star prospects. Malzahn has always leaned on the transfer market, signing 60 players over the past three seasons. Some have paid huge dividends, such as Javon Baker, Lee Hunter, Kobe Hudson, Tylan Grable, Bula Schmidt, Amari Kight, Marcellus Marshall, Trent Whittemore, Gage King, Ethan Barr, Deshawn Pace and Plumlee. Others haven’t been as successful, such as quarterback KJ Jefferson, who started the first five games of this season before being benched for poor performance. Jefferson’s struggles forced the Knights to play musical chairs at quarterback, with true freshman EJ Colson, redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown and redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk all seeing action at one point or another this season. This season’s struggles led to several players utilizing the NCAA’s redshirt rule after four games, including starting slot receiver Xavier Townsend and kicker Colton Boomer, who have also entered the transfer portal. Defensive end Kaven Call posted a letter to Malzahn on Twitter in which he accused the UCF coaching staff of recently kicking him off the team when he requested to be redshirted.
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