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LOGAN, Utah (AP) — Mason Falslev scored 27 points as Utah State beat South Florida 88-67 on Saturday night for the Aggies' best start in school history. Falslev had nine rebounds, nine assists, and three steals for the Aggies (10-0). Ian Martinez scored 15 points while shooting 4 for 12 (1 for 6 from 3-point range) and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line and added five assists. Karson Templin finished 5 of 8 from the field to finish with 12 points. Quincy Adekokoya led the Bulls (5-5) in scoring, finishing with 12 points. Kasen Jennings added 11 points and five assists for South Florida. Brandon Stroud finished with 10 points and two steals. NEXT UP Up next for Utah State is a Tuesday matchup with UCSD at home, and South Florida hosts Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .NEW YORK (AP) — More shoppers than ever are on track to use ‘buy now, pay later’ plans this holiday season, as the ability to spread out payments looks attractive at a time when Americans still feel the lingering effect of inflation and already have record-high credit card debt. The data firm Adobe Analytics predicts shoppers will spend 11.4% more this holiday season using buy now, pay later than they did a year ago. The company forecasts shoppers will purchase $18.5 billion worth of goods using the third-party services for the period Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, with $993 million worth of purchases on Cyber Monday alone. Buy now, pay later can be particularly appealing to consumers who have low credit scores or no credit history, such as younger shoppers, because most of the companies providing the service run only soft credit checks and don’t report the loans and payment histories to the credit bureaus, unlike credit card companies. This holiday season, buy now, pay later users can also feel more confident if a transaction goes awry. In May, the CFPB said buy now, pay later company must adhere to other regulations that govern traditional credit, such as providing ways to demand refunds and dispute transactions. To use a buy now, pay later plan, consumers typically sign up with bank account information or a debit or credit card, and agree to pay for purchases in monthly installments, typically over eight weeks or more. The loans are marketed as requiring no or low interest, or only conditional fees, such as for late payment. Klarna, Afterpay and Affirm are three of the biggest buy now, pay later companies. But consumer advocates warn that shoppers who sign up for the payment plans using a credit card can be hit with more interest and fees. That's because individuals open themselves up to interest on the credit card payment, if it's carried month to month, on top of any late fees, interest, or penalties from the buy now, pay later loan itself. Experts advise against using a credit card to pay for these plans for this reason. Consumer watchdogs also say the plans lead consumers to overextend themselves because, for example, not paying full price up front leaves, in the shopper’s mind at least, more money for smaller purchases . They also caution consumers to keep careful track of using multiple buy now, pay later services, as the automatic payments can add up, and there is no central reporting, such as with a credit card statement. “Buy now, pay later can be an innovative tool for purchases you’re going to make anyway,” said Mark Elliott, chief customer officer at financial services company LendingClub. “The challenge is that it does fuel overspending.” For merchants, that’s part of the appeal. Retailers have found that customers are more likely to have bigger cart sizes or to convert from browsing to checking out when buy now, pay later is offered. One report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York cited research that found customers spend 20% more when buy now, pay later is available. “The reality is that the increased cost-of-living and inflation have put more people in a situation where they’re already relying on revolving credit,” Elliott said. “The psychographics of ‘buy now, pay later’ may be different — people don’t think of it as debt — but it is.” If a consumer misses a payment, they can face fees, interest, or the possibility of being locked out of using the services in the future. Emily Childers, consumer financial expert for personal-finance technology company Credit Karma, said that internal data shows member credit card balances are up more than 50% for Gen Z and millennial members since March 2022, when the Fed started raising interest rates. “Young people are entering this holiday season already in the red,” she said. “And, based on what we’re seeing in the data, they’re continuing to bury their heads in the sand and spend.” The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

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Subsea7 awarded contract in the US Gulf of Mexico( ) has been steadily making its mark as one of Canada’s prominent financial institutions. As we look toward 2025, the stock presents an intriguing blend of opportunity and caution. Known for its strong regional dominance, particularly in Quebec, and its ability to diversify income streams, National Bank stock is well-positioned to deliver solid shareholder . Let’s break down the key elements shaping its outlook as we move into the new year – from recent earnings to broader market sentiment. Into earnings In its most recent earnings report for the fourth quarter of 2024, National Bank posted a net income of $955 million. A remarkable 27% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $2.66, up from $2.09. This exceeded analysts’ expectations and underscored the bank’s continued financial strength. This impressive growth was driven by exceptional performance in wealth management. This saw adjusted net income grow by 17% year-over-year to $219 million. Looking at the big picture, National Bank’s revenue for the trailing 12 months reached $10.6 billion, thus representing 19.7% year-over-year growth. The return on equity (ROE), a key metric that measures profitability against shareholder equity, stands at 15.2%, thereby affirming the bank’s effective use of its capital to drive returns. Notably, analysts project that the bank will maintain a strong ROE of 16.1% over the next three years. This is well above industry averages. Dividends and value One area where National Bank stock shines is its dividend performance. The bank offers a forward annual dividend rate of $4.40. With a payout ratio of 41.3%, this dividend appears highly sustainable, leaving ample room for reinvestment in growth initiatives. National Bank consistently rewards shareholders while maintaining a strong balance sheet. This should give income-focused investors confidence as they look to 2025. Over the past five years, the bank’s average dividend yield has hovered around 3.7%, further cementing its reputation as a reliable dividend stock. From a valuation perspective, National Bank stock is trading at a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12.5, and a forward P/E of 12.4, thus making it more affordable than some of its larger peers. While not the cheapest on the market, its valuation is reasonable given its growth trajectory, strong profitability, and robust financial health. Its price-to-book ratio of 1.9 remains attractive when compared to its historical averages and suggests that the stock isn’t overpriced at current levels. Looking ahead While National Bank’s fundamentals remain strong, there are areas investors should monitor heading into 2025. The gross impaired loan ratio, which increased to 68 basis points in Q4, is a sign of potential pressure in its credit portfolio. While this remains manageable, it reflects broader economic uncertainties, such as the risk of higher interest rates impacting borrowers. That said, National Bank’s conservative approach to risk management and strong cash reserves, over $163 billion in total cash, position it well to absorb any near-term shocks. Strategically, National Bank has been making moves to expand its presence in wealth management, fintech partnerships, and sustainable finance initiatives. These efforts, paired with the bank’s focus on digital transformation, are expected to support long-term growth. For instance, its investment in advanced technology and mobile banking solutions has allowed it to remain competitive in attracting younger clients while improving operational efficiency. As Canada’s economy continues to recover, these growth strategies should drive value for shareholders in the years ahead. Bottom line National Bank offers a compelling story for investors as we move into 2025. With solid earnings growth, a sustainable dividend, and a reasonable valuation, the stock remains an attractive option for both growth and income-focused investors. Some challenges lie ahead, such as rising impaired loans and margin pressures. Yet the strong capital position, strategic initiatives, and consistent performance provide confidence that it can navigate any economic turbulence. National Bank stands out as a solid Canadian investment poised to hold its own in the financial sector, especially for those seeking stability and income.NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing lower as Wall Street ends a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Friday and the the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 333 points, or 0.8%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.5%. The “Magnificent 7” stocks weighed on the market, led by declines in Nvidia, Tesla and Microsoft. Even with the loss, the S&P 500 had a modest gain for the week and is still headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62%. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks are dragging down the market Friday as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.3%, with more than 90% of stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. The benchmark index was managing to hold onto a modest gain for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 418 points, or 1%, to 42,878 as of 1:43 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.8%. Technology stocks were the biggest weight on the market Friday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slumped 2.7%. Its enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes. Other Big Tech stocks losing ground included Microsoft, with a 2% decline. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 1.9% and Best Buy slipped 1.8%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. Energy stocks held up better than the rest of the market, with a loss of just 0.1% as crude oil prices rose 1.4%. The S&P 500 gained nearly 3% over a 3-day stretch before breaking for the Christmas holiday. On Thursday, the index posted a small decline. “There's just some uncertainty over this relief rally we've witnessed since last week,” said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial. Despite Friday's drop, the market is moving closer to another standout annual finish . The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. The stream of upbeat economic data and easing inflation helped prompt a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy this year. Expectations for interest rate cuts also helped drive market gains. The central bank recently delivered its third cut to interest rates in 2024. Even though Inflation has come closer to the central bank's target of 2%, it remains stubbornly above that mark and worries about it heating up again have tempered the forecast for more interest rate cuts. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market’s path ahead and shifting economic policies under incoming President Donald Trump. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Amedisys rose 4.7% after the home health care and hospice services provider agreed to extend the deadline for its sale to UnitedHealth Group. The Justice Department had sued to block the $3.3 billion deal, citing concerns he combination would hinder access to home health and hospice services in the U.S. The move to extend the deadline comes ahead of an expected shift in regulatory policy under Trump. The incoming administration is expected to have a more permissive approach to dealmaking and is less likely to raise antitrust concerns. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Markets in Europe gained ground. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.61% from 4.59% late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury slipped to 4.31% from 4.33% late Thursday. Wall Street will have more economic updates to look forward to next week, including reports on pending home sales and home prices. There will also be reports on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. Damian J. Troise, The Associated Press

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NoneWall Street stocks surged to fresh records Wednesday on hopes about easing US monetary policy, shrugging off political upheaval in South Korea and France. All three major US indices scored records, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average finishing above 45,000 for the first time. "The market at this point is looking for excuses to go up, and there's not really anything that might work against that narrative," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. "Over the last couple of days, it's managed to ignore all sorts of inconvenient things and decided that the situation in France doesn't matter for them," Sosnick said of the stock market. "The situation in Korea doesn't matter." South Korea's stock market fell less than feared and the won rebounded from earlier losses after President Yoon Suk Yeol swiftly reversed a decision to impose martial law. In Europe, Paris stocks managed to advance as France's government faced looming no-confidence votes. Late Wednesday in Paris, French lawmakers voted to oust the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier after just three months in office, pushing the country further into political uncertainty. For the first time in over sixty years, the National Assembly lower house toppled the incumbent government, approving a no-confidence motion that had been proposed by the hard left but which crucially was backed by the far-right headed by Marine Le Pen. "Political turmoil in both France and South Korea provide a uncertain backdrop for global markets, with the likely removal of both Barnier and Yoon bringing the potential for both countries to find a fresh direction," said Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Scope Markets. Thomas Mathews, head of Asia-Pacific markets at Capital Economics, said the losses in Seoul could have been "much worse" had the president not aborted his plan. "Rarely does a combined sell-off in a country's stocks, bonds and currency feel like a relief rally," he said. Oil prices turned lower after surging around 2.5 percent Tuesday, mainly after the United States sanctioned 35 companies and ships it accused of involvement with Iran's "shadow fleet" illicitly selling Iranian oil to foreign markets. Major producers at the OPEC+ grouping led by Saudi Arabia and Russia were set to meet Thursday to discuss extending output limits. Back in New York, major indices were led by the Nasdaq, which piled on 1.3 percent to finish at a third straight record. Wednesday's gains came after payroll firm ADP said US private-sector hiring in November came in at a lower-than-expected 146,000 jobs, while a survey from the Institute for Supply Management showed weaker sentiment than expected in the services sector. But the lackluster data boosts expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later this month. At a New York conference, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell refrained from tipping his hand, but he "didn't say anything that would scare the market," said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare. O'Hare noted that Wednesday's gains were led by large tech names such as Nvidia and Microsoft, which are major AI players. The boost followed strong results from Salesforce, which was the biggest gainer in the Dow with an 11 percent jump. New York - Dow: UP 0.7 percent at 45,014.04 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.6 percent at 6,086.49 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.3 percent at 19,735.12 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.3 percent at 8,335.81 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.7 percent at 7,303.28 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.1 percent at 20,232.14 (close) Seoul - Kospi Index: DOWN 1.4 percent at 2,464.00 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.1 percent at 39,276.39 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: FLAT at 19,742.46 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,364.65 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0510 from $1.0509 on Tuesday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2702 from $1.2673 Dollar/yen: UP at 150.56 yen from 149.60 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.71 from 82.92 pence Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.8 percent at $72.31 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 2.0 percent at $68.54 per barrel burs-jmb/jgc

16TB, 20TB, 24TB Seagate IronWolf Pro CMR NAS HDDs are at their lowest pricesTraditionally, New Year's Eve is the time for parties and celebrations which result in the most drinking and mark the busiest day for DUI arrests during the year, according to Wyoming County Sheriff Brad Ellison. Parties, business get-togethers, family gatherings and other celebrations can result in DUI (driving under the influence) incidents, according to law enforcement officials. Choosing a designated driver before any celebration is the best way to avoid mishaps or a tragedy, Ellison emphasized. While New Year’s Eve is the busiest day for DUI arrests, the problem is ongoing throughout the year. Drunk-driving deaths account for approximately one-third of all traffic deaths each year. In 2018, one person died every 50 minutes in a drunk-driving-related accident, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While the holidays are a time for celebration, festivities can turn tragic because of the actions of impaired drivers. Over the last five years in West Virginia, 23% of the state’s total vehicle fatalities were alcohol-related, according to the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program. In 2022, 60 of West Virginia's 264 fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver. In December 2021, according to the NHTSA, 1,013 people died nationwide in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in December 2021 alone. In December 2022, the most recent data year available, 1,062 people died in drunk driving traffic crashes – the most since 2007. From 2018 to 2022, NHTSA recorded more than 4,750 deaths in drunk driving traffic crashes during the month of December. Ellison encourages those attending social functions where alcohol will be served to name a designated driver, someone who won’t drink during the festivities and can safely drive afterwards. “If you drink, then call somebody to drive you home. “Have a plan if you're going out and will be drinking,” Ellison emphasized. “Give your keys to somebody while you're still sober,” he said. Those hosting a celebration and see a guest about to drive after drinking should take his or her keys, the sheriff noted. Additionally, all drivers should be cautious and watch for other drivers who may not maintain control of their vehicles. Driving defensively saves lives. The decision to drive sober should never be a tough one, according to officials. Impaired driving of all types is illegal and can be deadly – to the driver, to his or her passengers, and to other road users. Nationally, it is illegal to drive with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. In addition, it is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs. From 2019-2021, NHTSA conducted a study at several trauma centers and medical examiner offices involving drivers who were seriously injured or killed. The study found that among drivers in trauma centers, about 25% had active THC, which is found in marijuana, in their system. Between 2008 and 2017, of those drivers killed in crashes and tested for marijuana, marijuana presence nearly doubled, NHTSA statistics indicate. Alcohol and drug consumption lowers inhibitions, causing users to make bad decisions they would not otherwise make. While a breathalyzer will reveal alcohol levels in the blood stream, it is only one of a series of tests that can prove the driver is impaired, according to officials. Field sobriety tests can determine the coordination and stability levels of the driver. The amount of alcohol it takes to make someone drunk depends on height and weight as well as tolerance levels, according to officials. Law enforcement officers do not have to prove a driver is drunk, but merely impaired, officials maintain. Prescription medications can have the same effect as alcoholic beverages. Those prescriptions carry warnings. Currently the legal limit for determining intoxication is .08, Ellison said. The limit is .15 for those under 21 years of age, Ellison noted, though it is illegal for that age group to consume any amount of alcohol. In West Virginia, a DUI with a BAC of 0.08% to 0.149% is the basic DUI offense. If convicted, there is a possibility of up to six months of jail time and a fine of $100 to $500 for the first offense. Aggravated DUI, with a BAC of 0.15% or greater, also applies to first offense DUI arrests. If convicted, the mandatory sentence is a minimum of 48 hours (of which 24 must actually be served in jail) and up to six months in jail and a fine of $200 to $1,000. Because people under 21 are prohibited from consuming alcohol at all, those under 21 and caught driving with a BAC between 0.02% and 0.079% can still be charged with a DUI. If convicted, there is no jail penalty, but there is a mandatory fine. Also in West Virginia, DUI resulting in injury is an offense that arises when a driver is under the influence and is involved in a vehicle crash in which anyone other than the driver suffers an injury. If convicted, the mandatory sentence is not less than 24 hours in jail and not more than one year in jail in addition to fines of $200 to $1,000. Intoxicated drivers involved in a vehicle crash which results in the death of another individual through an act of reckless disregard for the safety of others may be charged with a felony crime. If convicted, the mandatory sentence is not less than two years and not more than 10 years in prison along with a fine ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Any DUI offense carries a substantial fine and can carry a jail sentence in addition to the loss of the driver’s license. The third offense carries a one- to three-year jail sentence because it’s a felony, sometimes permanent loss of the driver’s license, and a fine ranging in the thousands of dollars.

L.A. Rams star Puka Nacua hosts holiday pizza party for HomeLight familiesPRINCESS ANNE, Md. (AP) — Ketron Shaw scored 30 points to lead Maryland Eastern Shore past Bryn Athyn 91-65 on Saturday. Shaw also contributed seven rebounds and six assists for the Hawks (2-11), who ended a seven-game slide with the win. Chris Flippin added 22 points and five rebounds. Evan Johnson had 14 points. Isaac Marshall and Jalen Cary both scored 15 to lead the Lions. Jalen Parker had 14 points, two steals and two blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

LOGAN, Utah (AP) — Mason Falslev scored 27 points as Utah State beat South Florida 88-67 on Saturday night for the Aggies' best start in school history. Falslev had nine rebounds, nine assists, and three steals for the Aggies (10-0). Ian Martinez scored 15 points while shooting 4 for 12 (1 for 6 from 3-point range) and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line and added five assists. Karson Templin finished 5 of 8 from the field to finish with 12 points. Quincy Adekokoya led the Bulls (5-5) in scoring, finishing with 12 points. Kasen Jennings added 11 points and five assists for South Florida. Brandon Stroud finished with 10 points and two steals. NEXT UP Up next for Utah State is a Tuesday matchup with UCSD at home, and South Florida hosts Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Data Skrive.LINCOLN — Young men, start your engines. Rev ‘em up, too. You’re the 2025 Nebraska football recruiting class — 20 strong — and probably should have been the story of NU’s Signing Day press conference. But you were at least the third story, and maybe fourth, behind the coaches who left, the ex-Huskers who hit the transfer portal and perhaps the players your school might take from the transfer portal. When you started high school, back in 2021, there was still some pageantry around this day, in late December though it may have been. Now, first week of December, you’re practically a doctor’s appointment squeezed into a Wednesday afternoon. You’re rookies in a sea of perpetual free agents. Most of you are enrolling early and that’s a good thing; the quicker you learn the playbook and hit the weight room, the better chance you’ll have to impress coaches. Coach Matt Rhule thinks you’ll succeed in that effort, as well. He likes you guys. For a couple of you, Dawson Merritt and Cortez Mills, he and his staff kept going back to the well again and again to flip you from Alabama and Oklahoma, respectively. How often does Nebraska beat those two schools for any recruit? This could be one of the strongest Husker recruiting classes in years. “We’ve got some guys who can come in and play early,” Rhule said, “because this class is going to have to come in and play early.” Hear that? He means it. Rhule has playing time to offer. For the 2025 team to win big, some of you have to step into major roles. On defense, so many seniors exhausted their eligibility, and so many other guys hit the transfer portal, that the coaches will be choosing between, say, sophomores, redshirt freshmen and, well, you. On offense, your coordinator is Dana Holgorsen, and he surely doesn’t care how old you are. At the skill spots, he’ll play whoever competes the best. Of course, he also said on NU’s in-house Signing Day special that he’s bringing “20 or 30” transfers in for visits and selecting the best from that pool. Maybe Holgo’s exaggerating. Do you want to test him? So you need to impress these guys. In an era of revenue sharing, NIL and unlimited transfers, you might get two spring camps to develop on a roster before you’re asked to be a key contributor. Three, maybe, if you’re a quarterback or a raw offensive tackle. After that, you’re a revenue-sharing dollar figure on a spreadsheet that might be replaced by another rookie — or transfer. Yeah, it is cutthroat. This isn’t 1986. Or even 2006, perhaps the golden age of the prep recruiting era, when the recruiting sites got big, the all-star games got max publicity, ESPN had a big blowout special in early February and drama practically dragged into the start of the next spring camp. It was hard to transfer back then even once, particularly if the coach wanted to block your release or you didn’t have a redshirt season to sit out one year of eligibility. In 2006, if seven guys left in December, before a bowl game, it was a mass exodus — cause for concern at the health of the program. In 2024, seven guys leaving is called “Monday and Tuesday.” And here you are in the midst of the chaos, not knowing for sure what the college football system will look like in 2025, much less 2027. You probably wouldn’t have teed it up this way. But here’s your swing. Over the next nine months, you’d be wise to make an impression. Good thing you can, Dawson Merritt. Nebraska needs a versatile edge rusher who can drop into coverage, and Princewill Umanmielen, athletic as he may be, did not quite develop into that guy before hitting the transfer portal. Ditto, Christian Jones. You looked the part at linebacker for years leading the state’s best defense, and Mikai Gbayor just hit the transfer portal. Can you step into a role quickly? Same for you, Jamarion Parker. At running back, you can turn an eight-yard run into an 80-yarder, and that’s a skill Nebraska sorely needs. Malcolm Simpson and Kade Pietrzak, you’ve seen this program is unafraid to plug a freshman defensive lineman into a game. Your frames seem sturdy enough to play. Cortez Mills and Isaiah Mozee, you’re four-star receivers who flashed electric run-after-the-catch skills in high school. Bring those to campus like Jacory Barney did, and you might play as much as Jacory Barney has. TJ Lateef, you’re a quarterback and may have to wait your turn behind Dylan Raiola, but you’ll likely be doing so as Raiola’s backup, given Rhule’s openness to moving Heinrich Haarberg to different spots. Some of you need time with the nutrition and weight staffs — 18-year-old tackles rarely walk into a program ready to block 23-year-olds — but those guys are the exception at every school. Most of you will play, or transfer, by this rule: When you’re getting compensated more than anyone 10 years ago could have imagined, the standards for keeping that salary rapidly change. You’re a recruiting class full of promise and opportunity. You’ll face a heap of the other thing, too, though. “There’s bunch of these guys we expect to play,” Rhule said. “You don’t want to put that on the guys until they get here, but I want them to have the expectation.” Even if you don’t, the coaches will. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Stock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the marketNone

Wall Street launches new ways to bet on bitcoinSouth Korea: How spring onions and a handbag sparked political crisis in Asia's fourth-largest economyJD Vance, Tony Abbott and ABC chair Kim Williams (Image: Private Media) The ABC Chair that Loved a Sailor ABC Radio National staff in Melbourne this week were amused by a tongue-in-cheek email doing the rounds ahead of Friday’s planned Christmas party, titled “Singers needed for Xmas Party!” The email said the chairman (ostensibly referring to ABC chair Kim Williams) had “promised to make an appearance” at the party, and was “looking [to] sing a culturally appropriate number based on Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore — he’s looking for some chorus singers to help out”. Word is that rather than Williams actually stepping up to the mic, a member of staff pretending to be the chair might belt out a tune. We asked the ABC what Williams’ chosen Christmas karaoke tune might be, but didn’t get a response. We’d love to hear your hypothetical suggestions for Kim Williams, dear reader — call us cliched, but we have him picked as partial to Paul Kelly’s 1996 classic How to Make Gravy , despite competitor streaming outlet Binge picking up the streaming rights to the recently released film adaptation. ‘Deeply repulsive’: ABC chair Kim Williams rails against Joe Rogan amid pitch for greater funding Read More Stop the TEAL There is an interesting contrast in the narratives surrounding the Coalition this coming election. One narrative, from political commentators, is that through bloody-minded obfuscation, effective culture warring, an increasingly explicit propaganda arm in the media, and an increasingly flailing prime minister, Peter Dutton has unaccountably gotten a party that was utterly wiped out in 2022 back into a competitive position ahead of 2025. The other, which is coming from the Liberal Party itself, is that there is a growing threat from the forces that actually wiped them out in the first place: teal independents knocking off Liberal “moderates”. First, we had Minister for Liminal Spaces Paul Fletcher use his one (and it turns out only) memorable public utterance to complain of a left wing conspiracy (a teal candidate) threatening his seat before, hilariously, just quitting anyway . Now, member for Berowra Julian Leeser is sending emails to his constituents expressing his worry about the same thing. “This campaign will be unlike anything Berowra has ever seen,” he darkly warns. “A teal candidate has been selected and will become a real threat.” Leeser, like every moderate remaining in Parliament, must be wondering what he can sell as his major achievements, watching as the party lurches ever further to the right under Dutton. To pick one example; he took a principled stand on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, quitting the shadow frontbench over Dutton’s conspiratorial opposition. Leeser told the Sydney Institute in October last year that the argument that the Voice was “peripheral business” was: As false as the argument in this campaign that Aboriginal people are privileged and this referendum is about special treatment and creating two different classes of Australians. What concerns me about this argument is not that it is hopelessly false. It is the total absence of empathy for our Indigenous brothers and sisters. Paul Fletcher’s grand conspiracy theory is the most interesting thing he’s ever said Read More Peter Dutton has apologised for boycotting the Stolen Generations apology, though not for his refusal to meet with Indigenous leaders at the Garma festival or his unsubstantiated claims of “rampant child abuse” in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. Just this week, Dutton promised , apropos of nothing, his government would remove the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags from his press conferences. So apart from the ongoing threat of the teal movement to his seat, one wonders how Leeser must have felt, given his stated views, begging his constituents to help him make Peter Dutton prime minister. Vance at a glance Fresh from telling Viktor Orbán’s favourite US think tank that “recent migrants from the Middle East” were behind rising antisemitism , former prime minister Tony Abbott snapped a pic with US Vice President elect JD Vance — “an honour”, in Abbott’s words. An honour to catch up with incoming Vice-President @JDVance . At a fraught time, America is blessed to have leadership of such calibre. pic.twitter.com/yjz78KemYS — Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) December 10, 2024 Abbott has long showered Vance in praise — perhaps after being turfed out of his gig on the UK board of trade , he’s looking for another foreign power to advocate for ? Fox in the hen house See if you can spot a subtle difference in Fox’s tone in discussing two deaths. Incredible pic.twitter.com/3krgpuIAtL — Majority Report (@majorityfm) December 10, 2024 Guests on Fox’s The Ingraham Angle were discussing with horror some of the veneration being lavished upon Luigi Mangione, the alleged murderer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. “The Instagram posts from nutbag people, which I was sent in the commercial break earlier: crazy,” host Laura Ingraham said. “Like ‘he’s cute’ and people celebrating this. This is a sickness. Honestly it’s so disappointing, but I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.” She had barely drawn breath before saying the following: “Up next, the other big news out of New York, Daniel Penny. A lot of people think he’s a hero and tonight he’s not guilty.” Penny was acquitted after being charged with manslaughter after he had choked a homeless man (“menacing lunatic” in Ingraham’s phrase) to death. His trial, according to Ingraham, should never have happened . Have something to say about this article? Write to us at letters@crikey.com.au . Please include your full name to be considered for publication in Crikey’s Your Say . We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.