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DALLAS , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share on the company's common shares, payable February 3, 2025 . Key Takeaways : The board of directors of AT&T (NYSE:T) today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share on the company's common shares. The board of directors also declared quarterly dividends on the company's 5.000% Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A and the company's 4.750% Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C. The Series A dividend is $312.50 per preferred share, or $0.3125 per depositary share. The Series C dividend is $296.875 per preferred share, or $0.296875 per depositary share. Dividends on the common stock and Series A and Series C preferred stock are payable on February 3, 2025 , to stockholders of record of the respective shares at the close of business on January 10, 2025 . To automatically receive AT&T financial news by email, please subscribe to email alerts . About AT&T We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com . Investors can learn more at investors.att.com . © 2024 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/att-declares-dividends-on-common-and-preferred-shares-302330821.html SOURCE AT&TAt least one aspect of Israel’s multifront war is expected to come to an end if the militant group Hamas comes to ceasefire terms with Israel . What Happened : So far, Hamas has yielded at least two of Israel's demands for a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, according to a Thursday Wall Street Journal report. The development comes after previous negotiations collapsed. And, just three months ago, certain senior U.S. officials were skeptical that a hostage-release deal would occur before the end of President Joe Biden ‘s term. The scenario has changed drastically. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke to the press in Tel Aviv Thursday after meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel. “Hamas started this war,” Sullivan said, optimistic that a ceasefire and hostage release “can happen.” See below. Sullivan said he is set to visit Doha, Qatar and Cairo to close a deal “this month.” Hamas is reportedly willing to allow Israeli forces to stay in Gaza temporarily when the fighting stops, the WSJ reported. A list of hostages, including U.S. citizens, is expected to be released as part of a ceasefire pact. Whether the ceasefire would last or be fully enforced remains to be seen. Israel and Hezbollah were expected to pause fighting in Lebanon last month, but attacks continued into December . At least five people were killed in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon in the last 24 hours, per Al Jazeera , citing the country's Health Ministry. Hezbollah began firing rockets toward Israel after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 . Why It Matters : The ceasefire agreement would come as the balance of power in the Middle East changes. This week, Israel seized the buffer zone as Bashar al-Assad ‘s rule in Syria collapsed. Al-Assad and his family were subsequently granted asylum by Russia . Assad’s regime was considered a lifeline to Hezbollah. Traders can gain exposure to oil stocks that are affected by Middle East geopolitcal news via ETFs, or exchange-traded funds. According to Benzinga Pro : ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil UCO is up 0.27% Thursday. United States Oil Fund LP USO dropped 0.16%. SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF XOP decreased by 0.79%. MicroSectorsTM Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 3X Leveraged ETNs OILU saw a 2.39% drop. Israeli stocks, as monitored through the VanEck Israel ETF ISRA , are up 25.34% year-to-date. Now Read: Defense Stocks Face Headwinds As Trump’s DOGE Targets Spending Cuts: Goldman Sachs Downgrades General Dynamics Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Bulls On Tap Tasting Flight: Chicago Bulls News for Nov. 26, 2024Over 18,000 in Mexico register to run for Supreme Court seats and federal judges in new systemBy Tony Leys | KFF Health News GLENWOOD, Iowa — Hundreds of people who were separated from society because they had disabilities are buried in a nondescript field at the former state institution here. Disability rights advocates hope Iowa will honor them by preventing the kind of neglect that has plagued similar cemeteries at other shuttered facilities around the U.S. The southwest Iowa institution, called the Glenwood Resource Center, was closed this summer in the wake of allegations of poor care . The last of its living residents were moved elsewhere in June. But the remains of about 1,300 people will stay where they were buried on the grounds. The graveyard, which dates to the 1800s, covers several acres of sloping ground near the campus’s brick buildings. A 6-foot-tall, weathered-concrete cross stands on the hillside, providing the most visible clue to the field’s purpose. On a recent afternoon, dried grass clippings obscured row after row of small stone grave markers set flat in the ground. Most of the stones are engraved with only a first initial, a last name, and a number. “If somebody who’s never been to Glenwood drove by, they wouldn’t even know there was a cemetery there,” said Brady Werger, a former resident of the facility. During more than a century of operation, the institution housed thousands of people with intellectual disabilities. Its population declined as society turned away from the practice of sequestering people with disabilities and mental illness in large facilities for decades at a time. The cemetery is filled with residents who died and weren’t returned to their hometowns for burial with their families. State and local leaders are working out arrangements to maintain the cemetery and the rest of the 380-acre campus. Local officials, who are expected to take control of the grounds next June, say they’ll need extensive state support for upkeep and redevelopment, especially with the town of about 5,000 people reeling from the loss of jobs at the institution. Hundreds of such places were constructed throughout the U.S. starting in the 1800s. Some, like the one in Glenwood, served people with disabilities, such as those caused by autism or seizure disorders. Others housed people with mental illness. Most of the facilities were built in rural areas, which were seen as providing a wholesome environment. States began shrinking or closing these institutions more than 50 years ago. The shifts were a response to complaints about people being removed from their communities and subjected to inhumane conditions, including the use of isolation and restraints. In the past decade, Iowa has closed two of its four mental hospitals and one of its two state institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. After closures in some other states, institutions’ cemeteries were abandoned and became overgrown with weeds and brush. The neglect drew protests and sparked efforts to respectfully memorialize people who lived and died at the facilities. “At some level, the restoration of institutions’ cemeteries is about the restoration of humanity,” said Pat Deegan, a Massachusetts mental health advocate who works on the issue nationally . Deegan, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager, sees the neglected graveyards as symbolic of how people with disabilities or mental illness can feel as if their individual identities are buried beneath the labels of their conditions. Deegan, 70, helped lead efforts to rehabilitate a pair of overgrown cemeteries at the Danvers State Hospital near Boston, which housed people with mental illness before it closed in 1992. More than 700 former residents were buried there, with many graves originally marked only with a number. The Massachusetts hospital’s grounds were redeveloped into a condominium complex. The rehabilitated cemeteries now have individual gravestones and a large historical marker, explaining what the facility was and who lived there. The sign notes that some past methods of caring for psychiatric patients seem “barbarous” by today’s standards, but the text portrays the staff as well-meaning. It says the institution “attempted to alleviate the problems of many of its members with care and empathy that, although not always successful, was nobly attempted.” Deegan has helped other groups across the country organize renovations of similar cemeteries. She urges communities to include former residents of the facilities in their efforts. Iowa’s Glenwood Resource Center started as a home for orphans of Civil War soldiers. It grew into a large institution for people with disabilities, many of whom lived there for decades. Its population peaked at more than 1,900 in the 1950s, then dwindled to about 150 before state officials decided to close it. Werger, 32, said some criticisms of the institution were valid, but he remains grateful for the support the staff gave him until he was stable enough to move into community housing in 2018. “They helped change my life incredibly,” he said. He thinks the state should have fixed problems at the facility instead of shutting it. He said he hopes officials preserve historical parts of the campus, including stately brick buildings and the cemetery. He wishes the graves had more extensive headstones, with information about the residents buried there. He would also like to see signs installed explaining the place’s history. Two former employees of the Glenwood facility recently raised concerns that some of the graves may be mismarked . But officials with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, which ran the institution, said they have extensive, accurate records and recently placed stones on three graves that were unmarked. Department leaders declined to be interviewed about the cemetery’s future. Spokesperson Alex Murphy wrote in an email that while no decisions have been made about the campus, the agency “remains committed to ensuring the cemetery is protected and treated with dignity and respect for those who have been laid to rest there.” Glenwood civic leaders have formed a nonprofit corporation that is negotiating with the state over development plans for the former institution. “We’re trying to make the best of a tough situation,” said Larry Winum, a local banker who serves on the new organization’s board. Tentative plans include tearing down some of the existing buildings and creating up to 900 houses and apartments. Winum said redevelopment should include some kind of memorial sign about the institution and the people buried in the cemetery. “It will be important to us that those folks be remembered,” he said. Activists in other states said properly honoring such places takes sustained commitment and money. Jennifer Walton helped lead efforts in the 1990s to properly mark graves and improve cemetery upkeep at state institutions in Minnesota . Some of the cemeteries are deteriorating again, she said. Activists plan to ask Minnesota legislators to designate permanent funding to maintain them and to place explanatory markers at the sites. “I think it’s important, because it’s a way to demonstrate that these spaces represent human beings who at the time were very much hidden away,” Walton said. “No human being should be pushed aside and ignored.” Related Articles Health | A stroke changed a teacher’s life. How a new electrical device is helping her move Health | Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too Health | CDC chief urges focus on health threats as agency confronts political changes Health | New rule allows HIV-positive organ transplants Health | Biden proposes Medicare and Medicaid cover costly weight-loss drugs for millions of obese Americans On a recent day, just one of the Glenwood graves had flowers on it. Retired managers of the institution said few people visit the cemetery, but amateur genealogists sometimes show up after learning that a long-forgotten ancestor was institutionalized at Glenwood and buried there. Former grounds supervisor Max Cupp said burials had become relatively rare over the years, with more families arranging to have deceased residents’ remains transported to their hometown cemeteries. One of the last people buried in the Glenwood cemetery was Kenneth Rummells, who died in 2022 at age 71 after living many years at the institution and then at a nearby group home overseen by the state. His guardian was Kenny Jacobsen, a retired employee of the facility who had known him for decades. Rummells couldn’t speak, but he could communicate by grunting, Jacobsen said. He enjoyed sitting outside. “He was kind of quiet, kind of a touch-me-not guy.” Jacobsen helped arrange for a gravestone that is more detailed than most others in the cemetery. The marker includes Rummells’ full name, the dates of his birth and death, a drawing of a porch swing, and the inscription “Forever swinging in the breeze.” Jacobsen hopes officials figure out how to maintain the cemetery. He would like to see a permanent sign erected, explaining who is buried there and how they came to live in Glenwood. “They were people too,” he said.

After closures in some other states, institutions’ cemeteries were abandoned and became overgrown with weeds and brush.

Randy Moss reacts to Patriots’ on-field tribute after cancer diagnosisJoy-Anna Duggar is pushing her family’s fashion boundaries. The 19 Kids and Counting alum gave fans a glimpse into her daily routine of raising kids Gideon , 6, Evelyn , 4, and Gunner , 18 months—whom she shares with husband Austin Forsyth —in a video posted on social media, which included a notable wardrobe choice that would have been forbidden by her parents, Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar . In the video posted on Instagram Nov. 22, Joy-Anna hit the gym after completing morning drop-offs. Notably, the 27-year-old wore athletic shorts for the workout, going against her parents’ traditional dress code . Joy-Anna previously discussed her parents’ rules about attire in October, explaining that their restrictions applied to all of their children regardless of gender. “They had this standard because they didn’t want guys showing their thighs,” the reality star said on The Unplanned Podcast in October. “And so they were like, ‘OK, and girls either.’” While Joy-Anna noted that her parents have since “loosened up” when it comes to clothing, their old rules were incredibly specific. “They were like, ‘Shorts are kind of on the line,’” she continued. “And so my brothers—probably until I was 15, 16—they didn’t wear shorts.” The Counting On star isn’t the only Duggar sibling who’s discussed the family dress code. Joy-Anna’s older sister Jinger Duggar detailed the reasoning behind the rules in her 2021 memoir , The Hope We Hold: Finding Peace in the Promises of God —co-written with husband Jeremy Vuolo . “My mom had always dressed us girls in skirts and dresses,” she wrote, “a standard that was taken from Deuteronomy 22:5 (ESV), which says, ‘A woman shall not wear a man's garment,’ and I never really questioned it.” The 30-year-old did her own search for a “passage specifically forbidding women from wearing pants,” but ultimately came to her own conclusions on modesty. “Growing up, I had a set of standards that I took as givens,” she went on. “Now, as I reexamined and compared them to scripture, my convictions were changing. Modesty isn't about what you wear. It's about the position of your heart.” For a closer look at the Duggar family tree, read on. The parents of 19 and grandparents of over three dozen little ones started out as high school sweethearts. Michelle has recalled being "saved" at 15. Then, one night, Jim Bob was making home outreach visits on behalf of his Baptist church and he ended up knocking on the Ruark family's door after his friend told him that "this girl from school that just got saved and is a cheerleader" lived there. They invited Michelle to Sunday school at their church and, Jim Bob said, he prayed to god that they could be each other's spiritual leaders—though apparently their first meeting wasn't as memorable for Michelle. A year later, she applied for a job at the frozen yogurt shop owned by Jim Bob's parents. "You came to the counter where I was standing by the cash register and introduced yourself," Michelle remembered in a letter posted on the family blog in 2017 for Jim Bob's birthday and their 33rd wedding anniversary. "You were shy but very sweet! I really don't remember much about that conversation, except that you finally mustered up the courage to ask me if I would go to your junior-senior banquet with you!" She attended the dinner with him at Shiloh Christian, but it was when they hung out afterward discussing the Bible for hours at her parents' house that she knew."From there, we believe our hearts were knit together," Michelle has said. "We graduated high school in May of 1984 and were married in July. I was 17 and Jim Bob was 19." 40 Years Later... The couple dedicated themselves to God and each other for the long run. Jim Bob is a former state legislator, having served in the Arkansas House of Representatives for the sixth district from 1999 until 2002, during which he was vice chair of the House of Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee. A run for U.S. Senate in 2002 ended in the primary, as did a bid in 2006 to become the Republican nominee for Arkansas State Senate District 35. He and Michelle, who are both licensed realtors, have been active in conservative causes—an aspect of their lifestyle that won them and 19 Kids and Counting (which premiered in 2008 as 17 Kids and Counting ) both proud supporters and fierce critics. As of October 2024, they were grandparents of 33 with three on the way. Eldest Duggar child Josh Duggar was born March 3, 1988. He too became a conservative activist, campaigning for the Family Research Council. He stepped down after old police records surfaced in 2015 revealing that he had been accused of molesting several girls, including his sisters Jessa and Jill , when he was a teenager. Jessa defended her brother in a sit-down with Fox News that June, insisting that the worst names people were calling Josh were "so overboard and a lie, really. I mean people get mad at me for saying that, but I can say this because I was one of the victims." His wife also stuck by him, including after he admitted to being unfaithful. When he checked into a treatment center in 2016, his parents called it "a crucial first step in recovering and healing."Parents of three—daughter Mackynzie (Oct. 8, 2009) and sons Michael (June 15, 2011) and Marcus (June 2, 2013)—when the scandal broke, Anna gave birth to their fourth child, Meredith , on July 16, 2015, the same day TLC canceled 19 Kids . Their fifth child, son Mason Garett , was born Sept. 12, 2017, daughter Maryella Hope arrived Nov. 27, 2019 and baby No. 7, Madyson Lily , was born Oct. 23, 2021. In a federal indictment filed in April 2021, Josh was charged with a count apiece of receipt and possession of child pornography. He pleaded not guilty on both counts. In 2022, Josh was found guilty and sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison. John David Duggar and Jana Duggar Shortly after Josh was born, Michelle got pregnant again, but suffered a miscarriage. While she and Jim Bob were still grieving that loss and praying for guidance, they found out that twins were on the way. "We felt it was a double blessing," she told Love to Know . "God was encouraging our hearts. We're still learning. It's really so unusual, because I breastfeed my babies, but my children are so close together. I have a baby and then eight months later I'm expecting. Just another unusual thing the Lord has seen fit to do with our situation." John David Duggar and his twin sister Jana Duggar were born on Jan. 12, 1990. John David Duggar (m. Abbie-Grace Burnett) After a whirlwind courtship (they did know of each other for several years, before meeting at a church event in Abbie's home state of Oklahoma) and a short engagement, John David and Abbie-Grace Burnett got married on Nov. 3, 2018. They welcomed daughter Grace Annette Duggar on Jan. 7, 2020 and son Charlie Duggar in September 2022. On their 30th birthday in January 2020, Jana wrote in a sweet message , "Ever since John and I were little we've been asked if we have that 'twin thing'. You know, the thing where you feel what the other one is feeling or know what the other one is thinking...Well, John, I've always answered that with a no—but now I can honestly say that the day little Gracie was born I felt every bit of happiness that you did, so I guess it must be real!" Jana continued, "It's so sweet watching you & Abbie as parents! You're naturals! And the same qualities that have made you a wonderful brother will also make you an amazing dad." Jana Duggar (m. Stephen Wissmann) Jana watched 11 of her 18 brothers and sisters get married before she found love with Stephen Wissmann —whose sister Hannah Wissmann is married to the TLC alum's brother Jeremiah—but despite some admitted frustrations , she maintained it was all part of God's plan. "I haven't always understood what the bigger picture is, but I know that God knows what is best for all of us. And so for me, it's getting married later," Jana told People in August 2024, shortly before her wedding . "Each of our stories will be written differently. If we were all the exact same, it would be a boring life." Jill (Duggar) Dillard was born on May 17, 1991. In a love story reminiscent of her parents', Jill first met Derick (who grew up about 45 minutes away) on Christmas 2011 when he stopped by the Duggar family abode while out caroling with his church group. Jim Bob played matchmaker, and Jill and Derick hit it off, growing closer over email and Skype. Father and daughter went to visit Derick in Nepal that November and Jill and Derick continued to fall for each other. In February 2014, Derick asked Jim Bob for his daughter's hand in marriage, and they tied the knot on June 21, 2014. They are parents to three sons — Israel , born on April 6, 2015, Samuel , born July 8, 2017, and Frederick , born July 7, 2022. In April 2024, Jill shared that she had suffered a pregnancy loss while expecting her and Derick's first baby girl. Jill and Derick reflected on the controversies and religious beliefs surrounding her family in the Amazon Prime Video documentary Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets , which premiered in June 2023. Jim Bob and Michelle's fifth child, Jessa Duggar , was born Nov. 4, 1992. Jessa met Ben through church and he began courting her in 2013—the old-fashioned approach to romance coming as a brand-new notion to a lot of viewers. The kids never talked about their romances pre-engagement, so Jim Bob explained to People , "Courting is getting to know each other in a group setting, both families spending time together and the couple setting goals together to determine if they are meant to marry. With dating, a couple will often pair off alone and that sometimes leads to a more physical relationship." Ben asked for Jessa's hand and then proposed in August 2014—sealing the deal by holding her hand for the first time. They married on Nov. 1, 2014. Jessa was pregnant with their first child when 19 Kids and Counting was canceled and TLC subsequently aired a special about sexual abuse, featuring Jill and Jessa, to further educate viewers on the subject. The sisters would end up the stars of their own show, Jill and Jessa: Counting On , that winter; the show then evolved to become Counting On , featuring other Duggar siblings as well. Meanwhile, Jessa and Ben welcomed son Spurgeon on Nov. 5, 2015, son Henry on Feb. 6, 2017, daughter Ivy Jane on May 28, 2019 and daughter Fern in July 2021. In February 2023, Jessa shared that she suffered a miscarriage over the 2022 holiday season. She gave birth to her fifth child, George , in December 2023. The sixth Duggar child, Jinger Vuolo , was born Dec. 21, 1993. Jinger and Jeremy met doing ministry work in Laredo, Texas, and started courting in 2016. They married on Nov. 5, 2016 (the bride's nephew Spurgeon's birthday—but you just try not overlapping milestones when you're one of 19), and were promptly the subject of pregnancy rumors. "Where we see ourselves in a year is probably just settled down, still doing ministry here in Laredo, and just seeking to serve the Lord, however, we can," Jinger said on a June 2017 episode of Counting On . Their daughter Felicity was born July 19, 2018. In May of that year, they revealed that Jinger was pregnant again —and that she had suffered a miscarriage the previous fall. In November 2020, they welcomed daughter Evangeline Jo . Jinger and Jeremy shared in October 2024 that their third child is due in March 2025. Joseph Duggar (m. Kendra Caldwell) No. 7 Joseph Duggar was born on Jan. 20, 1995. Taking advantage of the romantic setting, Joseph proposed to Kendra (whom he met through church) at his sister Joy-Anna's wedding in May 2017 after just a few months of courting. "I was definitely nervous going into it, but I wasn't afraid that she was going to say no, because she has said, 'I'm just waiting on you!'" Joseph told People after popping the question. Added Kendra, "I'm so happy and so shocked. There's so many words I want to say, but just shocked." They've since welcomed three kids, son Garrett , born June 2018, daughter Addison , born November 2019, daughter Brooklyn , born February 2019, and son Justus born May 2023. Eighth in line, Josiah Duggar was born on Aug. 28, 1996. Just a few months after his courtship with Lauren went public, the couple announced their engagement in March 2018. "The place where I proposed to Lauren is the exact spot where her parents were engaged," he said in a statement. "There's a lot of family history on this property making it a special place for Lauren." Her future mother-in-law, Michelle, said in a video posted on the family's blog, "We love Lauren, she is such a precious girl." Jessa and Ben also offered congratulations , and chocolate shaped like x's and o's. "Pretty sure that y'all want to save your first kiss for your wedding day, but if you come over here we'll give you..." She held up the sweet consolation prize. A previous courtship with Marjorie Jackson didn't work out and they went their separate ways in the summer of 2015. "Marjorie and I had a good time together," Josiah recalled to People in March 2016. "We were just trying to follow God's lead on everything. She didn't feel that it was the right timing then, so we called it quits for a bit." He and Lauren tied the knot June 30, 2018, telling People their wedding day was "absolutely perfect." They welcomed daughter Bella Milagro on Nov. 8, 2019—the name translating to "miracle baby," after the couple revealed Lauren had suffered a miscarriage in October 2018. They welcomed another daughter, Daisy , in 2022, and a son named Ezra in May 2023. Ninth sibling Joy-Anna Duggar was born Oct. 28, 1997. She knew Austin Forsyth for 15 years as a friend before he started courting her—after which they didn't waste any time. He proposed in February 2017 and they married on May 26, 2017, at Cross Church in Rogers, Ark. (the wedding where Joseph proposed to Kendra!). Joy & Austin Joy-Anna and Austin welcomed son Gideon Martin Forsyth on Feb. 23, 2018, daughter Evelyn Mae Forsyth on Aug. 21, 2020, and son Gunner James Forsyth on May 17, 2023. Jedidiah Duggar and Jeremiah Duggar Jim Bob and Michelle's second set of twins, Jed Duggar and Jeremiah Duggar , were born on Dec. 30, 1998. Jed & Katey It was reported in February 2017 that Jed was interning at his dad's old stomping grounds at the state capitol, working for the Arkansas House of Representative—and at 21 he ran for State Representative for District 89 , committed to "putting Springdale's conservative values first." He married Katey Nakatsu after one year of courting in April 2021. They are parents to son Truett , born May 2022, and daughter Nora Kate , born June 2023. Jed and Katey announced in July 2024 that they have twin girls on the way . Jeremiah & Hannah Jeremiah, a certified flight instructor, is married to Hannah Wissmann and the two are parents to daughter Brynley , born December 2022, and Brielle , born February 2024. Jason Duggar (m. Maddie Grace) No. 12 Jason Duggar was born on April 21, 2000. In January 2017, the Daily Mail reported that Jim Bob helped Jase buy a $33,000 fixer-upper in Prairie Grove, Ark., about 30 minutes away from the Duggar family homestead, and he ended up starting his own construction company. He went Instagram official with girlfriend Maddie Grace in May 2024 and the two married in October . James Duggar Charmed No. 13, James Duggar was born July 7, 2001. Not publicly courting a potential significant other yet, he's a doting uncle to dozens of nieces and nephews. "He is the 'funcle' (fun uncle!) and all the younger boys around here look up to him and want to be just like him!" mom Michelle wrote on his 19th birthday in 2019. "James is able to do just about anything he thinks up. Even as a child, we would find James 'fixing' various household appliances. He has always been one to take things apart, figure out how they work, and put them back together—with a few special modifications! "This year James worked hard to get his CDL, and he has become an expert at driving all the big trucks and heavy machinery! We can't wait to see what God has in store for him in the future!" Justin Duggar (m. Claire Spivey) No. 14 Justin Duggar arrived on Nov. 15, 2002. And from the department of growing up so fast... Justin & Claire Justin went public with girlfriend Claire Spivey in September 2020. The two got engaged the following November and married on Feb. 26, 2021 . Here with his big sister Jill, Jim Bob and Michelle's 15th child Jackson Duggar was born May 23, 2004. On his 16th birthday, mom Michelle praised Jackson's sense of humor and noted that she knew he couldn't wait to get his driver's license. Johannah Duggar was born Oct. 11, 2005, hence the original family special called 16 Kids and Moving In . "This girl is so fun and outgoing, and she loves making new friends," Michelle wrote on her 16th child's 15th birthday in 2020. "Her younger sisters absolutely adore her and think she hung the moon, and I couldn't be more grateful to God for choosing me to be her Mom!" Jennifer Duggar Jennifer Duggar arrived on Aug. 2, 2007, then the baby of the family. Their TLC show that premiered Sept. 29, 2008, was christened 17 Kids and Counting. Now, OMG, she's a teenager. "Jennifer is dependable, loyal... and fun!" Michelle wrote when her little girl turned 13. "She is a favorite with the nieces and nephews and is usually carrying one of them around because they don't want her to put them down! Jennifer also has a special love for animals and is very faithful to take care of her pets every day! She recently helped raise a litter of 7 little bunnies!" Here on the right, the penultimate Duggar child was born Dec. 18, 2008. In 2019, her mom called Jordyn-Grace an "outgoing girl who has never met a stranger," with a laugh that "is always one of the brightest spots in our day." No. 19 Josie Duggar , here holding niece Meredith , was born on Dec. 10, 2009—three months premature and weighing only 1 pound, 6 ounces, and spent six months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). "Josie is a ball of energy," Michelle wrote on her baby's 11th birthday in 2020. "From the time she wakes up in the morning until her head hits the pillow at night, she rarely slows down!"

OTTAWA — As Canada looks to beef up its border security after president-elect Donald Trump threatened tariffs while raising concerns about illicit fentanyl pouring into his country, border officials pointed out there's barely any coming from Canada. Though, none of them wanted to say the name Trump when they said so. “Canada is not a significant source of fentanyl in the United States," said Aaron McCrorie, vice-president of intelligence and enforcement at the Canada Border Services Agency. He made the comment to a House of Commons committee studying the impact of president-elect Donald Trump's plans for border security and migration. McCrorie said border officials seized 4.9 kg of fentanyl in the first three quarters of the year, with the biggest amount being 4.1 kg bound for the Netherlands. The other seizures were all small, personal amounts caught along the land border, and there are no statistics to suggest significant shipments out of Canada. CBSA President Erin O'Gorman also said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has characterized the amount coming from Canada as "slippage" — small amounts sent over for personal use, mostly by post. Still, that doesn't trivialize the problem. Small package shipments are where CBSA is focusing its efforts, she said, which are hard to detect and can result in many lives lost. Trump has threatened 25 per cent tariffs against Canada and Mexico unless the two countries step up on border security to tamp down on flows of illicit fentanyl. During the presidential race, Trump also threatened to deport millions of undocumented people, stirring fears that could trigger an influx of migrants into Canada. When questioned by NDP MP Alistair MacGregor about what Canada could face if Trump follows through and if the country's immigration detention centres are up to the task, O'Gorman said her organization does not have projections or estimates of what that could look like. “We are prepared for a surge,” O'Gorman said. Ottawa is compiling new measures to bolster border security through more staff and equipment in the face of Trump's tariff threats. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shared his border plan with the premiers during a Wednesday evening meeting, and Ottawa plans to add their suggestions into the soon-to-come package of measures. Several media outlets have reported that the tab for that could surpass $1 billion, citing confidential sources. RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme said he was surprised to see that figure bandied about in headlines, but he's not clear whether Ottawa will actually put that much into beefing up the border. He would not share with reporters any of the specifics on his wish list -- or how much money he's asked for, saying the announcement is coming soon enough. "You heard the minister in the past saying drones, helicopters, and we want to modernize everything we have with technological equipment and additional human resources," he said outside the committee room. "We have drones right now that we use to patrol areas that are hard to get to and what not. We just want to modernize the equipment and go to the more advanced technology that they have so we can better secure the border." An RCMP official said the police force currently has more than 900 drones and nine helicopters located across the country, with six helicopters that occasionally provide border surveillance. Meantime, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, when announcing Alberta's own new border security plan Thursday featuring a new patrol unit and drones, said the province doesn’t support retaliatory tariffs and prefers the diplomatic route. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he and other premiers support the need for stronger border security to deal with illegal migrants and street drugs. “There is broad support to increase the investment in border security on behalf of Canadians, not just because President-elect (Trump) has asked for it,” Moe said. According to the CBSA, there are 1,200 ports of entry across the country staffed by approximately 8,500 front-line employees. CBSA also employs over 200 criminal investigators and some 60 international officers at 40 missions in 35 countries abroad. "The CBSA strategically dedicates its resources to address the threats that Canada faces while supporting the flow of legitimate trade and travel across the border," said CBSA spokesperson Rebecca Purdy. In the past fiscal year, she said CBSA seized close to 51 million grams of illicit drugs, more than 27,000 banned weapons and almost 900 firearms. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. -- With files from Chris Purdy in Edmonton and Jeremy Simes in Regina. Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press

The expanded Big Ten is poised to be a major player in this season's College Football Playoff. The 18-team conference had three of the top-four teams in the AP poll this week — No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State. A one-loss Indiana team is ranked 10th but is still very much a contender to make the playoff, given how many Southeastern Conference teams have three defeats or more. Indiana's rise has been perhaps the Big Ten's biggest story this season. Much of the spotlight was on newcomers Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington, but aside from the top-ranked Ducks, that foursome has struggled to impress. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers won their first 10 games under new coach Curt Cignetti before losing at Ohio State last weekend. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 back in October, and if the Buckeyes beat rival Michigan this weekend, they'll earn a rematch with the Ducks for the Big Ten title. And it's entirely possible another matchup between those two teams awaits in the CFP. Dillon Gabriel has quarterbacked Oregon to an unbeaten record, throwing for 3,066 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games. But don't overlook Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and his 21 rushing TDs, and quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been a big part of Indiana's improvement. Penn State's Abdul Carter has eight sacks and two forced fumbles and could be one of the top edge rushers drafted this year. Oregon (11-0, 8-0), Ohio State (10-1, 7-1), Penn State (10-1, 7-1), Indiana (10-1, 7-1), Illinois (8-3, 5-3), Iowa (7-4, 5-3), Michigan (6-5, 4-4), Minnesota (6-5, 4-4), Washington (6-5, 4-4), Southern California (6-5, 4-5), Nebraska (6-5, 3-5) and Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) have already reached the six-win mark for bowl eligibility. Michigan State (5-6, 3-5) and Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) can join them. There may not be many firings in general at the top level of college football. The prospect of sharing revenue with athletes in the future might lead schools to be more judicious about shedding one coach and hiring a new one. Who should be most worried in the Big Ten? Well, Lincoln Riley is struggling to stay above .500 in his third season at USC. Purdue is 1-10, but coach Ryan Walters is only in his second season. Maryland's Mike Locksley has been there six years and his Terrapins are 4-7, but this was his first real step backward after guiding the team to three straight bowl wins. Cignetti has shown it is possible for a coaching change to push a previously moribund program to some impressive heights in a short amount of time — but the improvement has been more incremental at Michigan State following Jonathan Smith's arrival. Sherrone Moore wasn't a completely unknown commodity at Michigan after he won some massive games in place of a suspended Jim Harbaugh last year. But in his first season completely at the helm, the Wolverines have declined significantly following their national title a season ago. The Big Ten is home to one of the most dynamic freshmen in the country in Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. He has 52 catches for 899 yards and nine touchdowns. Highly touted quarterback Dylan Raiola has teamed up with fellow freshman Jacory Barney (49 catches) to lead Nebraska to bowl eligibility. Ohio State is on track to land the Big Ten's top class, according to 247 Sports, but the big news recently was quarterback Bryce Underwood flipping from LSU to Michigan. If the Wolverines do in fact keep Underwood in his home state, that would be a big development for Moore.

DENVER (AP) — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's “America’s Got Talent” meets “American Idol,” with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at “Dream Team” status given the men’s side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023 . The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. “We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport,” said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. “We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world.” Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores . “Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That’s something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok , the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado’s two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. “If a receiver is running around, I’m thinking, ‘OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,’” Daniels explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you can’t.’ I’m just like, ‘So I’m supposed to let this guy just run?!’ I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn.” The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. “I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. “I’m not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, ‘I played NFL football for five years. I’m popular. I have a huge name.’ I’m still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise.” Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It’s his way of working on avoiding a “defender” trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. “You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the ‘Redeem Team’ led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, ‘That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. “Everybody thinks, ‘Yeah, the U.S. just wins,’” Daniels said. “But we work hard all the time. We don’t just walk in. We don’t just get off the bus thinking, ‘We’re going to beat people.’” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLThe week in whoppers: Joe Biden gaslights about his foreign-policy record, Ana Navarro fearmongers about Pete Hegseth and moreThe Gophers men’s basketball team overwhelmed Morgan State 90-68 on Sunday, but it was the final bullet point on how underwhelming Minnesota’s nonconference schedule has been this season. The Gophers (8-5) have a “strength of resume” ranked 156th in the nation, according to ESPN on Sunday. And Minnesota’s spot in the overall NET ranking (155) won’t improve come Monday, not with a win over a Morgan State team ranked nearly 200 spots lower at 353. ADVERTISEMENT Minnesota was a 22-point favorite and received a huge 22-point first half from Mike Mitchell to win easily in its final tune-up before Big Ten play resumes Thursday at home versus Purdue. Gophers head coach Ben Johnson in August expressed the difficulty to balance the competitiveness of the nonconference slate with who’s available to book and what’s best for this year’s team. “Sometimes the hardest thing for fans to grasp fully is so much of it is a numbers game,” Johnson said at the Minnesota State Fair. “It’s a give and take. You don’t know your team fully and you don’t know the other teams. Sometimes you can roll the dice and go with a team that, quote, might not have the name, but you know will be really good in their league, where if you play a Power Five team and they aren’t good in their league, the game means nothing. It’s great to have a name (opponent), but if they finish bottom four, the numbers go down.” Minnesota joined a multi-team, neutral-site event in Orlando around Thanksgiving but lost both games, to Wichita State and Wake Forest. They also lost to North Texas at The Barn earlier in November. Those three teams each have NET rankings in the Top 80. “There are a couple (of games) that we wish we had back,” Johnson said of the overall nonconference schedule. “Obviously Wichita State still stings. You feel like if you had a healthy Mike and play in the North Texas game. ... But when you have a new team, so much of it is hitting adversity and being able to figure it out.” While Morgan State (6-10) won’t help the U’s resume, the win should aid confidence before facing a Boilermakers team picked in preseason to win the Big Ten come March. Morgan State, which lost by 61 points to Xavier and by 27 to No. 3 Iowa State, played Sunday without leading scorers Winston Tabbs (16.1 points per game) and Amahrie Simpkins (12.7). Minnesota staked a 55-37 lead at the half on the back of Mitchell’s perfection. He made all eight jump shots, including six 3-pointers, for 22 points; that total bested his previous U high of 20 points against Ball State last season. Mitchell missed both of his two shots in the second half and sat during garbage time, falling one point short of his career-high while with Pepperdine in 2022. ADVERTISEMENT “I think it kind of built into that,” Mitchell said. “Teammates found me when I was open and the ball went in.” How did it feel once he finally missed? “Dang,” he said. The Gophers’ poorer start to this season came with Mitchell sidelined for seven games with a high ankle sprain — including all three defeats — and his return is vital as the U looks to dig out of an early 0-2 hole in conference play next week. Dawson Garcia added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Parker Fox chipped in 11 points as Minnesota used 11 players. Frank Mitchell returned Sunday after missing the Dec. 21 win over Farleigh Dickinson while in concussion protocol. He scored 10 points in 11 minutes on Sunday. “You want to come off (the holiday) break and have a little bit of momentum going into January,” Johnson said. “I think we did that.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. 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