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Social Security tackles overpayment ‘injustices,’ but problems remain
Austin, Texas–(Newsfile Corp. – November 27, 2024) – Citizens, Inc. (NYSE: CIA) , a leading diversified financial services company specializing in life, living benefits, and final expense insurance, today announced it has filed a shelf registration statement (the “Shelf Registration”) on Form S-3 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), replacing a previous shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that will expire on November 30, 2024. The replacement Shelf Registration will allow the Company to continue offering shares under its Stock Investment Plan (SIP), which has been in place since 2001. Under the SIP, the Company can either issue new shares to investors or facilitate purchase of shares on the open market. This Shelf Registration reduced the number of shares the Company could offer under the SIP to 5 million shares from 15 million shares registered under the previous S-3, demonstrating the Company’s commitment to shareholder returns. “The shelf filing is a renewal of our prior filing, which was set to expire. We believe it is a matter of good corporate practice to replace our previous shelf registration, as it allows Citizens to continue offering a convenient and economical way for investors to purchase our shares, whether that be through the open market or directly from us. While we don’t currently use the SIP to raise capital, this allows us to maintain flexibility in the future with respect to our capital management as we progress on our strategic roadmap designed to deliver sustainable growth in book value per share,” said Jon Stenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer. The Shelf Registration relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Citizens, Inc. Citizens, Inc. (NYSE: CIA) is a diversified financial services company providing life, living benefits and final expense insurance and other financial products to individuals and small businesses in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia. Through its customer-centric growth strategy, Citizens offers innovative products to address the evolving needs of its customers in their native languages of English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin. The Company operates two primary segments: Life Insurance, where internationally the Company is a market leader in U.S. Dollar denominated life insurance and where it is growing in niche markets in the United States through its final expense products distributed through white-label and established distribution channels, and Home Service Insurance, which operates primarily in the U.S. Gulf coast region. For more information about Citizens, please visit the website at www.citizensinc.com and LinkedIn . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which can be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate”, “believe”, “project”, “intends,” “continue” or comparable words. Such forward-looking statements may relate to the Company’s expectations regarding its business performance, operational strategy, capital expenditures, technological changes, regulatory actions, and other financial and operational measures. In addition, all statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are involved in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed in our most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in the Company’s expectations. Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by the investment community. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231664 #distro
Suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO struggles, shouts while entering courthouse (copy)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chaz Lanier scored 18 and No. 7 Tennessee extended its season-opening winning streak to seven games with a 78-35 victory over UT Martin on Wednesday. Felix Okpara had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Volunteers (7-0). Zakai Zeigler added 11 points and nine assists, and Igor Milicic had 13 rebounds and nine points. The Skyhawks (2-5) were led by Josu Grullon's 15 points. Lanier scored 11 points in the first half as Tennessee built a 35-20 lead at the half. Grullon had 10 for UT Martin. UT Martin: Dropped its fifth straight after two opening wins under first-year coach Jeremy Shulman. After 21 wins last year, the Skyhawks brought in 16 newcomers this season. They are picked to finish 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tennessee: After receiving the news that 6-foot-9 sophomore J.P. Estrella will miss the entire season with a foot injury, the Vols have had to go back to the drawing board to determine their rotation on the front court. Estrella had been coming off the bench with Cade Phillips to spell Igor Milicic and Felix Okpara. What that big man rotation looks like will be interesting. From late in the first half to early in the second half, Tennessee scored 14 straight points and turned a 10-point lead into a 44-20 advantage. Zakai Zeigler had five of those points. UT Martin committed 18 turnovers. Five of those were shot-clock violations. Tennessee scored 24 points off the turnovers. UT Martin will be at Charleston Southern next Tuesday. Tennessee will host Syracuse next Tuesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballUS stocks ended lower on Wednesday, with the benchmark S&P 500 snapping a seven-day winning streak amid a sell-off in tech. Major averages tumbled after hitting records in Tuesday's session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 100 points and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.6%. Bond yields were lower, with the 10-year Treasury yield down five basis points to 4.248%. Tech led the declines on Wednesday. revenue guidance for the fourth quarter. In a call with investors after reporting earnings on Tuesday, Dell called AI a "robust opportunity" for its business but warned that the path would "not be linear," sparking concern over spending in the space. Mega-cap tech stocks declined during the day, with Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta all ending lower. Markets also took in personal consumption expenditures price data for October, the Fed's preferred measure of inflation. Core PCE inflation grew 2.8% year-per-year, slightly hotter than last month, but in line with economists' expectations. Investors ramped up their bets for coming Fed rate cuts, despite earlier concern that central bankers could take a slower approach to easing . Odds for a 25 basis point rate cut in December jumped to 70%, though most traders doubt the Fed will follow with another quarter-point cut in January, according to the CME FedWatch tool. "This is a nice Black Friday gift for the Fed," Scott Helfstein, the head of investment strategy at Global X, said in a note. "The inflation numbers came in as expected, accelerating slightly from recent readings, but still very close to the Fed target. This is not likely to alter the Fed rate path and another 25 bp cut in December is still likely." Other market commentators, though, say the path forward is still uncertain. "Today's data shouldn't change views of the likely path for disinflation, however bumpy. But a lot of observers, probably including some at the Fed, are looking for reasons to get more hawkish on the outlook given the potential for inflationary policy change like new tariffs," David Alcaly, the lead macroeconomic strategist at Lazard Asset Management, said in a note. Read the original article onDespite keeping it close in the first quarter, the Nacogdoches boys basketball team was unable to keep up with Lufkin as the Dragons fell to the Panthers 57-20 Friday night. The loss gives Nacogdoches an overall record of 4-6 and a district record of 0-2 while the Panthers are 15-2 overall and 2-0 in district play. Nearly four minutes went by before the first points were scored. Tyren Mathews’ layup gave Nacogdoches a 2-0 lead. Marcellus Parks quickly tied it up before Micah Lockett drained a three to break the tie. Austin Brown switched hands in the air on his way to tie the game up at 4. Parks attacked the glass and gave the Panthers their first lead. Jonas Hollins knocked down a jumper to tie the game up at 6-6. Brown went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line to score the final points of the first quarter, giving the Panthers an 8-6 lead heading into the second quarter. More than four minutes had passed in the second quarter before the next points were scored. Benjamin Cox banked it in from under the hoop to tie the game up at 8-8. Parks drained a three before Brycen Skinner tossed in a layup and tipped it in for two more. That gave Lufkin a 15-8 lead. Jakevion Sanders launched himself to grab a pass before throwing it down for an alley-oop dunk. Casey Burse Jr. scored the final points of the first half from beyond the arc to give the Panthers a 20-8 halftime lead. Brown scored the first points of the second half from three-point range. Parks did the same moments later as the Panthers continued to add to their lead. A pair of free throws from Parks was followed by another three from Brown, then a timeout from the Dragons was called as they trailed 31-8 with 5:13 left in the third quarter. Tyren Mathews was driving toward the basket before dishing it off to Cameron Brady, whose jumper hit nothing but net. BJ Thomas knocked down back-to-back threes and moments later, gave his team a 30-point lead, 42-12. Christopher Gardner scored the final points of the third quarter from the corner in front of his team’s bench, making the score 42-15 heading into the final quarter. Javarius White recorded an and-one to extend the lead to 47-15 before Cameron Brady knocked down a jumper on the other end. Hollins knocked down a jumper before Lufkin called a timeout with 4:26 remaining. The Panthers kept it on cruise control and sealed up the 57-20 win. Hollins led the Dragons in scoring with six points. Brady was next in line with five. Gardner recorded three points while Mathews, Cox and Lockett each scored two points. Parks led the Panthers in scoring with 14 points. Brown was next in line with 11. Thomas and White each scored eight points. Burse scored five points while Sanders and Kevo Moore scored two points each. Nacogdoches will travel to Whitehouse Friday to take on the Wildcats. The Panthers will be home against Tyler.
Pairing live support with accurate AI outputsBuilding a state-of-the-art criminal justice center with just three guys
Irvine, Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Irvine, California, December 20, 2024 – UnitedAg is proud to announce its recognition as a Top Workplaces 2024 winner by the Orange County Register . This esteemed award is based on employee feedback gathered through a confidential survey conducted by Energage, LLC, a leading employee engagement technology partner. The survey evaluated key facets of workplace culture, including feeling Respected & Supported , being Enabled to Grow , and feeling Empowered to Execute . “Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. “In today’s market, it’s vital for leaders to listen to and amplify employee voices. Top Workplaces do this exceptionally well, and it pays dividends.” UnitedAg's survey results placed it among the industry’s best: Top 9% for having staff that believes in the organization's values and goals. Top 1% for providing exceptional benefits. Top 2% for encouraging new ideas and innovation. Top 12% for upholding and demonstrating strong core values. “At UnitedAg, we are dedicated to fostering an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow,” shared Chana Hauben, Vice President of Human Resources. “This recognition underscores the passion and dedication of our entire team. We are honored to be named a Top Workplace.” UnitedAg’s workplace culture thrives on collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to excellence . By emphasizing teamwork, accountability, and respect , UnitedAg ensures its employees are not only supported but also equipped to make a lasting impact on its members and the agricultural community. Through open communication, a can-do attitude, and continuous improvement , UnitedAg is proud to champion a culture of empowerment, adaptation, and purposeful leadership. For more information about UnitedAg and its innovative solutions for the agricultural community, visit www.unitedag.org. ### About UnitedAg: UnitedAg is a member-owned agricultural trade association dedicated to providing comprehensive health benefits, fostering the next generation of agricultural leaders, and advocating for members’ interest with lawmakers. Our mission is to support the sustainability and success of our members and the agricultural sector through tailored health benefits, leadership development, and legislative advocacy. Attachment Top Workplace AwardHuawei’s FreeBuds Pro 4 aims to redefine the way we experience wireless audio, blending cutting-edge technology with thoughtful design. As the latest addition to the company’s flagship lineup, these earbuds promise high-resolution sound, exceptional call quality, and intuitive features designed for real-world use. From tackling noisy environments during calls to delivering an immersive music experience with tailored EQ settings, the FreeBuds Pro 4 seems ready to take on the challenges of everyday life. Let’s dive into how they perform. Designer: Huawei Huawei’s FreeBuds Pro 4 comes into a world already saturated by wireless earbuds that promise comfort, clarity, and a stylish form. The design language of these Huawei earbuds should not be ignored, especially considering how many brands forget that we wear these devices as part of our personal style. This isn’t a gaudy attempt at jewelry. Instead, its understated style enhances its appeal, allowing it to complement a wide range of personal aesthetics while remaining functional. The minimalist design ensures that the earbuds feel professional for work calls yet casual enough for everyday use, making them versatile for any scenario. The FreeBuds Pro 4 comes across more like a finely tuned instrument. The materials and finishing radiate a subtle sense of care rather than flamboyance. They feel confident in their presence. While certain earlier earbud models from various brands have been plagued by slippery finishes or cheap-feeling plastic, Huawei took time to produce something that can actually withstand everyday handling without showing scratches the moment you toss them into a bag. I respect that. The subtle branding and finishing details don’t scream for attention, but if you pay attention, you notice the layers of careful craftsmanship. These are refined enough that you can hold them and sense the design decisions that Huawei made. They are small objects that serve multiple roles in a modern lifestyle. Whether it’s transitioning seamlessly from a high-stakes business call to an evening of relaxing music, these earbuds adapt effortlessly. They feel purposeful, combining functional elegance with durability—offering a sense of reliability that makes you proud to use them daily, not as just another disposable gadget. The fit inside my ears is stable and comfortable, thoughtfully crafted to accommodate a wide range of ear shapes. I wore them for hours on end during my flight from Dubai to Dallas, and they remained incredibly comfortable—a testament to Huawei’s ergonomic design. The memory foam ear tips adapt naturally to the ear canal, creating a secure yet unobtrusive seal that minimizes sound leakage while enhancing comfort. This seal plays a vital role in reducing ambient noise, allowing me to immerse myself in music or focus on work without interruption. One of the FreeBuds Pro 4’s most impressive aspects is its lightweight construction. Even after prolonged use, I didn’t feel any strain or pressure on my ears, a crucial feature for long-haul travelers or those wearing them throughout the day. The thoughtful balance of form and function ensures these earbuds feel natural as an extension of your daily routine. The design also fosters a sense of acoustic balance. Whether I was navigating through a bustling airport terminal or seated in a noisy cabin, the FreeBuds Pro 4 delivered a consistent sense of calm. The combination of comfort, practicality, and noise isolation creates an experience that feels uniquely tailored to real-world challenges, making these earbuds more than just another gadget in your bag. The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 offers a variety of noise control modes that adapt to your environment and personal preferences, enhancing the overall listening experience. The Noise Canceling mode, set to “Ultra,” excels in eliminating background distractions such as bustling terminals or airplane cabins. During my flight from Dubai to Dallas, switching to this mode drowned out the low rumble of the engines and even softened the sharp cries of a nearby baby, making it far easier to focus on music or relax. The Awareness mode is equally practical for situations where you need to stay alert. While waiting for boarding announcements at the airport, I switched to this mode and appreciated how it amplified surrounding sounds just enough to keep me connected to my environment without removing the clarity of my audio. For moments when no active noise cancellation is needed, the Off mode provides a more neutral experience, preserving battery life while still offering the same high-quality audio playback. These modes illustrate Huawei’s thoughtful approach to real-world usability. Moving seamlessly between a quiet office, a busy public space, or even transitioning from one to the other, the earbuds adapt without skipping a beat. What I love most about these transitions is the audible notification that accompanies each mode switch. It’s a simple yet thoughtful addition that ensures I know exactly which setting I’ve selected without needing to glance at the app. This level of intuitive design is rare and makes a noticeable difference in seamless usability. Through its high-end specifications, the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 offers a refined listening experience. At the heart of its design is the Dual-driver True Sound system combined with retuned Digital Cross-Over technology. This configuration allows precise handling of individual frequency ranges, offering clarity and depth for every track. Supporting this is the powerful 11mm Quad-Magnet Dynamic Driver Unit, ensuring rich and distortion-free sound across different genres. To enhance the audio quality further, Huawei’s proprietary Bluetooth L2HC 4.0 codec enables high-resolution audio transmission at up to 24-bit/48kHz with an impressive 2.3 Mbps speed. These features ensure that music playback remains immersive and true to its original quality, from soft instrumentals to dynamic, bass-heavy tracks. Using the EQ presets provided in the app, I tested various music genres that align with my preferences. Sitting next to a screaming infant on an airplane prior to takeoff, I placed a call to a colleague. The sharp, piercing cries of the baby, alternating between high-pitched wails and desperate sobs, created an environment that felt chaotic and overwhelming. The FreeBuds Pro 4, equipped with advanced bone-conduction VPU microphone technology and an AI noise reduction algorithm, dulled the high-pitched wails to a manageable hum. This ensured my conversation remained uninterrupted. On the other end of the line, my colleague heard my voice with alarming clarity, reporting that the background noise was virtually eliminated. Even in a breezy outdoor space, the wind did not translate into overwhelming mic distortion. Thanks to this technology, the other side of the line received a well-isolated version of my voice. Meetings, calls, and interviews can proceed naturally, even in less-than-ideal conditions. Each preset feels tailored to amplify the strengths of specific genres without resorting to over-processing. The Dual-driver True Sound system works with the Digital Cross-Over technology to provide a clean, distortion-free experience. When playing back lossless audio files at 24-bit/48kHz, as in Fleet Foxes’ Helplessness Blues, the earbuds reveal an extra layer of tonal richness that’s absent in most competing earbuds. The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 pushes a real sense of precision in their sound. I know these are not pro-audio-grade studio monitors, but they do not need to be. Instead, they strike a healthy balance between detail and warmth. In my ongoing evaluation of audio gear, I place a heavy emphasis on how something works in daily life. Specs, brand names, and press releases can only tell a fraction of the story. The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 shows the company understands what it means to integrate seamlessly into a user’s world. For example, when moving from a video call on my laptop to playing music on my phone, the Dual Device Connection feature ensures a smooth transition without the need for manual pairing. This functionality, combined with wear detection that pauses and resumes audio automatically, makes the earbuds feel intuitive and effortless to use. The clarity of call quality, the stable performance in streaming high-fidelity audio, and the robust battery life stand out more strongly than any marketing buzz. The brand’s focus on noise cancellation that actually works in varied environments shows care and attention to real-world challenges. The comfort of memory foam ear tips that reduce sound leakage stands out as well. This new Huawei model demonstrates that the company took real-world obstacles into account, from wind noise to inconsistent network conditions. The underlying message from Huawei’s FreeBuds Pro 4 is that refinement and practicality don’t have to sit on opposite ends of the spectrum. High-resolution audio retains its crispness without compromising stable connectivity. The design combines comfort with individuality, avoiding the generic aesthetic that fades into the background. Noise cancellation handles unpredictable environments effectively, not limiting itself to quiet offices. Smart features are thoughtfully implemented to enhance workflows without coming across as gimmicks. All these elements come together in these earbuds and reflect an approach that respects the user’s real-world context. After thorough use, I am impressed with how consistently well these earbuds handle everyday challenges. The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 is far more than a spec sheet or a flashy launch event. They’re a step toward making wireless earbuds fit into our lives as effortlessly as possible, blending balanced sound reproduction, stable calls, and comfortable ergonomics in a way that rewards those who actually pay attention to what matters.
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Silicon Valley minimum wage bump barely makes a dent
Saturday, December 21, 2024 Blink Parametric has introduced its innovative flight disruption assistance product, FlyEasy, in partnership with Zurich Indonesia. This product leverages technology-driven insurance solutions to provide real-time support to travelers facing flight delays. Blink Parametric specializes in addressing high-frequency, low-value claims by integrating parametric technology. This approach enhances operational efficiency for insurers and delivers immediate benefits to policyholders. FlyEasy is accessible through the Zurich Edge platform and provides automatic compensation for customers impacted by flight delays. FlyEasy allows customers to pre-register their flight details, enabling the system to monitor flights in real time. If a delay of two hours occurs, customers gain instant access to benefits such as complimentary VIP airport lounge access. These lounge passes, valid for up to six months if unused, are issued automatically without requiring customers to file claims or complete additional paperwork. This product is available for Zurich Indonesia’s executive and premier international travel plans, covering both single-trip and annual multi-trip policies. This rollout marks the second phase of a broader collaboration aimed at integrating Blink Parametric solutions into Zurich’s Asia-Pacific network. The partnership has already been implemented in Singapore and is set to expand across Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Indonesia. The initial deployment earlier this year was launched with a prominent online travel platform in Singapore. Zurich Indonesia’s digital strategy focuses on creating innovative, customer-centric solutions. Blink Parametric’s real-time assistance capabilities align with this vision, ensuring travelers receive timely support during critical moments. This collaboration demonstrates a commitment to leveraging advanced technology to redefine travel insurance experiences across the Asia-Pacific region. By automating compensation and simplifying customer journeys, Zurich Indonesia and Blink Parametric aim to set new standards in travel insurance services.AI could help scale humanitarian responses. But it could also have big downsides
NORAD's Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kidsSAN DIEGO, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds investors that a class action was filed on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired ASP Isotopes Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPI) securities between October 30, 2024 and November 26, 2024. ASP Isotopes is a development stage advanced materials company focused on the production, enrichment, and sale of isotopes. For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that ASP Isotopes Inc. (ASPI) Misled Investors Regarding its Uranium Enrichment Technology and Facility According to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose that the Company: (1) overstated the potential effectiveness of its enrichment technology; (2) overstated the development potential of its high assay low-enriched uranium facility; and (3) overstated the Company’s nuclear fuels operating segment results. Plaintiff alleges that on November 26, 2024, market research firm Fuzzy Panda Research published a report that alleged the Company is “using old, disregarded laser enrichment technology to masquerade as a new, cutting-edge Uranium enrichment.” The report revealed a series of experts interviewed stated the Company’s reported cost estimates and timeline for building its HALEU uranium facilities was misleading to the point of being “delusional.” The report further alleged the Company had significantly overstated the significance of its agreement with TerraPower, which was only a “non-binding” memorandum of understanding entered into to “put pressure on [TerraPower’s] real suppliers.” The report quoted a former TerraPower executives as stating that ASP Isotopes was “missing the manufacturing; They are missing the processes as well; They still have to develop the HALEU...the most important part.” On this news, the Company’s stock price fell $1.80 or 23.53%, to close at $5.85 per share on November 26, 2024, and continued to fall on the subsequent trading date, falling $0.83 or 14.19%, to close at $5.02 per share on November 27, 2024. What Now : You may be eligible to participate in the class action against ASP Isotopes Inc. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by February 3, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP : Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against ASP Isotopes Inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/af960bd5-1ae2-4ed3-afe3-591b09ab920b
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers played like a team determined to do whatever is necessary to make the playoffs. Baker Mayfield and the offense purred, the defense tightened after yielding a touchdown just before halftime, and special teams stood out, too, in a 48-14 rout of the Carolina Panthers that kept the team's division and postseason hopes alive on Sunday. Now, the Bucs (9-7) will see if they get some outside assistance in their bid to make the playoffs for the fifth straight season. “We're just trying to get to the playoffs,” coach Todd Bowles said, shrugging off a question about how Sunday's win ensured a winning record in the regular season. “If we can win next week and get a little help, that will mean a lot to me.” Tampa Bay's fifth win in the past six weeks nudged the first-place Bucs a half-game ahead of the Atlanta Falcons for the best record in the NFC South, with the Falcons set to play on the road later Sunday night at the Washington Commanders. Atlanta holds the tiebreaker in the division race and can end Tampa Bay's three-year reign as NFC South champions by beating the Commanders and winning again next week at home against the last-place Panthers (4-12). Mayfield threw for 359 yards and five touchdowns without an interception for the Bucs, the only team in the NFC that has made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. “He really played a heck of a ball game, intelligently,” Bowles said. “We didn't turn it over offensively. We were very good on third down. He controlled the ball, spread it around, got everybody touches.” Mayfield threw TD passes of 2 and 1 yards to Mike Evans, and Tampa Bay produced points on five straight first-half possessions to build a 27-7 lead. Jalen McMillan scored on receptions of 10 and 16 yards, linebacker J.J. Russell returned a blocked punt for a third-quarter TD and rookie Bucky Irving had another big game against Carolina with 120 yards rushing on 20 carries and four receptions for 77 yards. “Any time you give him that many opportunities, good things are going to happen,” Mayfield said of Irving. Irving went over 1,000 yards for the season (1,033) despite primarily being used as a backup to Rachaad White. The fourth-round draft pick ran for 152 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries against the NFL's 32nd-ranked run defense in Tampa Bay's 26-23 overtime win at Carolina on Dec. 1. Meanwhile, Mayfield improved to 4-0 against Carolina since his former team released him two years ago. He completed 27 of 32 passes without an interception. The Panthers played without leading rusher Chuba Hubbard, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Without him, the offense was almost totally dependent on quarterback Bryce Young, who tossed a pair of TD passes to Adam Thielen but was only 15 of 28 passing for 203 yards. The Bucs sacked Young five times and limited Carolina to 39 yards rushing. Thielen scored on receptions of 17 and 40 yards in the first half and finished with five catches for 110 yards. “We got outplayed. ... They were on fire today. They made it hard for us,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “We have one more opportunity to finish, so we have to regroup and have the discipline to go right back to work and finish on our terms.” Evans had eight catches for 97 yards. He needs at least 85 yards receiving in next weekend's regular-season finale to tie Hall of Famer Jerry Rice's NFL record of 11 consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus yards receiving. The Buccaneers played without S Antoine Winfield Jr (knee), TE Cade Otton (knee) and WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring/foot), who were inactive. ... Buccaneers CB Jamel Dean left in the first half with a knee injury and did not return. Panthers: Close the season at the Atlanta Falcons. Buccaneers: Host the New Orleans Saints. Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sports Editor {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Monday, December 30th
Blue Jays blockbuster deal lands $106 million All-Star from Guardians | Sporting News
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