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North Carolina head coach Mack Brown will not return following the 2024 season, UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham announced on Tuesday, confirming a report from earlier in the day from InsideCarolina. The 73-year-old Brown is largely known for his tenure at Texas from 1998-2013, but he returned to Chapel Hill for a second stint as the head coach at UNC in 2019. He previously coached the Tar Heels from 1988-97. He'll leave as the winningest coach in program history, and now the North Carolina football coaching search will begin. Though traditionally viewed as a basketball school, UNC has seen plenty of recent success on the gridiron as well. The Tar Heels will be heading to their sixth straight bowl game this season and they've made at least one appearance in the top 10 of the AP Poll in three of the past four seasons. If you love the Tar Heels, or just want to know who will call the shots for UNC football in the future, be sure to see what the proven team of insiders are saying at InsideCarolina, the 247Sports affiliate that covers UNC . The InsideCarolina insiders are providing on-the-ground updates on every development surrounding Brown's departure and the future of the UNC football program, including insights from Evans Rogers and Buck Sanders, who have deep-rooted ties inside and around the UNC community. Get all the inside scoop on the football program, plus VIP intel on UNC football, basketball, recruiting and more. Plus get access to The Tar Pit and the UNC Basketball premium message boards where you can connect with other UNC fans and insiders. And right now, InsideCarolina is offering 75% off annual subscriptions*, so now is the time to sign up . The team at InsideCarolina already has a list out of several potential candidates and there are some surprising names on the list. Head to InsideCarolina now to see them all . Top North Carolina football coach candidates One name the staff has identified as a potential target is Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann. The 34-year-old Georgia native is seen as one of the top assistants in college football as he currently runs Kirby Smart's defense for the Bulldogs. Brown's Hall of Fame career in perspective Tulane's Jon Sumrall could be best candidate for UNC Why Dennis Dodd says today was another case of Brown being done wrong UNC alum Chip Patterson says Tar Heels in rare spot (in rare time, too) He was one of Smart's first hires in Athens ,and after a stint as co-defensive coordinator with Dan Lanning, Schumann stepped into the role of full defensive coordinator in 2022. Schumann also spent time in the personnel department under Nick Saban at Alabama, so talent acquisition is an area he specializes in. He's gotten looks from the NFL as well, reportedly interviewing with the Philadelphia Eagles for their defensive coordinator job in 2023. It's likely just a matter of time before Schumann gets his shot as a Power Four head coach, and this could be an intriguing landing spot for the up-and-coming star. See more candidates at InsideCarolina . How to get insider UNC coaching staff search updates The rest of the list includes several other intriguing names, including two former NFL head coaches and a college coach who is on a "meteoric" rise. You can only see who they are at InsideCarolina . Who are the top candidates in the UNC football coaching search, and which former NFL head coaches could be in the mix? Go to InsideCarolina to see their UNC coaching hot board and more, all from a team of UNC insiders , and find out. And reminder, InsideCarolina is offering 75% off an annual VIP membership as a coaching search special, so subscribe now before it's too late . *Terms: This offer is only available for new members who sign up for an annual subscription to InsideCarolina. After the first year, subscription will re-bill on an annual basis at the regular rate. 247Sports.com reserves the right to alter or cancel this promotion at any time. Please write support@247sports.com with any questions you may have.Renowned Nigerian economist and wealth creator, Grace Ofure Ibhakhomu, has said that financial and career literacy are essential ingredients for youth empowerment to drive Nigeria’s economic development. In a presentation titled: ‘Power of Youth Empowerment in Nigeria: A Call for Financial and Career Literacy’, Grace Ofure Ibhakhomu said the future of the country lies in the hands of the youth who constitute more than 60 percent of the population. The CEO of Lifecard International Investment Limited pointed out that empowerment is not just only about creating opportunities but also the need for direction and guidance for youth, many of whom according to her, are confused, even with a university degree. She suggested that budgeting and investment should be taught in elementary schools, to help youths imbibe necessary entrepreneurship skill. “As we stand at a critical juncture in Nigeria’s development, reflecting on my journey, one thing is clear: the future of our country rests in the hands of our youth. With more than 60% of Nigeria’s population under the age of 30, the youth hold the potential to transform our nation. However, for this potential to be realized, we must take deliberate steps to empower them, especially in the areas of financial and career literacy,” she stated. “Empowerment goes beyond just providing opportunities; it involves equipping the emerging generations with the knowledge and tools to navigate life effectively. The importance of empowering our youth cannot be overstated, especially in today’s Africa. We are facing a perfect storm of challenges: rising unemployment, economic instability, and a fast-paced global economy driven by technology”, said Grace Ofure Ibhakhomu Continuing, she said, “Against this backdrop, many young people are struggling to find direction, and even those with university degrees find themselves underemployed or unemployed. At the same time, there is a growing entrepreneurial spirit among Nigerian youth. You see young people starting businesses, learning digital skills, and creating opportunities for themselves in tech, fashion, agriculture, and more. “This drive is commendable, but without proper financial and career literacy, their efforts can easily be affected by poor planning, lack of access to capital, or an inability to scale their ventures. I believe that financial literacy is not just about understanding how to save or invest; it is about having the knowledge to make informed decisions that can lead to financial independence and sustainable generational wealth. “Unfortunately, many young Africans lack this basic understanding, often falling into debt or struggling to manage their finances effectively. Teaching financial literacy from an early stage would ensure that young people know how to budget, invest, and even plan for their future. “This is crucial, not only for personal financial stability but also for the economic development of the continent. When young people are financially empowered, they become less dependent on others and are better equipped to contribute positively to the economy.” Speaking further, Ibhakhomu, who serves as founder of Lifecard University and the Grace Ofure Foundation, linked the pivotal role career literacy plays in the equation of youth empowerment. She outlined the essence of skill acquisition, in addition to academic qualification, in a 21st century global economy. Ibhakhomu emphasized the need for appropriate policy formulation by public institutions, and also for mentorship by business leaders in the country for the youth. According to her, all stakeholders must see youth empowerment as a strategic investment in the future of Africa, considering the strategic role Nigeria occupies in the continent. “Career literacy is another vital component of youth empowerment. It is no longer enough to simply have a degree, employers are looking for skills, both technical and soft, that many graduates are not prepared for. Understanding how to leverage strenght to profit, build networks, and continually upskill is essential for young Africans if they are to thrive. Youth empowerment also requires mentorship and investment,” Ibhakhomu stated. Speaking further, she said, “We need leaders, business owners, and policymakers to step up and mentor the next generation. Recently I started a community called Kingdom Giantsa Global Tribe, the aim is to mentor and fund businesses that would ordinarily not attract investors for cerain sentimental reasons. Moreover, investment in youth education and entrepreneurial ventures is crucial. Financial institutions, government agencies, and private investors should see the empowerment of our youth as not just a social responsibility, but a strategic investment in the future of Africa. “I believe that empowered youth have a ripple effect on society. When young people are equipped with financial and career literacy, they are more likely to start businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the nation’s development. They also become role models for others, inspiring a culture of innovation, resilience, and self-reliance”, added Grace Ofure Ibhakhomu.

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma appears to have borrowed from the past to cure its recent offensive ills. The Sooners , best known this century for a passing prowess that has produced four Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, took it back to the 20th century against then-No. 7 Alabama. Oklahoma ran 50 times for 257 yards while only throwing 12 times in a 24-3 win over the Crimson Tide that took coach Brent Venables off the hot seat. The Sooners more resembled Barry Switzer’s squads that dominated the old Big 8 with the wishbone offense in the 1970s and ’80s than the more recent Air Raid teams. Venables said the change was a matter of necessity for a unit that has been besieged by injuries at receiver and offensive line. “I think this staff has done a really good job with trying to figure that out, get better every week, put together a great gameplan but also figure out, ‘OK, what does this group of guys, what does this team — what do we need to do?'” Venables said. To make it work, Oklahoma needed to trust that such a change would work in the modern Southeastern Conference. They had to implement it with an interim play-caller in Joe Jon Finley, who stepped in after the Sooners fired Seth Littrell last month. Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5 SEC) pulled it off, and LSU coach Brian Kelly has taken notice ahead of their game on Saturday. “This is now much more about controlling the football, running the football, playing with physicality," Kelly said. "They've got perimeter skill, but I think it's centered around much more of a run-centric, quarterback run and take care of the football." The Sooners started to see success on the ground against Maine. They ran 52 times for 381 yards in a 59-14 win that got the wheels turning. Jovantae Barnes ran for career highs of 203 yards and three touchdowns that day. Venables said the timing of the opportunity to play that non-conference game against Maine in early November and figure some things out was perfect. “Everybody has some degree of vulnerability and maybe some self-doubt,” he said. “And just developing some confidence and putting something on tape other than practice, like, ‘Man, look, see what you’re capable of?’ And executing against, again, a well-coached team — certainly, we played off of that in all the right ways like you would expect us to. And so there’s a real place for that.” After a bye week, the Sooners tried the same approach against Missouri. It wasn't as successful — they ran 36 times for 122 yards — but they hung tough before losing 30-23 . The Sooners went all in against Alabama. Jackson Arnold — the same guy who threw 45 times in the Alamo Bowl last year, ran 25 times for 131 yards and threw just 11 passes. The Sooners found something in running back Xavier Robinson. With Barnes out with an injury, Robinson carried 18 times for career highs of 107 yards and two touchdowns. Suddenly, a team that had been forcing the pass and getting sacked at an alarming rate was moving the line of scrimmage and controlling the tempo. Oklahoma had the ball for more than 34 minutes against the Crimson Tide, lending support to a talented defense that had been spending way too much time on the field. The new approach could be helpful on Saturday — LSU (7-4, 4-3) ranks 14th out of 16 conference teams against the run. Venables said the Sooners still need to throw the ball well to win, but he's glad to know his squad can run with force when necessary. “I think that’s the art of having a system that’s adjustable, flexible, adaptable, week in and week out, but also has an identity — toughness, physicality," he said. "You’ve got to be able to run the ball at every level of football, but you do have to throw it. You can’t just do one thing. But we need to be efficient.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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Shohei Ohtani wins 3rd AP Male Athlete of the Year award, tying Michael Jordan for 1 shy of record LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has been named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time. That ties the two-way superstar with Michael Jordan, an athlete Ohtani followed while growing up in Japan. He trails only Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James, who each won the award four times. Ohtani received 48 votes in balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members. He earned his third National League Most Valuable Player award after helping the Dodgers win their eighth World Series title. Ohtani hit 54 home runs and stole 59 bases as the first player with a 50-50 season. His dog, Decoy, became a celebrity, too, helping Ohtani deliver a ceremonial first pitch at a game. Tennessee and Auburn remain 1-2 in AP Top 25 poll featuring 10 SEC teams Tennessee and Auburn remained Nos. 1-2 atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. They were the headliners among the Southeastern Conference's haul of 10 ranked teams. Iowa State, Duke and Alabama rounded out the top five. Kentucky had the week's biggest fall, sliding six spots to No. 10 after a loss to Ohio State. Mississippi State, Arkansas, Illinois and Baylor rejoined the poll after stints in the rankings earlier this season. They replaced Memphis, Dayton, Michigan and Clemson. The Big 12 and Big Ten were tied for second with five teams each in the AP Top 25. USC up to No. 4 in women's AP Top 25 after win over UConn. UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame stay 1-3 Southern California jumped to No. 4 in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll on Monday after edging UConn. The Trojans moved up three spots after beating the then-No. 4 Huskies 72-70 in a rematch of last season’s Elite Eight game that UConn won. UCLA, South Carolina and Notre Dame remained the top three teams. The Bruins received 30 of the 32 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Gamecocks and the Fighting Irish each got one first-place vote. UConn fell to seventh behind Texas and LSU. Maryland, Oklahoma and Ohio State rounded out the top 10 teams. Former NFL great Michael Vick introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Michael Vick has been introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach, a homecoming for the former NFL star and a splashy, attention-grabbing hire for a program that has struggled in recent years. Vick donned a Norfolk State letterman’s jacket and cap in front of a crowd of supporters that included fellow Hampton Roads, Virginia, sports greats Allen Iverson and Bruce Smith. Vick led Virginia Tech to the national championship game as a redshirt freshman and was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. His career was derailed by his conviction in 2007 for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. On Football: Falcons and Buccaneers flip spots atop the NFC South and playoff races tighten up The 49ers, Cowboys and Cardinals are out of the playoff race. The Falcons took control of their hopes and the Colts, Dolphins and Bengals kept slim chances alive. The NFL’s playoff picture became clearer Sunday. With two weeks remaining, three of eight division titles are secured, eight teams have wrapped up playoff berths and 11 more are competing for the six remaining spots. The biggest change in the standings occurred in the NFC South with Atlanta reclaiming the top spot from Tampa Bay. The Chiefs have the inside track for the AFC's No. 1 seed and the NFC's top spot could likely come down to the Vikings-Lions matchup in Week 18. No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State gear up for rematch of thriller won by Ducks Oregon and Ohio State have already produced one heck of a game this season. Now, the top-seeded Ducks and eighth-seeded Buckeyes are gearing up for a rematch more than 10 weeks later in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. Of course, both teams have had ample time for evolution since that 32-31 Oregon win on Oct. 12. But they also have that game and players’ familiarity with each other, not to mention common opponents in the Big Ten. Texas, Arizona State to meet in CFP clash of old vs. new Big 12 champs AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas won the Big 12 title in 2023 on its way out the door to the Southeastern Conference. It was still swinging open when Arizona State waltzed in and won the league title in its debut season. And now last season’s Big 12 champs meet the new Big 12 champs on the path toward a potential national title. The fifth-seeded Longhorns and fourth-seeded Sun Devils play News Years Day in the Peach Bowl in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. Penn State preparing for hard-charging Jeanty and Boise State in CFP quarterfinals STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State players have watched Ashton Jeanty make opponents look silly all season. They don’t want to be the next defenders Boise State’s star posterizes with jukes, spin moves, stiff arms and heavy shoulders. But they also know that slowing down Jeanty, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, will be their toughest task yet when the two teams meet in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. NCAA appealing Pavia injunction as D-I board grants waiver to former JUCO players The NCAA on Monday appealed the preliminary injunction granted by a U.S. federal judge giving Diego Pavia another year of eligibility even as the organization’s Division I board of directors granted a waiver allowing athletes in a similar situation as the Vanderbilt quarterback to play in 2025-26. The injunction Dec. 18 was limited to Pavia arguing he was likely to win on his argument that NCAA Division I eligibility rules discriminated against his junior college seasons. The NCAA waiver announced Monday should limit the lawsuits from other athletes who started at a junior college seeking another season to access name, image and likeness opportunities. Texas sues NCAA in latest push to block transgender athletes in women's sports AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the NCAA to block the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, arguing that it tricks and misleads fans. The lawsuit filed in state district court argues the NCAA violates the Texas Trade Practices Act. The law is designed to protect consumers from deceptive business practices. The lawsuit is the latest attempt by conservative politicians to target transgender athletes and push the NCAA into banning them from competition. NCAA President Charlie Baker recently told Congress he was aware of fewer than 10 active transgender athletes.The Vancouver Canucks’ system has helped hold the fort through the team’s myriad of injuries and absences in the early going. From Aatu Räty and Arshdeep Bains to Max Sasson and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, the Canucks have had to use some of their young forwards already this season And while the individual performances of some of them have been uneven in fits and starts, they’ve mostly given the club usable minutes. Advertisement There’s been a fair bit to be excited about regarding the general trajectory of Vancouver’s prospects. In contrast with their fortunes at the NHL level, there have been relatively few significant injuries in the Canucks prospect pool — Anthony Romani, who’s out indefinitely for OHL North Bay with an upper-body injury, is the key exception — and most prospects have trended well in the first six weeks of their various seasons. Let’s look at how some of Vancouver’s notable prospects are tracking in the early portion of this campaign. Given the attention we’ve already spent analyzing the players who have been called up, we’ll mostly focus on players who haven’t played NHL games for the Canucks. Who’s trending up, who’s holding steady and who’s trending down in the Canucks pipeline so far this season? Trending up Willander is off to a very strong start to his sophomore NCAA campaign and has successfully added a more dynamic attacking element to his game. He thinks the game defence first. That’s part of his appeal as a prospect, and there’s no question about his tools — including his pro-ready frame and special skating ability, which he uses to aggressively kill plays — but, at times in his freshman season, the lack of offensive polish in his toolkit was limiting. Willander struggled to build chemistry and effectively complement Boston University’s most skilled players as a freshman. When paired with Lane Hutson last season, for example, the fit just didn’t work and BU’s coaching staff ultimately bumped him down the lineup and into more of a shutdown role as a result. The Canucks were keen to see Willander develop into a more assertive attacking presence on the back end in his second North American professional season, and so far, even as BU’s results have been mixed at the team level, he’s been up to the task as a sophomore. Advertisement In BU’s first 12 games this season, Willander has contributed nine points (two goals and seven assists). Impressively, only two of those points have come on the power play. Willander has demonstrated meaningful growth in his puckhandling polish, which was problematic for him on occasion last season, and willingness to activate and contribute to the build-up in the offensive zone. This aggressive read is an example of a play that Willander made too infrequently last season but has since become a regular part of his game this season: Tom Willander with the perfect cross-crease feed for his 6th point of the season. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/KtWGsZXKIL — Dave Hall (@davehall1289) November 3, 2024 Willander will play a major role for Sweden at the upcoming World Junior Championship. He’s unlikely to hold down a first power-play unit role at that tournament given the presence of teammate and fellow 2023 first-rounder Axel Sandin-Pellikka, but he’ll be counted on in a significant role on one of the tournament favourites. If he can have a strong tournament and maintain this level of offensive production at BU, that would be an auspicious sign not just for his NHL potential — given his size, skating ability and defensive instincts, that’s virtually assured — but for his ceiling as a potential top-four mainstay down the line in Vancouver. Kudryavtsev has followed up on his strong showing at Canucks training camp and in the preseason with a preposterously impressive and productive first month in the AHL. In his first year of professional hockey, Kudryavtsev has played a significant role for the Abbotsford Canucks and has pitched in with eight points in 15 games, with only two points on the power play. Kudryavtsev has recently played with Cole McWard, and that duo has formed Abbotsford’s most dynamic puck-moving pair in most games. Advertisement That Kudryavtsev arrived in the AHL as a pro-ready player isn’t a tremendous surprise to anyone who watched him closely in preseason. His hockey IQ, mobility and overall slickness are at a very precocious level and it’s translated immediately to the professional ranks. While valid questions remain about Kudryavtsev’s NHL upside, that his production has popped immediately in the AHL with zero ramp-up time is a crucial data point. Sometimes a player is just good. If Kudryavtsev can maintain a significant role all season in Abbotsford and keep up this level of production, we’ll quickly reach the point where that label applies. Fernström, a 2024 third-round pick, has demonstrated that he’s too good for the J20 level in Sweden and is beginning to carve out a significant role for Örebro HK in the SHL — the same club team both Lekkerimäki and Elias Pettersson (the defender) played for last season. Through 16 games at the SHL level, Fernström has mostly logged depth minutes, averaging under 10 minutes per game. Over the past week, however, Fernström has begun to cement himself as a top-nine forward and has expanded his role (and his production) accordingly. It’s very difficult for a forward in their draft-plus-one campaign to carve out a regular role in the SHL, and it tends to be an auspicious sign for a prospect’s development when they’re able to do so. If a player can handle a regular shift in a difficult professional environment and be productive, things start to get exciting. So far, Fernström’s production has been solid — three goals and two assists in 16 games is impressive given his age and the league he’s playing in, and only five junior-aged players have scored more goals in the SHL this season — but if he can maintain the sort of deployment he’s been able to earn recently, it could become more than that. In any event, Fernström’s draft-plus-one season is off to a scintillating start. He’s a Canucks prospect to monitor with significant interest. Advertisement Though he’s missed a couple of weeks of action with an upper-body injury, Mynio has been a standout performer on an overmatched WHL Seattle Thunderbirds team this season. When Mynio was drafted, he was a third-pair penalty-killing specialist on a loaded Thunderbirds team, but Seattle has entered a different stage of its team-building cycle over the past year and a half. Top players like Dylan Guenther and Kevin Korchinski graduated to the NHL, while top prospects like Tij Iginla sought more opportunity on other teams for their draft year. The departures ushered in a larger role for Mynio, who was named co-captain for Seattle last week, and he seized on the increased opportunity, producing significantly on the power play in particular. Mynio’s production has continued to increase this season, and rather remarkably, he’s managed an even plus-minus rating on the cellar-dwelling Thunderbirds. Plus-minus is a deeply flawed statistic, but it’s notable when a top player is able to come out even on a team that’s been outscored 104-67 through 23 games, as Mynio has. While Mynio’s production has popped over the past two seasons, there are still some questions about his overall offensive upside. It’s worth noting too that defender scoring is increasingly directed through something of an opportunity funnel. In the past, when four or five defenders on a team received regular power-play ice time, a defender’s offensive production told us a bit more about that player’s skill level. These days, however, there’s usually just one defender who gets to play on the top power play — in Seattle, that’s Mynio — and often their production is a product of that assignment more than a more meaningful reflection of their individual toolkit. Mynio’s work rate and defensive reliability, more than his offensive potential, have caught the hockey world’s attention. He’s expected to be a strong contender to join Canada’s world juniors roster, and given he’s already signed and widely expected to turn pro after this season, he could be an interesting WHL trade chip to monitor as contenders load up for the playoffs. Advertisement Mynio has played exceptional hockey for a losing Seattle team over the past two seasons, but it will be fascinating to see in the months ahead if he gets an opportunity to perform in a winning environment. Holding Pettersson has been Abbotsford’s most consistent and most physical defender. While the AHL Canucks have had a difficult time preventing goals, mostly due to goaltending, Pettersson’s authoritative defensive style has translated well in his first professional season. He’s been Abbotsford’s steadiest shutdown option, which is partly why the NHL Canucks made him an emergency call-up on their most recent homestand. While Pettersson’s start to the season hasn’t been especially flashy, his defensive and personal maturity is turning heads, and it seems he’s well on track to make his NHL debut at some point this season. We should leave the light on for Klimovich. The 21-year-old has been in the AHL for parts of four seasons now and has yet to really breakthrough. While we’d usually look at a four-year AHL veteran as a farmhand unlikely to possess the upside necessary to develop into an NHL regular, Klimovich is still young enough that he’s got some runway remaining. And in the early part of this season, he has carved out a larger role than anything he’s previously held down at the AHL level and is currently leading Abbotsford forwards in scoring. The tools have never been in question for Klimovich — he’s got NHL size, hands and a shot with the mechanical potential to be a lethal weapon — but he’s struggled to stay healthy and earn trust from his coaches. He’s also struggled to control his temper in-game. So far this season, however, Klimovich has played a more mature, steady game and has done so without sacrificing the occasional “wow” moment he’s capable of creating. Advertisement A standout at Canucks training camp, Alriksson earned an entry-level contract — and a lot of praise from Rick Tocchet — before he was returned to the OHL. He has since played a significant role and managed a solid 15 points in 17 games for the Guelph Storm. An imposing 6-foot-6, 235-pound forward, Alriksson has a rare physical profile and some genuine puck skills to go with his remarkable frame. He has performed well in the early going, but he remains a project, and there’s some shift-to-shift (and game-to-game) inconsistency that’s somewhat baked into his learning curve. As a 19-year-old in his draft-plus-two campaign, moreover, you’d ideally want to see his tools translate into production above a point-per-game level. That sort of production tends to be something of a baseline for a player with a shot at developing into more than a role player in the NHL down the line. Trending down After an impressive first season of North American professional hockey in which he was the more consistent of Abbotsford’s goaltending platoon with Artūrs Šilovs , Tolopilo has struggled through the first month of this season. Across nine starts in Abbotsford, Tolopilo has permitted 25 goals on just 201 shots for a .879 save percentage. Obviously, that isn’t going to get it done. Perhaps Tolopilo’s game is already beginning to stabilize. After a run of poor starts in the early part of November, the AHL Canucks gave Tolopilo something of a reset, as he appeared in only two games between Nov. 9-23. Tolopilo was sharp in those two starts, and his return to form punctuated this weekend with a shutout performance against the Henderson Silver Knights — his first career AHL shutout. Patterson has been a solid performer for the OHL’s Barrie Colts, but given the way he thrashed the league in the second half of 2023-24, it’s fair to note he hasn’t quite started off the way he ended last year. Advertisement Patterson’s story is an unlikely one to begin with. His rise to being drafted by the Canucks was meteoric. He was passed over in the OHL Priority Draft and then caught absolute fire as a right winger on a line with Seattle Kraken first-rounder Cole Beaudoin down the stretch last season. It was that run of form that cemented him on the NHL radar, where the Canucks ultimately selected him in the fourth round. This season, while still playing with Beaudoin for the most part, Patterson has managed a respectable 15 points in 20 games. He remains a quick, smart, high-motor player with some complementary offensive upside, but to this point, he hasn’t quite popped to the same level he managed in his draft year. (Top photo of Tom Willander: Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today)Qatar’s threat to stop gas sales to the European Union if fined under a new law could set a precedent for other energy-exporting nations to resist stringent EU sustainability and reporting regulations, experts say. Qatari Energy Minister Saad Al Kaabi told the Financial Times on Sunday that if any EU state imposed non-compliance penalties on the scale referenced in the corporate due diligence directive, Doha would stop exporting its liquefied natural gas to the bloc. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) requires EU countries to impose fines for non-compliance with an upper limit of at least 5 per cent of the company’s annual global revenue. “Qatar is one of the world’s largest LNG exporters. The EU is increasingly reliant on its LNG due to reduced natural gas supplies from Russia. A disruption in Qatari LNG shipments would likely exacerbate supply constraints, especially during winter months when demand peaks,” said James Willn, partner at global law company Reed Smith’s energy and natural resources group. “Qatar’s response could set a precedent for other energy-exporting nations to resist stringent EU sustainability and reporting regulations. The EU may then face pressure to balance sustainability goals with economic and energy security considerations.” Passed by the European parliament last year and due to come into force by 2027, the CSDDD requires EU and non-EU companies with significant turnover in the bloc to ensure that their supply chains do not harm workers or the environment. Companies have new obligations to audit their supply chains for environmental damage and human rights violations. The CSDDD requires all listed companies (except listed microenterprises) as well as large organisations to disclose information on risks and opportunities from social and environmental issues. But the directive has prompted a widespread backlash from companies, both within and outside the EU, who have complained that the rules are too onerous. Germany had called for the law to be postponed by two years and to exempt small and medium enterprises from the reporting duties as the bloc’s largest economy struggles with a downturn, Bloomberg reported this month. Changes are needed “in order to avoid unnecessary burden for businesses”, says the letter. Failure to comply with the new reporting guidelines could result in fines of up to 5 per cent of companies’ net global turnover, as well as potential civil claims and reputational damage. “If the case is that I lose 5 per cent of my generated revenue by going to Europe, I will not go to Europe ... I’m not bluffing,” Mr Al Kaabi told the FT. “Five per cent of generated revenue of QatarEnergy [the state-run energy company of which he is chief executive of] means 5 per cent of generated revenue of the Qatar state. This is the people’s money ... so I cannot lose that kind of money – and nobody would accept losing that kind of money.” However, Mr Al Kaabi suggested there could be room for compromise if the penalties targeted just income generated in Europe rather than total global revenue. “But if you want to come to my total generated revenue, come on, it doesn’t make any sense,” he said. As European countries have sought to wean themselves off Russian gas, QatarEnergy has signed long term agreements to supply LNG to Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. “Qatar could redirect its LNG exports to other markets, such as China, Japan or South Korea, which are major LNG importers and less likely to impose similar sustainability laws. The EU would need to seek alternative suppliers, such as the US, Australia or African nations, potentially at higher costs,” Mr Willn said. But “whether this is realistic depends on several factors, including market conditions, infrastructure, contractual obligations and geopolitical considerations”, he said. A significant portion of Qatar’s LNG exports is tied up in long-term contracts with specific buyers, including European countries. Diverting these supplies would be difficult unless there are force majeure conditions or legal grounds to breach contracts without incurring penalties, he explained. Long-term contracts often specify destination clauses, restricting where the gas can be shipped. Altering such agreements would require renegotiation, which takes time and may face resistance. “Diverting LNG to markets further away from Europe (e.g., Asia) would increase shipping times and costs, potentially affecting profitability. Qatar has one of the largest fleets of LNG carriers, giving it logistical flexibility, but significant redirection would still strain global shipping capacity,” Mr Willn said. “The redirection of spot market volumes or incremental increases to Asian buyers is plausible, but fully abandoning the EU market would likely be economically and strategically unviable, certainly in the short term.” Robin Mills, chief executive of Qamar Energy, said he’d be “very surprised if this really results in a halt”. “Europe is an important market for Qatar, and Qatari LNG is a key part of the EU’s supply, especially as they don’t want to be too reliant on the US under Donald Trump, and are still taking a significant amount of Russian LNG, which there is pressure to stop. Qatar LNG is anyway lower carbon than Russian or US gas,” he said. “I presume the two sides will work out a compromise. But it will mean reluctance to sign any new long-term contracts until it is resolved.” Mr Al Kaabi told FT that QatarEnergy would not break its LNG contracts, but it would look at legal avenues if it faced hefty penalties. “I will not accept that we get penalised,” he said. “I will stop sending gas to Europe.” Source: The National

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European stocks bounced around Monday while US equities shook off early weakness to push higher as investors waited to see if a so-called Santa Claus rally sweeps over the market. Global stock markets had a tumultuous time last week, spiraling lower after the US Federal Reserve signaled fewer interest rate cuts than had been expected for 2025. But it ended on a positive note as traders welcomed below-forecast US inflation data that raised hopes about the health of the world's biggest economy. That helped Asian markets move higher on Monday, but the positive trend faltered in Europe and stumbled initially in the United States. "Another up leg in US yields not only put pressure on stock indices but also drove the greenback higher," said IG analyst Axel Rudolph. But after a sluggish start, US stocks rose progressively in a quiet session with analysts pointing to low pre-holiday trading volumes. "Stocks didn't really have any direction in the morning, then we got this tech rally that just sort of drifted higher all day," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. Analysts view elevated Treasury bond yields as a threat to year-end gains in an historically strong period of the calendar. Known as a Santa Claus rally, there are various explanations for the phenomenon including seasonal optimism and end-of-year tax considerations. But there remains some trepidation among investors as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, pledging to cut taxes, slash regulations and impose tariffs on imports, which some economists warn could reignite inflation. "The initial response to the US election was positive as investors focused on the obvious tailwinds to profitability: lower corporate tax rates and less regulation," said Ronald Temple, chief market strategist at Lazard. "However, I expect much more dispersion within the equity market when the reality of a much-less-friendly trade environment sets in." In Europe, the FTSE 100 moved higher as the pound slid following data that showed that the UK economy stagnated in the third quarter, revised down from initial estimates of 0.1 percent growth. Official data out of Spain on Monday showed that the Spanish economy grew 0.8 percent in the third quarter as domestic consumption and exports increased, comfortably outstripping the European Union average. In company news, shares in crisis-hit German auto giant Volkswagen lost more than three percent on the back of news Friday that it plans to axe 35,000 jobs by 2030 in a drastic cost-cutting plan. Shares in Japanese auto giant Honda rose over three percent after it announced Monday an agreement to launch merger talks with struggling compatriot Nissan that could create the world's third largest automaker. New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 42,906.95 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.7 percent at 5,974.89 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.0 percent at 19,764.89 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 8,102.72 (close) Paris - CAC 40: FLAT at 7,272.32 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.2 percent at 19,848.77 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.2 percent at 39,161.34 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.8 percent at 19,883.13 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,351.26 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0408 from $1.0430 on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2531 from $1.2570 Dollar/yen: UP at 157.14 yen from 156.31 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.03 pence from 82.97 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $69.24 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.4 percent at $72.63 per barrel burs-jmb/jgcAP Business SummaryBrief at 2:00 p.m. EST

Amanda Hernández | (TNS) Stateline.org CHICAGO — Shoplifting rates in the three largest U.S. cities — New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — remain higher than they were before the pandemic, according to a report last month from the nonpartisan research group Council on Criminal Justice. Related Articles National News | Bill Clinton is out of the hospital after being treated for the flu National News | NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids National News | Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights National News | Prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting National News | Judge rules Arkansas law allowing criminal charges against librarians is unconstitutional The sharp rise in retail theft in recent years has made shoplifting a hot-button issue, especially for politicians looking to address public safety concerns in their communities. Since 2020, when viral videos of smash-and-grab robberies flooded social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have expressed fears that crime is out of control. Polls show that perceptions have improved recently, but a majority of Americans still say crime is worse than in previous years. “There is this sense of brazenness that people have — they can just walk in and steal stuff. ... That hurts the consumer, and it hurts the company,” said Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, in an interview. “That’s just the world we live in,” he said. “We need to get people to realize that you have to obey the law.” At least eight states — Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New York and Vermont — passed a total of 14 bills in 2024 aimed at tackling retail theft, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The measures range from redefining retail crimes and adjusting penalties to allowing cross-county aggregation of theft charges and protecting retail workers. Major retailers have responded to rising theft since 2020 by locking up merchandise, upgrading security cameras, hiring private security firms and even closing stores. Still, the report indicates that shoplifting remains a stubborn problem. In Chicago, the rate of reported shoplifting incidents remained below pre-pandemic levels throughout 2023 — but surged by 46% from January to October 2024 compared with the same period a year ago. Shoplifting in Los Angeles was 87% higher in 2023 than in 2019. Police reports of shoplifting from January to October 2024 were lower than in 2023. Los Angeles adopted a new crime reporting system in March 2024, which has likely led to an undercount, according to the report. In New York, shoplifting rose 48% from 2021 to 2022, then dipped slightly last year. Still, the shoplifting rate was 55% higher in 2023 than in 2019. This year, the shoplifting rate increased by 3% from January to September compared with the same period last year. While shoplifting rates tend to rise in November and December, which coincides with in-person holiday shopping, data from the Council on Criminal Justice’s sample of 23 U.S. cities shows higher rates in the first half of 2024 compared with 2023. Researchers found it surprising that rates went up despite retailers doing more to fight shoplifting. Experts say the spike might reflect improved reporting efforts rather than a spike in theft. “As retailers have been paying more attention to shoplifting, we would not expect the numbers to increase,” said Ernesto Lopez, the report’s author and a senior research specialist with the council. “It makes it a challenge to understand the trends of shoplifting.” In downtown Chicago on a recent early afternoon, potential shoppers shuffled through the streets and nearby malls, browsing for gifts ahead of the holidays. Edward Johnson, a guard at The Shops at North Bridge, said that malls have become quieter in the dozen or so years he has worked in mall security, with the rise of online retailers. As for shoplifters, Johnson said there isn’t a single type of person to look out for — they can come from any background. “I think good-hearted people see something they can’t afford and figure nothing is lost if they take something from the store,” Johnson said as he patrolled the mall, keeping an eye out for lost or suspicious items. Between 2018 and 2023, most shoplifting in Chicago was reported in the downtown area, as well as in the Old Town, River North and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, according to a separate analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice. Newly sworn-in Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke this month lowered the threshold for charging retail theft as a felony in the county, which includes Chicago, from $1,000 to $300, aligning it with state law. “It sends a signal that she’s taking it seriously,” Rob Karr, the president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, told Stateline. Nationally, retailers are worried about organized theft. The National Retail Federation’s latest report attributed 36% of the $112.1 billion in lost merchandise in 2022 to “external theft,” which includes organized retail crime. Organized retail crime typically involves coordinated efforts by groups to steal items with the intent to resell them for a profit. Commonly targeted goods include high-demand items such as baby formula, laundry detergent and electronics. The same report found that retailers’ fear of violence associated with theft also is on the rise, with more retailers taking a “hands-off approach.” More than 41% of respondents to the organization’s 2023 survey, up from 38% in 2022, reported that no employee is authorized to try and stop a shoplifter. (The federation’s reporting has come under criticism. It retracted a claim last year that attributed nearly half of lost merchandise in 2021 to organized retail crime; such theft accounted for only about 5%. The group announced this fall it will no longer publish its reports on lost merchandise.) Policy experts say shoplifting and organized retail theft can significantly harm critical industries, drive up costs for consumers and reduce sales tax revenue for states. Those worries have driven recent state-level action to boost penalties for shoplifting. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of 10 bills into law in August aimed at addressing retail theft. These measures make repeated theft convictions a felony, allow aggregation of crimes across multiple counties to be charged as a single felony, and permit police to arrest suspects for retail theft even if the crime wasn’t witnessed directly by an officer. In September, Newsom signed an additional bill that imposes steeper felony penalties for large-scale theft offenses. California voters also overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure in November that increases penalties for specific drug-related and theft crimes. Under the new law, people who are convicted of theft at least twice may face felony charges on their third offense, regardless of the stolen item’s value. “With these changes in the law, really it comes down to making sure that law enforcement is showing up to our stores in a timely manner, and that the prosecutors and the [district attorneys] are prosecuting,” Rachel Michelin, the president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, told Stateline. “That’s the only way we’re going to deter retail theft in our communities.” In New Jersey, a bipartisan bill making its way through the legislature would increase penalties for leading a shoplifting ring and allow extended sentences for repeat offenders. “This bill is going after a formally organized band of criminals that deliver such destruction to a critical business in our community. We have to act. We have to create a deterrence,” Democratic Assemblymember Joseph Danielsen, one of the bill’s prime sponsors, said in an interview with Stateline. The legislation would allow extended sentences for people convicted of shoplifting three times within 10 years or within 10 years of their release from prison, and would increase penalties to 10 to 20 years in prison for leading a retail crime ring. The bill also would allow law enforcement to aggregate the value of stolen goods over the course of a year to charge serial shoplifters with more serious offenses. Additionally, the bill would increase penalties for assaults committed against retail workers, and would require retailers to train employees on detecting gift card scams. Maryland legislators considered a similar bill during this year’s legislative session that would have defined organized retail theft and made it a felony. The bill didn’t make it out of committee, but Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, said the group plans to propose a bill during next year’s legislative session that would target gift card fraud. Better, more thorough reporting from retailers is essential to truly understanding shoplifting trends and its full impact, in part because some retail-related crimes, such as gift card fraud, are frequently underreported, according to Lopez, of the Council on Criminal Justice. Measuring crime across jurisdictions is notoriously difficult , and the council does not track organized retail theft specifically because law enforcement typically doesn’t identify it as such at the time of arrest — if an arrest even occurs — requiring further investigation, Lopez said. The council’s latest report found conflicting trends in the FBI’s national crime reporting systems. The FBI’s older system, the Summary Reporting System, known as SRS, suggests that reported shoplifting hadn’t gone up through 2023, remaining on par with 2019 levels. In contrast, the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, or NIBRS, shows a 93% increase in shoplifting over the same period. The discrepancy may stem from the type of law enforcement agencies that have adopted the latter system, Lopez said. Some of those communities may have higher levels of shoplifting or other types of property crime, which could be what is driving the spike, Lopez said. Despite the discrepancies and varying levels of shoplifting across the country, Lopez said, it’s important for retailers to report these incidents, as doing so could help allocate law enforcement resources more effectively. “All law enforcement agencies have limited resources, and having the most accurate information allows for not just better policy, but also better implementation — better use of strategic resources,” Lopez said. Stateline staff writer Robbie Sequeira contributed to this report. ©2024 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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