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“My twin sister Nicola got sick when she was 24 years old. It was determined that she had stomach cancer and passed away two months to the day she was diagnosed.” Natasha Benn lost her sister to a rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer in 1993. Before Nicola, her mother had passed away from the same cancer when Benn was two. So did her grandmother, aunt, and great-grandfather. “My dad always thought it might be some kind of hereditary component to the type of cancer that my mom had, but it was never confirmed at the time,” Benn said. Shortly after Nicola's death, a gastroenterologist strongly suggested that Benn undergo surgery to remove her stomach, given the close genetic link between the twins. Nine months later, the young woman decided to go forward with full gastrostomy, unbeknownst to her if she was carrying the same ailment. Grieving the loss of her sister and uncertain if she had made the right decision, Benn received news six years later confirming her choice had been the correct one. After performing a biopsy on the young woman’s stomach, pathologists discovered traces of cancer in the organ’s lining - something that could not have been detected even with an endoscopy. Little did they know, the Benns, along with another family from Detroit, were part of a groundbreaking discovery that transformed the lives of countless families. For the first time in history, researchers identified a genetic mutation in Natasha’s stomach which they named CDH1. This mutation was found to carry an 83 per cent risk of developing stomach cancer and 60 per cent likelihood of lobular breast cancer. Thanks to the technological advances and research, organizations like BC Cancer can find this mutation through risk-free, non-evasive, and efficient ways. A simple sample of saliva, or blood, can be all that’s needed to determine if one carries the rogue gene. “Genetic testing can be helpful in clarifying whether or not you have an increased risk [of cancer] and then determining what's available in terms of screening and prevention for those specific types of cancer,” said Jennifer Nuk, leader in genetic counsellor for the BC Cancer Hereditary Cancer Program. For decades, identifying hereditary cancer solely relied on analyzing one’s family history, without having certainty if members were carriers of the ailment, explained Nuk. In the early days of genetic testing, means were limited, costly, and slow. Today, however, researchers can examine more genes than ever before with greater efficiency, at a higher rate, for a fraction of what it once cost. “We've had families that were seen years ago where it looks like there was something going on in the family... and we didn't find anything,” said Nuk. “Now we go back to test that same family [and] we're actually picking up mutations because the technology has improved so much.” Though many remain to be studied, Nuk and her team can now detect rogue genes causing numerous cancers including ovarian, breast, and colon. The lead geneticist added that the services offered by the program are twofold; genetic testing to identify individuals carrying mutated genes, and the provision of personalized care plans for those at increased cancer risk. “If we can figure out someone's at higher risk... we have a much better chance of offering better outcomes for the patient,” she said. People are provided with comprehensive information and a range of options, allowing them to make informed decisions about their next steps. As prevention is key to combating cancer, Nuk and her team will discuss and propose to their patients appropriate screening options, such as mammograms or MRIs, as well as preventative measures like vaccines and surgeries suited to their respective conditions. In turn, Nuk added that if one treatment can be given over another more invasive one, this will ultimately result in a better quality of life for individuals and benefit the overall health-care system. Since its inception in 1997, the prevention program has not only saved thousands of lives but also reduced health-care costs for taxpayers, freed up time and resources for other cancer patients, and alleviated the burden on B.C.'s hospitals. Benn and her sisters benefited from this very program. “My older sister did have the gene and decided to go through with the surgery and had her stomach removed,” she said. “[It] was riddled with cancer and she's still living today.” Her other sister, luckily, tested negative for the CDH1 mutation. Benn herself, facing a significant breast cancer risk from possessing the gene, opted for a preventative mastectomy. Reflecting on her journey, the self-proclaimed “cancer avoider” acknowledges the challenges she faced, including the grief of losing her sister and the uncertainty that followed her surgery. However, she strongly recommends the importance of prioritizing preventative care. “To have that knowledge and to be willing to [use it] is so important,” said Benn. “I know a lot of people avoid going to the doctor, especially when you might be feeling completely healthy, but you don't know what else is happening in your body. “Having a screening place that you can go to determine if you have a history of any kind of illness that you can prevent it in advance, why wouldn't you go?”NoneThe Real Housewives of Potomac Recap: Mamma Mia
Trump’s Win Is a Boon to the Far Right in Europe and Beyond
BOSTON — The University of Connecticut capped off a season to remember with a 27-14 victory over the University of North Carolina in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Boston’s historic Fenway Park on Saturday. The win not only snapped UConn’s bowl-game losing streak but also marked a statement triumph over a Power Five opponent, ending UNC’s three-game dominance in their all-time series. “To UNC, they’re going through some turmoil,” UConn coach Jim Mora said after the game. “They’ve got a lot of change, lot of uncertainty, but they played hard. They never gave up. I thought (interim head coach) Freddie (Kitchens) did a great job of keeping that group together.” North Carolina announced former Patriots coach Bill Belichick as the new coach earlier this month, but Belichick did not attend Saturday’s game. For UConn senior defensive back Rante Jones, the victory was deeply personal. Reflecting on the team’s struggles and determination before the game, he admitted he felt overwhelmed by the moment. “To come out and get over the hump, it means a lot to us,” Jones said. “We’ve been battling 12 games straight to beat a Power Five team. They never said we could do it. Why not do it right now? Why not us?” Coming into the game, both teams were desperate to end their bowl game losing streaks. UNC had lost its last four, while UConn (9-4) was looking to erase a three-game skid. For the Huskies, though, this season had already been a revelation, capped off with their first eight-win regular season campaign since Randy Edsall led them to the Fiesta Bowl in January 2010. The Tar Heels, on the other hand, opened the season with promise, starting 3-0, only to endure a four-game losing streak, including an unexpected 70-50 defeat against James Madison. They bounced back with three wins to secure bowl eligibility but stumbled again with losses to Boston College and rival NC State to close out the regular season. Amid the disappointment, Tar Heel fans found a glimmer of hope when news broke that six-time Super Bowl champion Belichick will be taking over the program. However, Belichick’s absence at the media press conference on Friday — and confirmation that he would neither coach nor attend the game in Boston — left UNC (6-7) to focus on the more immediate challenges at hand. Already missing key players like star running back Omarion Hampton, left tackle Howard Sampson, and a slew of defensive starters, the Tar Heels suffered a devastating blow early in the first quarter. Quarterback Jacolby Criswell, scrambling on a second-and-16 play, was flattened by a massive hit, landing awkwardly on his shoulder and exiting the game. With their quarterback depth nearly nonexistent, UNC turned to freshman Michael Merdinger, who was already in the transfer portal, and senior running back Caleb Hood. The plan was to use Hood’s running ability on early downs while leaning on Merdinger for passing situations. Hood finished with an impressive 78 yards on 11 carries (7.1 yards per play), while Merdinger completed 9 of 12 passes but threw a costly interception. Ironically, it was Hood who delivered UNC’s lone offensive spark — a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end John Copenhaver in the fourth quarter. By then, UConn had already firmly seized control of the game. The Huskies opened the first quarter with fireworks as running back Mel Brown exploded for a 47-yard run on the very first play. To Mora, that moment epitomized the team’s mindset and laid the foundation for their dominate performance. “It’s huge,” Mora said. “It sets the tone, and it shows you, hey, we’re here for business. We respect you, but we don’t fear you. We’re gonna run it right at you. When you rip that off in the first play, the energy just goes through the roof.” The Huskies settled for a field goal after the momentum-shifting drive, but quarterback Joe Fagnano later launched a 36-yard strike to standout wide receiver Skylar Bell in the corner of the end zone, putting the team up 10-0. UNC briefly answered back with a 95-yard return touchdown from Chris Culliver on the ensuing kickoff, electrifying the Tar Heel faithful and cutting the deficit to 10-7. But UConn had an answer for everything. Running back Cam Edwards powered in for a 2-yard touchdown just before halftime, giving the Huskies a commanding 24-7 lead. From there, UConn’s defense held strong, ensuring the Tar Heels never got close enough to stage a comeback. For the Huskies, the victory was more than just a bowl win—it was the perfect ending to a season of resurgence. For UNC, the loss marked the end of a turbulent chapter, but also the beginning of a new era under the leadership of a legendary head coach.LEDUC COUNTY, ALTA. - Alberta’s government says it will invest up to $50 million to support the creation of a first-in-Canada drilling test site to support technology development in the oil, gas, geothermal and lithium industries. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * LEDUC COUNTY, ALTA. - Alberta’s government says it will invest up to $50 million to support the creation of a first-in-Canada drilling test site to support technology development in the oil, gas, geothermal and lithium industries. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? LEDUC COUNTY, ALTA. – Alberta’s government says it will invest up to $50 million to support the creation of a first-in-Canada drilling test site to support technology development in the oil, gas, geothermal and lithium industries. The Alberta Drilling Accelerator is intended to be an open-access, industry-led site where companies can test drilling technologies at deep depths, high temperatures and varying rock types. A location for the hub site has yet to be determined. While no binding contracts have been signed, the province says several companies have expressed strong interest in serving as anchor tenants, including Calgary-based geothermal company Eavor Technologies, Tourmaline Oil Corp. and international oilfield service supermajor Halliburton. The money the province is providing will come from the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program, which Alberta’s heavy emitters are required to pay into as part of the province’s industrial carbon pricing system. The provincial government says the Alberta Drilling Accelerator could start drilling in 2026. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:TOU) Advertisement
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'What a find for India': Sunil Gavaskar gives standing ovation to Nitish Reddy for maiden ton against Australia; Watch video here
Canadian freestyle skier star Mikael Kingsbury is juggling both moguls and fatherhood. The 32-year-old Olympic and world champion from Deux-Montagnes, Que., opens his World Cup season Saturday in Ruka, Finland, with partner Laurence Mongeon and their infant son Henrik in tow. Henrik was born Aug. 25. “It changes your life, that’s for sure,” Kingsbury said Tuesday from Ruka in a media conference call. “Get used to waking up in the middle of the night, but at the same time, it is the most beautiful thing in the world. “It brings a beautiful balance to my career.” While Kingsbury acknowledges there are great hockey players named Henrik, he says the inspiration for the name was his niece liking a boy named Henrik in her kindergarten class. “I always liked the name anyway,” Kingsbury said. “Laurence and I agree it fits his face. “I didn’t ski as much this summer because I wanted to be home and I wanted to be present. We’re five weeks on the road for the start of this season, so I couldn’t see myself doing five weeks without seeing my kid. “I would have missed my family too much, so I brought them on the road for three weeks.” Regarded as the most dominant moguls skier of all time, the Canadian achieved another significant milestone last season when he surpassed Swedish alpine skier Ingemar Stenmark for the most all-time World Cup victories by a male athlete in any ski discipline. Kingsbury embarks on his 16th World Cup season with a career 90 victories. He’s finished in the medals in 129 of 151 career World Cup starts. But while Kingsbury claimed last season’s dual moguls crown, Japan’s Ikuma Horishima challenged Kingsbury’s reign by claiming his first crystal globe in moguls. “The mindset is still the same. The goals are still the same,” Kingsbury said. “Coming into the season, I want to focus on one race at a time. That’s how you get to a crystal globe. “The main focus is being consistent, staying healthy to start the season, try to get the momentum of the start and stay healthy until the end of this season. “I usually start strong, and I can finish very strong, and that’s how you win crystal globes.” Kingsbury won an Olympic moguls gold medal in 2018 and silver in both 2014 and 2022. Dual moguls makes its Olympic debut in 2026 in Milan-Cortina, Italy. Kingsbury has swept both moguls and dual moguls gold medals in three straight world championships. He’ll attempt the double a fourth time March 18-21 in Engadin, Switzerland. “Henrik and my family now are my priority and skiing comes second, but I know I can still win,” Kingsbury said. “It’s going to be different. My family is going to be home and it might be a bit more difficult, but at the same time I see a lot of positive in being a dad. I feel way more relaxed on the mountain.” One secret to Kingsbury’s success has been his durability. His only major injury hiccup so far was fracturing two vertebrae in his back training in Ruka ahead of the 2020-21 season. Kingsbury sat out the first three World Cups and won the fourth upon return to action. He’s closer to the end of his career than the beginning, so quality training, not quantity, is important to him. “As I get older, I cannot do too much, but I’ve got to do the right amount and make sure I can peak in 2026,” he explained. “The challenge is going to be the best dad I can and the best skier I can and try to manage in the middle. It’s never going to be perfect, but I’m to do as best as I can and make sure I’m ready in 2026. “I feel fortunate for all the team (members) that I have around me, teammates, and all the coaches and staff that are working with me. They’re going to make my life easy when it’s going to be difficult.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024.NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart’s sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are re-evaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups. The changes announced by the world’s biggest retailer on Monday followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The retreat from such programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Trump’s incoming deputy chief of policy will be his former adviser Stephen Miller , who leads a group called America First Legal that has aggressively challenged corporate DEI policies. “There has been a lot of reassessment of risk looking at programs that could be deemed to constitute reverse discrimination,” said Allan Schweyer, principal researcher at the Human Capital Center at the Conference Board. RELATED COVERAGE Walmart becomes latest — and biggest — company to roll back its DEI policies What diversity does — and doesn’t — look like in Trump’s Cabinet Trump says he is naming former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy to be transportation secretary “This is another domino to fall and it is a rather large domino,” he added. Among other changes, Walmart said it will no longer give priority treatment to suppliers owned by women or minorities. The company also will not renew a five-year commitment for a racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. And it pulled out of a prominent gay rights index . Schweyer said the biggest trigger for companies making such changes is simply a reassessment of their legal risk exposure, which began after U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2023 that ended affirmative action in college admissions. Since then, conservative groups using similar arguments have secured court victories against various diversity programs, especially those that steer contracts to minority or women-owned businesses. Most recently, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty won a victory in a case against the U.S. Department of Transportation over its use of a program that gives priority to minority-owned businesses when it awards contracts. Companies are seeing a big legal risk in continuing with DEI efforts, said Dan Lennington, a deputy counsel at the institute. His organization says it has identified more than 60 programs in the federal government that it considers discriminatory, he said. “We have a legal landscape within the entire federal government, all three branches -- the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress and the President -- are all now firmly pointed in the direction towards equality of individuals and individualized treatment of all Americans, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion treating people as members of racial groups,” Lennington said. The Trump administration is also likely to take direct aim at DEI initiatives through executive orders and other policies that affect private companies, especially federal contractors. “The impact of the election on DEI policies is huge. It can’t be overstated,” said Jason Schwartz, co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at law firm Gibson Dunn. With Miller returning to the White House, rolling back DEI initiatives is likely to be a priority, Schwartz said. “Companies are trying to strike the right balance to make clear they’ve got an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, and they want to get the best talent, while at the same time trying not to alienate various parts of their employees and customer base who might feel one way or the other. It’s a virtually impossible dilemma,” Schwartz said. Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League, a civil rights group that has worked with Walmart on diversity and inclusion efforts in the past, called the company’s pullback from DEI “stunning” and “unexpected.” “This is inconsistent with the Walmart I know,” said Morial, who argued that DEI policies are how organizations ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and any suggestion of favoritism or preferential treatment “is really defamatory against what DEI represents.” He said that Walmart would see “a strong message” to the decision but that civil rights leaders “are first very interested in dialogue” with Walmart executives. A recent survey by Pew Research Center showed that workers are divided on the merits of DEI policies. While still broadly popular, the share of workers who said focusing on workplace diversity was mostly a good thing fell to 52% in the October survey, compared to 56% in a similar survey in February 2023. Rachel Minkin, a research associate at Pew, called it a small but significant shift in short amount of time. There will be more companies pulling back from their DEI policies, but it likely won’t be a retreat across the board, said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at New York University. “There are vastly more companies that are sticking with DEI,” Glasgow said. “The only reason you don’t hear about it is most of them are doing it by stealth. They’re putting their heads down and doing DEI work and hoping not to attract attention.” Glasgow advises organizations to stick to their own core values, because attitudes toward the topic can change quickly in the span of four years. “It’s going to leave them looking a little bit weak if there’s a kind of flip-flopping, depending on whichever direction the political winds are blowing,” he said. One reason DEI programs exist is because without those programs, companies may be vulnerable to lawsuits for traditional discrimination. “Really think carefully about the risks in all directions on this topic,” Glasgow said. Walmart confirmed will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts. Walmart says its U.S. businesses sourced more than $13 billion in goods and services from diverse suppliers in fiscal year 2024, including businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans. It was unclear how its relationships with such business would change going forward. Organizations that have partnered with Walmart on its diversity initiatives offered a cautious response. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, a non-profit that last year named Walmart one of America’s top corporation for women-owned enterprises, said it was still evaluating the impact of Walmart’s announcement. Pamela Prince-Eason, the president and CEO of the organization, said she hoped Walmart’s need to cater to its diverse customer base will continue to drive contracts to women-owned suppliers even if the company has no explicit dollar goals. “I suspect Walmart will continue to have one of the most inclusive supply chains in the World,” Prince-Eason wrote. “Any retailer’s ability to serve the communities they operate in will continue to value understanding their customers, (many of which are women), in order to better provide products and services desired and no one understands customers better than Walmart.” Walmart’s announcement came after the company spoke directly with conservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck, who has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on the social media platform X. Several of those companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including Ford , Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s and Tractor Supply . Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they don’t feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. The company also will stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. A Walmart spokesperson added that some of the changes were already in progress and not as a result of conversations that it had with Starbuck. RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, senior director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program, said companies that “abandon” their commitments workplace inclusion policies “are shirking their responsibility to their employees, consumers, and shareholders.” She said the buying power of LGBTQ customers is powerful and noted that the index will have record participation of more than 1,400 companies in 2025. ____ Associated Press Staff Writer Matt Brown in Washington contributed to this report.
NoneThe top US securities regulator, a skeptic towards cryptocurrency who was appointed by President Joe Biden, announced Thursday he will step down in January when Donald Trump takes office. Gary Gensler, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), said he will resign on January 20, the same day Trump assumes the presidency. The move clears the way for the president-elect to pick Gensler's successor. The news comes as bitcoin hit a fresh record, trading above $99,000 and nearing the symbolic $100,000 level. Gensler's five-year term does not end until 2026, but agency chairs customarily step down when the party of presidential administration turns over. During the election campaign, Trump promised to fire him. Gensler took office in April 2021 shortly after the so-called "meme stock" frenzy in January 2021 prompted massive volatility in GameStop and a handful of other stocks. A former mergers and acquisitions partner at Goldman Sachs, Gensler led rulemaking proposals intended to improve efficiency in capital markets. But his future in Washington looked precarious in light of the SEC's confrontational approach to cryptocurrency throughout the Biden years. Gensler referred to crypto as "the Wild West." During the campaign, Trump drew heavy financial support from cryptocurrency backers, some of whom are also close to the Republican's close ally, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. In the absence of clear regulations, Gensler took an aggressive stance toward digital currencies, treating them like traditional financial securities such as stocks and bonds. The approach has prompted SEC lawsuits against major trading platforms including Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken, along with various smaller startups. Sign up to get our free daily email of the biggest stories! Legislation currently in Congress would shift oversight of cryptocurrency supervision to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, known for its lighter-touch approach to regulation. Gensler thanked Biden and fellow commissioners, saying in a statement, "The SEC has met our mission and enforced the law without fear or favor." But the SEC's announcement drew cheers from the crypto industry. The Blockchain Association posted a waving hand emoji on X in response to Gensler's impending exit, while its CEO, Kristin Smith, noted the announcement came the same day as a favorable US court ruling in Texas for cryptocurrency. The Texas ruling constitutes "a fitting turning point of the SEC's harassment campaign of the crypto industry, and the beginning of a new era," Smith said on X. Smith warned Gensler against "sneak" last-minute enforcement and called for a "better-functioning" SEC that avoids overreach and is willing to work "with industry to find fit-for-purpose solutions." Hailey Lennon, a partner at law firm Brown Rudnick who was formerly general counsel at Coinbase, said the SEC under Gensler "played gatekeeper and stalled innovation." Citing Gensler's departing comments, she wrote on X that "saying the SEC has regulated without fear or favor is insane gaslighting." tu-jmb/bjtThese Climate Solutions Stocks Have Turned Up the Heat in 2024. Can Their Rally Continue, or Will They Cool Off in 2025?Nuked Blood: MoD ordered to find missing medical records
PM Abela avoids ministers’ ethics scandal in budget debateThe public can give feedback on two concepts for development near the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Saturday. The city commissioned a study earlier this year with the goal of providing recommendations for potential development. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws Meet the Fort Monroe Authority’s new CEO Meet the Fort Monroe Authority’s new CEO Court documents: 3-year-old grabbed dad’s gun off kitchen counter and accidentally shot himself Court documents: 3-year-old grabbed dad’s gun off kitchen counter and accidentally shot himself Newport News’ first Saladworks combines former doctor’s passions for health and business Newport News’ first Saladworks combines former doctor’s passions for health and business Here’s what development around the Virginia Beach Convention Center could look like Here’s what development around the Virginia Beach Convention Center could look like Army-Navy 2024: Navy specialty uniforms to honor Jolly Rogers aviation squadron Army-Navy 2024: Navy specialty uniforms to honor Jolly Rogers aviation squadron Entertainment venue Uptown Alley no longer coming to Williamsburg Entertainment venue Uptown Alley no longer coming to Williamsburg 2 school buses involved in crash in James City County. Here’s what happened. 2 school buses involved in crash in James City County. Here's what happened. Ex-student pleads guilty to fatally shooting 3 University of Virginia football players in 2022 Ex-student pleads guilty to fatally shooting 3 University of Virginia football players in 2022 Virginia live election results Virginia live election results Trending Nationally ‘End of an era’: What’s next for Matt Gaetz? When ‘compostables’ are actually garbage School bus driver accused of abandoning 40 elementary students miles from home More foods are making us sick: What to know as foodborne outbreaks hit consumers San Diego toddler’s backyard snake bite bills totaled more than a quarter-million dollars
Head coach Vanni Sartini paid the price Monday for the Vancouver Whitecaps’ mediocre results this past season and subsequent first-round playoff exit. His firing came about two weeks after the Major League Soccer team won a play-in game before falling to top-seeded Los Angeles FC in a three-game series that went the distance. “The desperation on my side is absolutely there,” said Axel Schuster, the Whitecaps’ sporting director and chief executive officer. One of the reasons for the change, he said, is everyone in the organization, including himself, needs a reminder that playoff success next year is imperative. “We cannot not get there.” The Whitecaps haven’t reached the conference semifinals since 2017. In a one-hour availability with reporters, Schuster noted the team had the second-worst home record in the Western Conference this year and recorded just two points over its last seven regular-season games. He referenced the need for fresh energy from a new coach and added there was no firm timeline in place for a replacement to be named. “I had to make a professional decision (for) how we can get the biggest impact to make this step forward and to get to a progression,” he said. The Whitecaps’ late-season slump dropped them to eighth place in the West with a record of 13-13-8. Vancouver won a play-in game at Portland before dropping a 1-0 decision at LAFC in the deciding game of the series. Vancouver also won its third-straight Canadian championship this season, beating Toronto FC 4-2 on penalties after the final ended in a 0-0 tie. “I took my time with this decision, and it was not taken lightly,” Schuster said. Sartini, a 47-year-old from Florence, Italy, took over coaching duties on an interim basis in August 2021 after the Whitecaps dismissed Marc Dos Santos. He was officially named head coach that November. “For the last three years and three months, it has been an absolute honour to be the head coach of Vancouver Whitecaps FC,” Sartini said in a release. “I will always be grateful to Axel Schuster and ownership for entrusting me to be the technical lead of this club in such an important time. “Vancouver will always have a special place in my heart and my wife’s heart,” he added. He posted a record of 57-51-39 across all competitions. The exuberant Italian made headlines in November 2023 when he publicly criticized a referee following a playoff game and made a joke about being a suspect if the official were to be found dead. He was suspended for the first six games of the 2024 MLS campaign, fined US$20,000 and ordered to complete a league-approved behavioural assessment. The coach later apologized for the comments and his suspension was cut to four games. Sartini came to Vancouver in 2019 as Dos Santos’ assistant coach and spent two seasons with the first team before being named the club’s “director of methodology” and taking over coaching the U-23 team in 2020. Before joining the Whitecaps, he worked as a coach educator for the Italian Football Federation and the U.S. Soccer Federation, and coached several different clubs in Italy.
Conference title games a chance at a banner, bragging rights and, for some, a season-wrecking loss
The No. 1 UCLA women’s basketball team digs deeper into its first season of Big Ten Conference play Sunday against Nebraska and continues Wednesday with No. 23 Michigan. The preparation, however, has been underway for much longer. “The work done in the dark always gets revealed in the light,” head coach Cori Close told reporters. “And we’re about to step into a lot of bright lights. It will be truly the things that will be behind the scenes that lead to us doing really, really well when the bright lights come on.” Close disclosed after Dec. 20’s 70-41 win over Creighton that the coaching staff and players are now watching film from up to 11 games on Big Ten opponents as opposed to the six or seven games that they watched for Pac-12 opponents prior to changing conferences. Playing each conference opponent once has doubled the workload for scouting, which has garnered heightened emphasis for the No. 1 Bruins (12-0 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) “We have a video team that’s not only double the people looking at analytics and we have multiple people doing video breakdown before it ever gets to an assistant coach,” Close said. “The toughest, more together team wins. But you can’t execute that unless you’re extremely prepared.” It’s unclear if 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts will be a part of UCLA’s preparation this week. Betts, who is averaging a double-double this season, hasn’t played in a game since defeating Long Beach State 102-51 on Dec. 14 and is day to day with a leg injury sustained in that game. “Teams that are smaller than us – I get it, we have a huge advantage,” she told reporters after a 69-37 victory over Cal Poly . “What cannot be allowed is taking our players out at the legs. That’s the reason that Lauren Betts is out today is because of a play that was like that.” Sunday will mark the Bruins’ first game since Dec. 20 and the Cornhuskers (10-2, 1-0), who are receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll, will feature a more competitive size matchup with eight players who are over 6 feet tall. It’ll be Nebraska’s second straight game against an unbeaten opponent after the Huskers lost to then-No. 17 Georgia Tech on Dec. 21. Forward/center Alexis Markowski recorded her fifth double-double of the season and 45th of her career by logging 20 points and 10 rebounds in the game. Michigan heads to No. 4 USC on Sunday before Wednesday’s game at UCLA. The Wolverines had their first conference game Dec. 8 when they beat Northwestern and have three freshmen averaging double figures in scoring in Syla Swords (15.3 ppg), Olivia Olson (15.7 ppg) and Mila Holloway (10.8 ppg). The Bruins have a deep, versatile roster to rely on even if Betts isn’t healthy enough to play Sunday. Freshman Elina Aarnisalo leads the team in total minutes played with 310 and in assists with 5.3 per game. UCLA shares the ball well, with seven players averaging eight points or better per game. The Bruins are the top team in the Big Ten in assists with 20.6 per game. “This is one of the most exciting parts of the season – getting into conference play knowing that every single night we go out there we’re going to have a really good competitor on the other side,” Rice said. “That’s what we train for and we’re looking forward to that.” When: 2 p.m. Sunday Where: Pauley Pavilion TV/radio: Big Ten Plus/UCLA Digital Radio When: 2 p.m. Wednesday Where: Pauley Pavilion TV/radio: Big Ten Network/UCLA Digital RadioHow Science Can Drive Global SolutionsCentre to soon define powers of J&K govtSenior BJP leader Vijender Gupta targeted AAP figurehead Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, alleging multiple irregularities concerning Kejriwal's residence at 6, Flagstaff Road during his tenure as Delhi's chief minister. According to Gupta, the issue will become a significant talking point in the forthcoming Assembly elections in India's capital city. Responding to these accusations, the Aam Aadmi Party dismissed Gupta's charges, stating the Bharatiya Janata Party's entire electoral strategy centers around attacking Kejriwal without presenting a proper vision for Delhi. The party insists that the BJP's allegations invariably prove to be baseless over time. Gupta, the outgoing Delhi Assembly's opposition leader, revealed at a press conference that constructing Kejriwal's 'Sheesh Mahal' required demolishing other properties. The BJP plans to spotlight these accusations in their campaign leading up to the February Delhi Assembly polls. (With inputs from agencies.)
ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions made a move on Tuesday that would have seemed incomprehensible just two seasons ago. The Lions waived edge rusher James Houston, who had one of the best rookie seasons (2022) for an edge rusher in recent memory but has not returned to that form since. Asked why it didn’t work out in Detroit, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said, “It just didn’t.” “It just didn’t. We had James up for a number of games, came back off of injury, got back, and it just never quite worked out,” Campbell said. Houston, a sixth-round pick by Detroit in 2022, collected eight sacks in seven games during his rookie season and appeared to have a limitless ceiling on what he could become as a pass rusher in the following seasons. But he appeared to fall out of favor with the coaching staff as early as 2023 training camp — Detroit was unsuccessfully trying to turn him into a well-rounded outside linebacker that could play every down — then broke an ankle in Week 2 of that season while playing on special teams. He didn’t return until the NFC Championship game, where he had limited snaps (11) and didn’t make an impact on the stat sheet. In training camp before this season, the Lions continued to try to improve other parts of Houston’s game but eventually gave up on the experiment, allowing him to just focus on rushing the passer. He has 13 pressures and just one sack in 2024, even with there being a clear vacancy on the edge following several key injuries. This time two years ago, Houston was getting called up from the practice squad to make his NFL debut against the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving Day. Houston dazzled in front of a national television audience , sacking Bills quarterback Josh Allen twice as Detroit took Buffalo to the wire in a 28-25 loss that came on a last-second field goal. Now, before the Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game in 2024, the Lions have decided to move on. Houston hinted at the potential parting with a cryptic social media post on Monday night. He posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Live... Learn.. Move on” with a peace sign emoji. “Look, wish him the best of luck, and sometimes you just need a fresh start and this could be great for him, so, wish him the best,” Campbell said. Houston, 26, is just the third Brad Holmes draft pick to no longer be on the active roster or practice squad (Antoine Green, Chase Lucas).« Previous
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