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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday said he would lift martial law just hours after he imposed it, in a brief and confusing episode in which he blasted the opposition as "anti-state forces" threatening the country's democracy. The unexpected move from Yoon -- the first time martial law had been declared in South Korea in more than four decades -- alarmed the United States and the country's other allies. What do we know about the imposition, its lifting and what might come next? In a dramatic, late-night emergency television address to the nation, Yoon announced that he was imposing martial law, as he accused the opposition of paralysing the government with "anti-state activities". A six-point decree from the new martial law commander, army chief General Park An-su swiftly followed, banning political activities and parties, "false propaganda", strikes and "gatherings that incite social unrest". The order also brought all media outlets under the authority of martial law and directed all medical staff, including striking doctors, to return to work within 48 hours. Security forces sealed the National Assembly, helicopters landed on the roof and troops entered the building for a short time, seemingly in a bid to prevent lawmakers from getting inside. But 190 lawmakers managed to enter and voted unanimously to reject Yoon's declaration and call for martial law to be lifted. Outside, hundreds of protesters gathered, many raising chants calling for Yoon to be arrested. Following the lawmakers' vote, Yoon backed down. His cabinet additionally approved the motion to lift the order, Yonhap news agency reported. "Just a moment ago, there was a demand from the National Assembly to lift the state of emergency, and we have withdrawn the military that was deployed for martial law operations," Yoon said in a televised address around 4:30 am (1930 GMT Tuesday). Under South Korea's constitution, the parliamentary vote to lift martial law has to be respected. Yoon said he was acting to safeguard his country's liberal democracy from "anti-state elements" and "threats posed by North Korea" -- but gave little detail. While unexpected, the announcement came in the context of a festering budget row between Yoon and the opposition Democratic Party. The opposition has slashed around 4.1 trillion won ($2.8 billion) from Yoon's proposed 677 trillion won budget for next year, prompting the president to complain that "all key budgets essential to the nation's core functions" were being cut. "What is clear is that Yoon has been a deeply unpopular, ineffectual leader and he is having a hard time getting any kind of public support for anything he's trying to do," said Alan Yu, a former US diplomat in Asia now at the Center for American Progress. "The use of martial law feels almost like a desperation move to try to break out, both in a political and policy sense, but it is really poorly played on both fronts." Domestically, pressure has only grown further on Yoon after his late-night bombshell. South Korea's main opposition party has demanded that Yoon step down, accusing him of "insurrection". The country's main labour union group has also called an "indefinite general strike" until he resigns over the "irrational and anti-democratic measure". Yoon's own People Power Party described his attempt at imposing martial law as "tragic" and demanded that those involved be held accountable. South Korea is a key Western ally in Asia, seen as an important democratic bulwark in a region dominated by authoritarian regimes, and the drama is being watched with concern. Washington said it was "relieved President Yoon has reversed course" on his martial law order. Earlier, Britain and Germany both said they were closely following developments. China, a key ally of nuclear-armed North Korea, urged its citizens to exercise caution, while Russia -- itself increasingly close to Pyongyang -- called the situation "alarming". burs-pdw-bfm-hmn/cwl
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Award Winning Independent Agency Recognized for High Paced Growth ATLANTA , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent full-service advertising agency Chemistry has been recognized as one of Adweek's "2024 Fastest Growing Agencies" and as a 2025 "Agency of the Year" by Chief Marketer . With experimentation as the foundation of its methodology, the agency "blows up boring" with its rapid test-and-learn 'everything is an experiment' approach that embraces the state of constant evolution and learning. This led to massive market share wins and high cultural relevance for its clients, as well as an influx of new clients and organic growth for the agency. One of the agencies to be honored by Adweek on its list of Adweek's "Fastest Growing Agencies," Chemistry has been recognized for its significant revenue growth and its "willingness to dive headfirst into curiosity - and encourage clients to do the same" which Adweek notes has been a boon for business. Additionally, the agency has been recognized by Chief Marketer as a 2025 "Agency of the Year," as one of the top marketing and advertising firms worldwide. The agency's impressive growth rate in billings and staff, as well as work for top leading brands, were noted. With offices in Atlanta , Pittsburgh , New York , Miami , and Phoenix , the 173-person independent agency provides a comprehensive range of services, including creative, production, strategy, branding, design, social, research, analytics, media buying, web, and tech solutions. Already deeply respected for its creative work, Chemistry doubled down on its media offerings, including its proprietary Media Catalyst platform, which offers clients mark-up free programmatic plans, increasing their working budgets by as much as 40%. This resulted in Chemistry tripling its media revenue and introducing a slew of new media clients. The firm also grew its Hispanic arm, Chemistry Cultura, its digital arm, REACT, and its production unit, Test Tube Productions, which contributed to its massive growth. "We love a CMO that is ready to play offense, not defense, steal market share and kick some ass. It's time to embrace emerging technology and the new creative revolution. Too many brands are wasting money on boring ads that get no response. The smart CMOs find creative culture-shifting agencies, like Chemistry," said Tim Smith , President of Chemistry. "We squeeze creativity out of every discipline, so we learn quicker and blow shit up for our clients. We really appreciate Adweek and Chief Marketer recognizing our people for the work." MEDIA CONTACT : Caitlin Burke : caitlin@kempnercommunications.com 203-733-4085 About Chemistry : Chemistry ( www.Chemistryagency.com ) builds cultural brands with creative ideas that can't be ignored. The independent agency offers fully integrated advertising and marketing services for clients like Five Guys, Netflix, the NBA, and GoTo Foods. The shop has been named an Adweek Fastest Growing Agency, a Chief Marketer Agency of the Year, an Ad Age A-List Agency, a finalist for Campaign US' Independent Agency of the Year, and Adweek's Midsize Agency of the Year. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chemistry-named-a-2024-adweek-fastest-growing-agency-and-a-2025-chief-marketer-agency-of-the-year-302335506.html SOURCE Chemistry
LOS ANGELES — It wasn’t going to last forever. It had to end sometime, and in the grand scheme of the season, two embers glowed in the aftermath of the inferno South Carolina traveled into on Nov. 24. One: Better now while there are still games to play. Two: Teams don’t have to be undefeated to win the national championship. The Gamecocks just made that a thing last year. All goals are still in mind and very reachable, despite USC losing for the first time in 605 days on Sunday. Fifth-ranked UCLA on its home floor was far too much to overcome, 77-62, especially when the Bruins (5-0) gave the Gamecocks (5-1) a taste of what they’ve dished out to the rest of the country over the past 10 years. Whether it was Alaina Coates or A’ja Wilson or Aliyah Boston or Kamilla Cardoso, the Gamecocks almost always had a dominant center to score, rebound, intimidate. This year, they do not. UCLA had plenty of height and used every bit of it. The Gamecocks became tentative to try to get the ball in the lane due to so many shots being sent back or never getting out of their hands against the Bruins’ land of giants, and starting 0 for 9 from the floor was a continuation of the same poor offense that’s been evident through USC’s first five games. The Gamecocks could not hit a shot in the first quarter and would not move the ball when they were down big. It forced Dawn Staley to call a timeout instead of waiting for a stoppage in play, an event that happens nearly as often as a politician keeps a campaign promise. Once the Bruins began sniping 3-pointers (they made 10), it was over. The Bruins shot well over 50 percent from the field for most of the game. No. 1 Gamecocks hammer Clemson for series-record 14th straight time Only Tessa Johnson showed signs of offensive life for the Gamecocks, draining her first four shots and finishing with 14 points. Te-Hina Paopao, playing in front of 100 family and friends from her nearby Oceanside, Calif., home, had a team-high 18. It was the first time USC had lost since the 2023 Final Four. It was the first regular-season loss in 1,060 days. USC on Monday will begin just its second week of not being the country’s No. 1 team over the past four seasons when the new Associated Press Top 25 is released. The Gamecocks’ school-record 43-game winning streak was snapped as well as a 33-game road winning streak, the third-longest stretch in Division I history. The Gamecocks begin the Fort Myers Tip-Off against No. 8 Iowa State at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.A former Ross Lyon protege has been locked in to lead the likes of Michael Walters and Alex Pearce in Perth next year, with Xavier Clarke announced as coach of the Indigenous All Stars for February’s exhibition clash against Fremantle. Clarke will lead the representative side for the February 15 clash at Optus Stadium, with former Sydney favourite Michael O’Loughlin named the squad’s chairman of selectors. Having played under Lyon for the latter part of his 105-game career at St Kilda between 2002 and 2008, Clarke - now an assistant at North Melbourne - will help direct fellow Lyon disciples Walters and Pearce in the one-off game against their AFL club. Dockers recruit Shai Bolton is also likely to feature for the All Stars, pitting him against his new Freo teammates before he’s even played a game in purple. The game will see O’Loughlin return to Perth, almost two decades after the city was the setting for one of his most iconic career moments. The Swans great and Australian Football Hall of Fame member booted the winning goal late in the 2006 qualifying final against West Coast, with his celebration in close proximity to members of the Eagles cheer squad at the western end of Subiaco Oval producing one of modern footy’s most memorable images. “To have a former player of the calibre of Micky lead the selection of this side is fantastic,” AFL social policy and inclusion manager Tanya Hosch said. “His football record speaks for itself but he has also been an immense leader amongst the Indigenous community and continues to give back to through his work on numerous foundations and through his business. “He epitomises the on and off field excellence and community spirit that characterises the Indigenous All Stars side and we are thrilled to have him on board leading the selection next year.”
Momentus Inc. Announces Reverse Stock SplitChildren of the wealthy and connected get special admissions consideration at some elite U.S. universities, according to new filings in a class-action lawsuit originally brought against 17 schools. Georgetown’s then-president, for example, listed a prospective student on his “president’s list” after meeting her and her wealthy father at an Idaho conference known as “summer camp for billionaires,” according to Tuesday court filings in the price-fixing lawsuit filed in Chicago federal court in 2022. Although it’s always been assumed that such favoritism exists, the filings offer a rare peek at the often secret deliberations of university heads and admissions officials. They show how schools admit otherwise unqualified wealthy children because their parents have connections and could possibly donate large sums down the line, raising questions about fairness. Stuart Schmill, the dean of admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote in a 2018 email that the university admitted four out of six applicants recommended by then-board chairman Robert Millard, including two who “we would really not have otherwise admitted.” The two others were not admitted because they were “not in the ball park, or the push from him was not as strong.” In the email, Schmill said Millard was careful to play down his influence on admissions decisions, but he said the chair also sent notes on all six students and later met with Schmill to share insight “into who he thought was more of a priority.” The filings are the latest salvo in a lawsuit that claims that 17 of the nation’s most prestigious colleges colluded to reduce the competition for prospective students and drive down the amount of financial aid they would offer, all while giving special preference to the children of wealthy donors. “That illegal collusion resulted in the defendants providing far less aid to students than would have been provided in a free market,” said Robert Gilbert, an attorney for the plaintiffs. Since the lawsuit was filed, 10 of the schools have reached settlements to pay out a total of $284 million, including payments of up to $2,000 to current or former students whose financial aid might have been shortchanged over a period of more than two decades. They are Brown, the University of Chicago, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Northwestern, Rice, Vanderbilt and Yale. Johns Hopkins is working on a settlement and the six schools still fighting the lawsuit are the California Institute of Technology, Cornell, Georgetown, MIT, Notre Dame and the University of Pennsylvania. MIT called the lawsuit and the claims about admissions favoritism baseless. “MIT has no history of wealth favoritism in its admissions; quite the opposite,” university spokesperson Kimberly Allen said. “After years of discovery in which millions of documents were produced that provide an overwhelming record of independence in our admissions process, plaintiffs could cite just a single instance in which the recommendation of a board member helped sway the decisions for two undergraduate applicants." In a statement, Penn also said the case is meritless that the evidence shows that it doesn't favor students whose families have donated or pledged money to the Ivy League school. “Plaintiffs’ whole case is an attempt to embarrass the University about its purported admission practices on issues totally unrelated to this case," the school said. Notre Dame officials also called the case baseless. “We are confident that every student admitted to Notre Dame is fully qualified and ready to succeed,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. The South Bend, Indiana, school, though, did apparently admit wealthy students with subpar academic backgrounds. According to the new court filings, Don Bishop, who was then associate vice president for enrollment at Notre Dame, bluntly wrote about the “special interest” admits in a 2012 email, saying that year's crop had poorer academic records than the previous year's. The 2012 group included 38 applicants who were given a “very low” academic rating, Bishop wrote. He said those students represented “massive allowances to the power of the family connections and funding history,” adding that “we allowed their high gifting or potential gifting to influence our choices more this year than last year.” The final line of his email: “Sure hope the wealthy next year raise a few more smart kids!” Some of the examples pointed to in this week's court filings showed that just being able to pay full tuition would give students an advantage. During a deposition, a former Vanderbilt admissions director said that in some cases, a student would get an edge on the waitlist if they didn’t need financial aid. The 17 schools were part of a decades-old group that got permission from Congress to come up with a shared approach to awarding financial aid. Such an arrangement might otherwise violate antitrust laws, but Congress allowed it as long as the colleges all had need-blind admissions policies, meaning they wouldn't consider a student’s financial situation when deciding who gets in. The lawsuit argues that many colleges claimed to be need-blind but routinely favored the children of alumni and donors. In doing so, the suit says, the colleges violated the Congressional exemption and tainted the entire organization. The group dissolved in recent years when the provision allowing the collaboration expired. The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .The suspect, identified by police as Luigi Nicholas Mangione, had a gun believed to be the one used in Wednesday’s attack on Brian Thompson , as well as writings expressing anger at corporate America, police said. Here are some of the latest developments in the investigation: Where was the man captured? Mangione was taken into custody at around 9:15 a.m. after police received a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh, police said. Mangione was being held in Pennsylvania on gun charges and will eventually be extradited to New York to face charges in connection with Thompson’s death , said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. What evidence did police find? In addition to a three-page, handwritten document that suggests he harbored “ill will toward corporate America,” Kenny said Mangione also had a ghost gun, a type of weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace. Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. Officers also found a sound suppressor, or silencer, “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” the commissioner said. He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, Tisch said. What do we know about Mangione? Kenny said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco and that his last known address is in Honolulu. Mangione, who was valedictorian of his Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts also suggest that he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. Some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent people, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have had children attend the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things,” according to a post on the school website. He praised their collective inventiveness and pioneering mindset. Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis parent company Take-Two Interactive said Monday it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, according to the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company. “While we generally don’t comment on personnel matters, we confirm that Luigi Mangione has not been an employee of our company since 2023,” TrueCar CEO Jantoon Reigersman said by email. Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. Luigi Mangione is one of 37 grandchildren of Nick Mangione, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione's grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes ranging from Catholic organizations to colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker's office confirmed Monday. The shooting and a quick escape Police said the person who killed Thompson left a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 5:41 a.m. on Wednesday. Just 11 minutes later, he was seen on surveillance video walking back and forth in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, wearing a distinctive backpack. At 6:44 a.m., he shot Thompson at a side entrance to the hotel, fled on foot, then climbed aboard a bicycle and within four minutes had entered Central Park. Another security camera recorded the gunman leaving the park near the American Museum of Natural History at 6:56 a.m. still on the bicycle but without the backpack. After getting in a taxi, he headed north to a bus terminal near the George Washington Bridge, arriving at around 7:30 a.m. From there, the trail of video evidence runs cold. Police have not located video of the suspect exiting the building, leading them to believe he likely took a bus out of town. Police said they are still investigating the path the suspect took to Pennsylvania. “This just happened this morning," Kenny said. "We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore, Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, and Cedar Attanasio in New York contributed to this report.
Browns sticking with QB Jameis Winston down the stretch as dismal season heads into final weeks
Syrian government services come to ‘complete halt’ as workers stay at homeBilawal calls for collective efforts to end violence against women PPP chairman pays tribute to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as a global icon of women’s empowerment ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday underscored the importance of collective efforts to end all forms of violence against women and emphasised the need to empower women and safeguard their dignity, and rights. Reaffirming the PPP’s dedication to gender equality and women empowerment, the PPP chairman called for a society free from fear, discrimination, and violence. In a statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Bilawal expressed grave concern over the widespread prevalence of gender-based violence, urging immediate action to address its causes through comprehensive legislative, social, and cultural reforms. “Violence against women is a gross violation of human rights and a major impediment to achieving a just and equitable society. We must commit ourselves to eliminating it from all aspects of life, be it at home, in the workplace, or in public spaces,” he said. Highlighting the PPP’s pioneering role in advancing women’s rights in Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said, “The PPP has a proud history of empowering women by electing them as prime minister, speaker, and ministers, besides appointing judges and on other key posts for the first time in the history of Pakistan.” He credited former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with laying the foundation for gender equality through the 1973 Constitution, which ensures protection against gender-based discrimination and promotes women’s participation in all walks of life. “Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto opened new avenues for women by focusing on their education, empowerment, and protection,” he added. The PPP chairman paid tribute to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as a global icon of women’s empowerment. He highlighted her transformative initiatives, including the establishment of women’s police stations, the First Women Bank, and the lady health workers programme, which created opportunities for women across the country. He pledged to uphold her legacy by continuing to work for a society where women are safe, valued, and equal contributors to progress. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also highlighted the contributions of President Asif Ali Zardari during his first tenure, particularly the introduction of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), which has become a globally recognised poverty alleviation initiative focused on women. He praised the PPP’s efforts to empower women economically by granting land to female peasants, providing residential plots to over two million flood-affected women, and offering interest-free loans to support women entrepreneurs in various trades. He lauded the remarkable success of these programmes, noting that 97 percent of the women repaid their loans while sustaining their businesses. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also commended the Sindh government for its legislative achievements aimed at protecting women, such as the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2013, the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, and the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2013. He emphasised the importance of effective implementation to ensure these laws deliver tangible benefits. Calling for collective action, the PPP chairman said, “The elimination of violence against women is not just a women’s issue but a societal one. It demands the combined efforts of policymakers, civil society, and citizens. Together, we can build a future where every woman lives free from fear and inequality.” Expressing solidarity with victims of violence, advocating for justice, and urging the establishment of robust support systems to empower survivors, he called on everyone to mark this day by raising awareness, supporting victims, and promoting gender equality as a shared responsibility.Relmada seeking strategic options after failed study
Key details to know about the arrest of a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEOHowever, some state workers failed to return to their jobs and a United Nations official said the country’s public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt”. Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighbouring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Mr Assad’s brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant, who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the UN official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali for the first time. Mr Jalali stayed in Syria when Mr Assad fled and has sought to project normalcy since. “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said that judges were ready to resume work quickly. “We want to give everyone their rights,” Mr Haddad said outside the courthouse. “We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods.” But a UN official said some government services had been paralysed as worried state employees stayed at home. The public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt,” said Adam Abdelmoula, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies had been put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. “This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonised by the public media are now in charge in the nation’s capital,” Mr Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. “I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again.” In a video shared on a rebel messaging channel, Mr al-Sharaa said: “You will see there are skills” among the rebels. The Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Mr Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Mr Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Mr Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence though in some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jameis Winston didn't throw a pick-6 on Sunday in Pittsburgh. There's progress. In this lost season for the disappointing and shockingly bad Cleveland Browns, the small victories matter. Winston, who has been entertaining if not always effective in six starts, did have a pair of interceptions. But the Browns were more harmed by Dustin Hopkins missing two more field goals in falling 27-14 to the Steelers, who haven't lost a regular-season home game to Cleveland since 2003. Coming off a 497-yard passing performance, which included two pick-6's in a loss at Denver last Monday night, Winston played more cautiously against the Steelers (10-3). However, he still made mistakes and couldn't rally the Browns (3-10), who were trying to sweep the season series from their division rival for the first time in 36 years. Now that the Browns have officially and mathematically been eliminated from the AFC playoffs — logically, that happened weeks ago — it's probably time for them to start planning ahead for next season. But that won't include a change at quarterback as coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Winston, who has revived Cleveland's offense since taking over when Deshaun Watson ruptured his Achilles tendon in October, will start this week against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. “Our focus right now is really just trying to find ways to get a win,” Stefanski said. While there's an argument to be made that the Browns should play second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson over the next four weeks to see if he fits into their future, Stefanski is sticking with Winston, who has emerged as a viable option to start for Cleveland next season. Of course, with it being the Browns, all plans are subject to change. So there's a reasonable chance that Thompson-Robinson, who made three starts and played in eight games as a rookie, could get some time before the season ends. Stefanski wouldn't get into any specifics for his decision to ride with Winston, who has thrown for 1,892 yards while going 2-4 as a starter. “We’re just going to continue to do everything we can to play better,” Stefanski said on a Zoom call. “Obviously I think we can play better on offense. Certainly as a team we can play better, but really the focus is making sure that we put our guys in position to find a way to win.” Winston at least gives the Browns a chance to finish with some dignity. At this point, that's all they got. What's working Stefanski has kept his players focused and motivated. The Browns haven't quit, and that's a strong signal that Stefanski still has his player's attention in a season filled with disappointment. It might be more challenging now that the Browns are only playing for pride, but guard Wyatt Teller is confident the team will fight until the end. “It doesn’t matter if you’re in playoff contention or not,” he said. “You’re going to do the best you can to play at a high level and protect your brothers.” What needs help Penalties have been a problem all season (11 in the opener) and continued Sunday as the Browns were called for nine infractions, including a pair of personal fouls in the second half. Cleveland leads the NFL with 53 pre-snap penalties. Stock up Right tackle Jack Conklin. For the second straight game, Conklin, with some help from others, held Steelers star pass rusher T.J. Watt without a sack. Conklin's comeback after undergoing knee reconstruction last season has been a bright spot in an otherwise dark season. Stock down Hopkins. His two misses — a 38-yarder at the end of the first half and a 43-yarder early in the third quarter — were beyond deflating. Two makes and the game would have been tied at 13. So steady while going 33 of 36 and making all eight kicks from over 50 yards a year ago, Hopkins is in a 3 of 9 tailspin. The team's decision to sign him to a three-year, $15.9 million extension this summer appears to be another miss. Still, Stefanski is confident Hopkins will find his kicking swing. “This is something that I know he can get through,” Stefanski said. “We’ll get through it together. He’s a veteran. He’s been through a lot in his career already and this is something we’ll continue to work through.” Injuries CB Greg Newsome II injured the same hamstring Sunday that he had surgery on during the summer. Stefanski said Newsome will “miss time,” but did not say how much. ... DB Mike Ford is in concussion protocol after being hurt in the first half. ... Stefanski ruled out LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah again this week with a neck injury, but didn't provide any updates on his condition. Owusu-Koramoah was eligible to return last week. He got hurt on Oct. 27 while tackling Ravens running back Derrick Henry. Key number 99 1/2 — Career sacks for Myles Garrett, who recorded his 11th this season on Sunday. Garrett has 13 sacks against the Steelers, including six in his past three games. What's next A visit on Sunday from the Chiefs and perhaps pop superstar Taylor Swift, who could celebrate her birthday (Dec. 13) with a weekend in boyfriend Travis Kelce's hometown. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Tom Withers, The Associated PressHouston writer and director premieres short film 'Mildred 4 a Million' inspired by her grandmother
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