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gold fish casino facebook NoneYour Secret Weapon This Holiday Shopping Season Could Be... ChatGPT?

Former Oklahoma senator, UNM prof Fred Harris dies

FOX 4 consumer reporter Steve Noviello is busy preparing his annual FOX Holiday Gift Guide. From toys to tech and more, Steve will review the items that are sure to be a hit this holiday season. DALLAS - FOX 4 Consumer reporter Steve Noviello gets more than 1,000 product pitches each year. He shares the greatest gifts of the season in this 2024 Holiday Gift Guide. Steve's 4 favorite products of 2024 These products from throughout the year scored so big, Steve now uses them in his own home! His family loves couch snuggle time with an oversized blanket. He found a pair of folding sunglasses that fit in his pocket. He uses a type of sunscreen that's specially formulated for men. And his new Fokus + Headphones are always fully charged on his desk. | Read more Top 10 toys for 2024 Here are our top 10 toys of the year! This year's list includes several options for racing and RC lovers, a 4-foot-tall Paris playset for young Ladybug fans, a tool that can turn kids' drawings into playable video games, a lightsaber with advanced LED and sound effects, a doll that shows off her natural hair, a sensor playset for those who love lining up cars, and a storytime companion that can create customized stories. | Read more More toys that make great holiday gifts From classics to completely new, these toys will be tons of fun this season! Playmobil, furReal Friends, Fingerlings, Littlest Pet Shop, Lego, Razor, Minions and more... they may not have made it into the Top 10 list, but they are sure to please just about any young gift recipient. | Read more Gifts to inspire family game night Gather the family for fun! These gifts make for a winning game night! Monopoly Scrabble combines two classic favorites. Hitster combines music and fun. A new version of Trivial Pursuit is perfect for family members in different generations. And chances are your kids are already playing Imposter! | Read more Gifts that offer screen-free fun These gift ideas will keep your kids entertained- no screens needed. There's a playset for young artists and a building kit that combines the fun of magnetic connections with ramps and runs. Hero is a unique robot that teaches about sound technology. And there are new puzzles and fidgets you'll want to check out. | Read more Gifts tweens actually want Creative, curious, active and a little tech obsessed, these gifts for tweens scored high marks with our testers! The list includes kits for crafty kids, two parent-approved cellphones, a drone with RGB illuminated propellers, a VR activity set for science lovers, skill-building equipment for soccer lovers, and a paper airplane that's really powered. | Read more Great gifts for gamers Kids of all ages love video games. These consoles, games, and accessories earned high scores with us! We loved the ASUS ROG Alley X gaming device, which is a PC and a handheld gaming console all in one. WIN Reality lets you get your batting and pitching practice in at home. The Nick Watch is a new smartwatch option for kids. And don't forget about all the audio equipment to go along with those games. | Read more Cool tech gift ideas for the gadget lovers on your list From the JLab Flex wireless earbuds that clip onto your ear to Ecoflow's latest consumer power bank, the new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, and more, these high-tech gadgets are sure to bring big smiles. Our list even includes the Barsys 360 to revolutionize home cocktail making. | Read more Holiday gifts for men Check out these great gifts for that great guy on your list. The Stowaway Rocker gives dad comfort but doesn't compromise when it comes to storage. The Lexivon 2-in-1 digital laser tape measure is a gift that supports small businesses too. And Coofandy has the ultimate menswear line to build a fashion profile he will love. | Read more Gift ideas that support small businesses Feel great about giving these gifts knowing you're supporting a small business. Dugout Mugs are officially licensed and can be customized to make the perfect gift. It's All About Bees sells local honey and honey products that are great for teachers. And you don't have to wait until next fall to give someone a bucket of Stiffler's Mom's Cookies from the State Fair of Texas. | Read more Holiday home entertaining gift ideas Whether you're having an intimate holiday or a huge gathering, these products will make hosting a breeze. Tovolo's holiday ornament ice molds can add a touch of festivity to your next gathering. The Pizza Scizzas by William Sonoma make slicing pizza hot out the oven a breeze. And the Bruvi BV-01 Coffee Maker can brew seven different drinks for when your guests can't agree on a single option. | Read more Gifts for people who have everything Think they already have everything? They don't have all of these - guaranteed! For example, the AirUp Scentaste Water Bottle flavors water using just scent. Dink Buddy has a portable pickleball net to use in the backyard or at the park or beach. And Enso has a travel-friendly Buddha Board for an artistic "expression of the moment." | Read moreMac Jones threw two touchdown passes Sunday and the Jacksonville Jaguars earned a season sweep of the visiting Tennessee Titans with a 20-13 victory. Jones connected on 15 of 22 passes for 174 yards, finding Parker Washington and rookie Bryan Thomas Jr. for scores, as Jacksonville (4-12) left Tennessee (3-13) behind in the AFC South cellar. Cam Little booted field goals of 48 and 44 yards. Mason Rudolph hit 19 of 31 attempts for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Titans, which dropped their fifth consecutive game. Tyjae Spears rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries, playing in place of Tony Pollard (flu/ankle). Jones' 11-yard scoring strike to Thomas with 7:05 left in the game gave the Jaguars a 20-10 lead but Tennessee responded with Matthew Wright's 28-yard field goal at the 2:02 mark. After getting a three-and-out, the Titans had a chance to force overtime and reached the Jacksonville 26. But Rudolph's fourth-down pass intended for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was knocked down at the goal line with nine seconds left. The pregame storyline concerned which team could benefit most from a loss. Both entered a game behind the New York Giants for the potential No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft. Jacksonville initiated scoring on the game's opening drive, needing to drive only 38 yards on nine plays to set up Little for his first field goal at the 10:46 mark. The Jaguars got into the end zone for the first time with 8:59 left in the half on Jones' 2-yard touchdown pass to Washington, coming five plays after Rudolph tossed a tipped-ball interception. Little's second field goal upped the margin to 13-0 with 2:02 remaining before Tennessee pieced together a two-minute drive that set up Wright for a 39-yard field goal as time expired, making it 13-3 at halftime. The Titans started the second half with their best drive of the game, chewing up 85 yards and eight minutes before Rudolph hit Nick Vannett with an 8-yard strike to cut the margin to 13-10. --Field Level Media

uLab® Announces Strategic Collaboration with Voxel and LuxCreo to Revolutionize Direct Print Aligner TechnologyVariety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys , Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday. SAG Awards Commentary (Updated Nov. 26, 2024): The Screen Actors Guild Awards have cemented their role as a critical milestone on the road to Oscar success for films and as either a crowning achievement or an early launchpad for television shows heading into Emmy season. The SAG cast ensemble award for film, in particular, recognizes the collaborative magic of a movie’s cast — a quality that often signals industry-wide respect. With actors representing the largest voting branch in the Academy, a SAG nom or win frequently builds crucial momentum in the best picture race, making the awards an indispensable part of the awards circuit. Several major films are poised to leave their mark in the ensemble race. Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” leads the pack, boasting a star-studded cast headlined by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, alongside notable names like Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey. The blockbuster musical not only highlights standout individual performances but thrives on the chemistry and cohesion of its ensemble. Another strong player is Focus Features’ “Conclave,” a gripping papal thriller that brings together acting powerhouses Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini. The film’s intricate character dynamics and emotionally charged performances are tailor-made for an ensemble mention, appealing to voters who appreciate meaty dramatic roles. Similarly, A24’s “Sing Sing,” a prison drama about inmates staging a theater production, celebrates the discovery of new talent while featuring veterans like Colman Domingo. The mix of established and first-time actors, including breakout performer Clarence Maclin, underscores the film’s spirit of ensemble recognition. Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” offers a genre-bending and visually vibrant story about identity, led by Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez. The film’s exploration of transformation and its diverse cast could resonate deeply with voters, particularly in a politically charged year. Meanwhile, Sony Pictures’ comedy “Saturday Night” could break records as the largest nominated ensemble in history, featuring 26 actors and surpassing “Gosford Park” (2001). The sprawling cast of A-listers and newcomers delivers a kaleidoscopic portrait of interconnected lives throughout one wild night, with 80 speaking parts, that feels tailor-made for SAG Ensemble recognition. In the individual acting races, SAG can often shine a light on a dark horse performer in the race. It wouldn’t be surprising to see someone like Sebastian Stan pop up for either of his two strong turns in “The Apprentice” and “A Different Man,” or a beloved veteran like Kate Winslet garner recognition for her turn in the war drama “Lee.” SAG Awards also play a pivotal role in boosting the profiles of television series and their casts, often serving as a preview for Emmy season or a feather cap of the previous one. FX’s historical dramatic epic “Shōgun,” led by Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, is already riding high after setting the all-time winning record for a drama series. It would be foolish to think it couldn’t repeat the same trajectory at SAG. However, it will compete against heavyweights like Netflix’s “Squid Game” and Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone,” playing as voters consider their ballots. ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” is a heavy favorite and critical darling in the comedy races. The sharp, witty writing and the effortless chemistry of its cast, including creator and star Quinta Brunson, have turned the series into an awards-season staple. Other major contenders include Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building, “featuring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez, and FX’s “The Bear,” whose ensemble has helped elevate the show to one of the year’s most critically acclaimed series. We’ll see if the huge upset of the show losing to HBO/Max’s “Hacks” was a fluke or an indicator for the next Emmy season. More notable, the SAG Awards are overdue for some significant updates to its ceremony that better reflect the evolution of television. A category for limited series ensembles would fill a glaring gap, allowing the recognition of projects like Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” and big Emmy winner “Baby Reindeer.” Similarly, the lack of individual supporting categories for television remains a significant oversight. Supporting performances often form the emotional core of a series. Yet, they are lumped into ensemble categories and forced to compete against leading performances, leaving standout turns like Janelle James in “Abbott Elementary” or Kali Reis in HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country” at a disadvantage. The Golden Globes already recognize supporting roles, albeit in combined categories, and it’s time for the SAG Awards to follow suit. The 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards will air live on Netflix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, and the 97th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 2.Majority of Americans say they are happy with Trump’s transition despite controversies around cabinet picks

“Gladiator II” asks the question: Are you not moderately entertained for roughly 60% of this sequel? Truly, this is a movie dependent on managed expectations and a forgiving attitude toward its tendency to overserve. More of a thrash-and-burn schlock epic than the comparatively restrained 2000 “Gladiator,” also directed by Ridley Scott, the new one recycles a fair bit of the old one’s narrative cries for freedom while tossing in some digital sharks for the flooded Colosseum and a bout of deadly sea-battle theatrics. They really did flood the Colosseum in those days, though no historical evidence suggests shark deployment, real or digital. On the other hand (checks notes), “Gladiator II” is fiction. Screenwriter David Scarpa picks things up 16 years after “Gladiator,” which gave us the noble death of the noble warrior Maximus, shortly after slaying the ignoble emperor and returning Rome to the control of the Senate. Our new hero, Lucius (Paul Mescal), has fled Rome for Numidia, on the North African coast. The time is 200 A.D., and for the corrupt, party-time twins running the empire (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger), that means invasion time. Pedro Pascal takes the role of Acacius, the deeply conflicted general, sick of war and tired of taking orders from a pair of depraved ferrets. The new film winds around the old one this way: Acacius is married to Lucilla (Connie Nielsen, in a welcome return), daughter of the now-deceased emperor Aurelius and the love of the late Maximus’s life. Enslaved and dragged to Rome to gladiate, the widower Lucius vows revenge on the general whose armies killed his wife. But there are things this angry young phenom must learn, about his ancestry and his destiny. It’s the movie’s worst-kept secret, but there’s a reason he keeps seeing footage of Russell Crowe from the first movie in his fever dreams. Battle follows battle, on the field, in the arena, in the nearest river, wherever, and usually with endless splurches of computer-generated blood. “Gladiator II” essentially bumper-cars its way through the mayhem, pausing for long periods of expository scheming about overthrowing the current regime. The prince of all fixers, a wily operative with interests in both managing gladiators and stocking munitions, goes by the name Macrinus. He’s played by Denzel Washington, who at one point makes a full meal out of pronouncing the word “politics” like it’s a poisoned fig. Also, if you want a masterclass in letting your robes do a lot of your acting for you, watch what Washington does here. He’s more fun than the movie but you can’t have everything. The movie tries everything, all right, and twice. Ridley Scott marshals the chaotic action sequences well enough, though he’s undercut by frenetic cutting rhythms, with that now-familiar, slightly sped-up visual acceleration in frequent use. (Claire Simpson and Sam Restivo are the editors.) Mescal acquits himself well in his first big-budget commercial walloper of an assignment, confined though he is to a narrower range of seething resentments than Crowe’s in the first film. I left thinking about two things: the word “politics” as savored/spit out by Washington, and the innate paradox of how Scott, whose best work over the decades has been wonderful, delivers spectacle. The director and his lavishly talented design team built all the rough-hewn sets with actual tangible materials the massive budget allowed. They took care to find the right locations in Morocco and Malta. Yet when combined in post-production with scads of medium-grade digital effects work in crowd scenes and the like, never mind the sharks, the movie’s a somewhat frustrating amalgam. With an uneven script on top of it, the visual texture of “Gladiator II” grows increasingly less enveloping and atmospherically persuasive, not more. But I hung there, for some of the acting, for some of the callbacks, and for the many individual moments, or single shots, that could only have come from Ridley Scott. And in the end, yes, you too may be moderately entertained. “Gladiator II” — 2.5 stars (out of 4) MPA rating: R (for strong bloody violence) Running time: 2:28 How to watch: Premieres in theaters Nov. 21. Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.

Is Knott’s Xcelerator coaster an endangered species?

This is the Thursday, Dec. 12 edition of Food Crawl, the Star’s weekly food newsletter. . When it comes to stocking the fridge with non-alcoholic drinks during the holiday party season, consider some non-alcoholic wines and beers as a step up from the usual sodas and sparkling waters. I like how the bitter, tannin-rich flavour of alcohol cuts through rich and fatty holiday foods, and it’s a more grown-up and less sugary than hot chocolate, but after one regular beer or glass of wine, my face turns as red as Rudolph’s nose, and I’m ready for bed. Luckily, in recent years, the non-alcoholic beer and wine market has grown substantially — — as retailers and breweries are catching on that though not everyone drinks alcohol, people still want something special at a party. There are excellent options out there and here are four of my favourites. The brewery that helped kick-start also makes great non-alcoholic versions of its brews. Fans of hoppy, citrusy flavours should go for the brewery’s , $3.98 a can, but what I always liked about Bellwoods is its line of tart and ultra-fruity Jelly King beers. They remind me of a summery shandy, but because of its fruitiness, they’re also suitable for the holidays (I mean, what is fruit cake if not booze-soaked fruit?). Right now the non-alcoholic Jelly Kings come in flavours like the basic dry-hopped sour that has strong notes of peach, $4.42, and will go great with turkey dinner; a dry-hopped sour with tropical tasting mango, guava and passionfruit, $5.31, that pairs well with a brown sugar-glazed ham; and a dry-hopped sour with raspberry and blackberry, $5.31, perfect with cheese, charcuterie and dark chocolate desserts. Bellwoods Brewery has two bottle shops. One is at at Argyle Street and is open every day 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The other is at at Colville Road, near the Lawrence Avenue West and Caledonia Road southeast of Yorkdale Shopping Centre, and is open everyday noon to 7 p.m. There is also an . The Jack Pine from Harmon’s Craft Brewing. My beer-loving colleague recommended Harmon’s, a local non-alcoholic craft brewery launched in 2021 from the co-founder of Mill Street Brewery as well as its former brewmaster. The core lineup consists of a , a and the one I think is most fitting for the holidays, the Jack Pine, a slightly bubbly pale ale with notes of fresh pine needles, bittersweet hops and a hint of orange. It’s light enough to drink on its own like a sparkling water but it’s also versatile enough for anything from burgers and fries to the turkey dinner. Prices vary between stores, but I picked up individual cans at for $3.39 a pop, as well as a four-pack for $11.99 at . Harmon’s has an as well as a . Proxies’ Red Ember from Grape Witches. The west-end wine bar and bottle shop specializes that you’ll seldom, if ever, see at your local LCBO. While you can shop online, its worth popping into the stores to get specific recommendations from its staff, who make buying wines a breezy, non-intimidating experience. For non-alcoholic options, the Red Ember from , a company from Dundas, Ont., is best for drinking with heavier dishes like roasts and baked pastas. It’s not dealcoholized wine (regular wine with the alcohol boiled out of it), but rather a complex blend of juices and spices, such as Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, pomegranate juice, fermented ginger tea, black peppercorn, coffee and cayenne. It’s also gluten-free and plant-based. The resulting blend reminds me of prune, blueberry and pomegranate juices with very subtle spicy black pepper and a pleasant tannin that lingers on the tongue. Heads up: the bottles are sealed with a cork. Grape Witches has two locations:1247 Dundas St. W. at Skey Lane. The other is inside the Waterworks Food Hall at 15 Maud St. at Richmond Street West. The stores are open Sunday to Wednesday noon to 10 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday noon to 11 p.m. The has pick-up and delivery options. Dr. Zenzen’s Pinot Grigio from The Sobr Market. For a lighter wine, this dealcoholized Pinot Grigio from German winemaker , $19, tastes like a refined apple cider - festive!- when served chilled. If I were to cosplay as a wine expert, I’d add there’s a sweet peach finish and a hint of lemon rind. There isn’t much of a tannin aftertaste, so it’ll also work for those that don’t like the bitter taste of wine. Like its alcoholic counterpart, this wine is easy to pair with food because of its light and tart flavour. Think lighter Italian dishes like risotto and carbonara, as well as steamed shellfish and grilled fish. It also goes well with roasted vegetables, grilled pork, poultry and sushi (who says you can’t have sushi during the holidays?). The label has other dealcoholized wines to choose from at The Sobr Market, which is a great one-stop shop for non-alcoholic wines, spirits, beers, ciders and sparkling waters. The Sobr Market is at 298 Markham St. at College Street. There is also a location inside the Waterworks Food Hall at 511 Richmond St. W. at Brandt Street. Both locations are open every day 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is also an for delivery and in-store pickup. • This Toronto food entrepreneur’s ready-made picnics . • Check out these four spots I added to my . • Here are my top picks for . • School is back in session. • . Here’s why it stands out. • — but that’s not all it’s known for. Thanks for reading. I’ll see you back here next week.Google renews push into mixed reality headgearIs Knott’s Xcelerator coaster an endangered species?COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said Thursday that he is "absolutely" confident that Ryan Day will be back as football coach in 2025. Calls to fire the sixth-year coach rose among Ohio State fans after the Buckeyes lost to Michigan for the fourth straight year. Bjork, in an interview on 97.1 The Fan, said Day is the man for the job, regardless of how the Buckeyes perform in the College Football Playoff. They host Tennessee in a first-round game Dec. 21. "Coach Day is awesome," said Bjork, who came from Texas A&M to replace the retiring Gene Smith last summer. "He's great to work with. He totally gets it. He loves being a Buckeye. So, we're going to support him at the highest level." The 13-10 loss to Michigan followed by an ugly melee between the teams put the coach in a precarious spot. He and his team were booed off the field by the home fans. Bjork ended up releasing a statement expressing his support for the coach. "The reason we had to say something after (the Michigan) game is, we're still breathing, we're still alive," Bjork said. "The season's not over. The book is not closed." Thanks to the playoff, Day has a chance to redeem himself with Ohio State's huge fanbase with a win against the Volunteers — and perhaps more in the 12-team tournament. Regardless of what happens, Day will be back next year, according to Bjork. "Coach Day and I just hit it off so well," Bjork said. "I've been really, really impressed. Every single time I talked to him, I learn something. He's innovative. He recruits at the highest level. He's got a great staff." Day wouldn't directly address his job status last weekend. "When you first come off those types of things, there's a lot of emotion," he said, referring to the Michigan loss. "And then as time goes on, you've got to get refocused because you know what you've done in the past does not affect what's going on moving forward. Everything is out in front of us." Failing to consistently beat Michigan is one of the few flaws in Day's coaching record. Hired as a member of coach Urban Meyer's staff in 2017, Day was the hand-picked successor when Meyer retired after the 2018 season. Compiling an overall 66-10 record, he is widely admired in the coaching community. "Great respect for what he's done in his coaching career, what he's done there at Ohio State and the success that they've had year-in and year-out," Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. Day is in trouble now because losing The Game is considered an unforgiveable sin by Buckeyes fans. "What we have to do is this whole 'championship or bust' mentality, you want that as the goal, but it has to be about the process," Bjork said. "To me, we've got to maybe change some conversations a little bit. I think we need to maybe just approach things a little bit differently." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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Kentucky will aim to improve upon its best start in seven seasons when it hosts Western Kentucky on Tuesday night in Lexington, Ky., in the final game of the BBN Invitational. The Wildcats (5-0) are ranked No. 8 in the latest Associated Press poll and are setting impressive offensive milestones even for a program as tradition-rich as Kentucky, which includes eight national championships. The Wildcats have scored 97 or more points in their first four home games for the first time in program history and eclipsed the 100-point mark in three of those games. Their lone trip out of state was a solid 77-72 victory over Duke in a matchup of top-10 teams in Atlanta. Kentucky has also made at least 10 three-pointers in each of its first five games of a season for the first time ever. "I think Kentucky attracts good people," Kentucky coach Mark Pope said after the Wildcats' 108-59 win over Jackson State on Friday. "It's the one place in all college basketball where you represent just a fanbase in a different, unique way." Otega Oweh and Koby Brea have led the Wildcats' early scoring outburst. Oweh, who is averaging 16.2 points per game, had 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting against Jackson State. "He gets us off to unbelievable starts every night," Pope told reporters after that game. "He's probably been our most consistent guy in games." Brea, who scored 22 points against Jackson State and is averaging 16.0 points per game, is leading the nation in 3-point accuracy at 74.1 percent. As a team, the Wildcats are shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the arc. And the few times they miss, Amari Williams has been doing the dirty work on the glass, averaging 10.8 boards in addition to 9.6 points per game. Kentucky faces a different challenge than it's had to contend with so far in the Hilltoppers (3-2), who have won three in a row after losing their first two games to Wichita State and Grand Canyon. Their up-tempo play hasn't exactly resulted in great offensive output, but in the Hilltoppers' 79-62 win over Jackson State on Wednesday, they shot 45.2 percent from 3-point range (14 for 31). "I was happy to see a lot of different guys contribute tonight and, hopefully, get their feet under them a little bit and get some confidence," said Western Kentucky coach Hank Plona, who is in his first season as head coach. "Obviously, Tuesday will be quite a test and challenge for us and we'll need them to be at their absolute best." Western Kentucky has an experienced group, which returned mostly intact from last season. The team is led by Conference USA first-team selection Don McHenry, who is leading the team with 17.2 points and 2.2 steals per game. McHenry is one of four Hilltoppers with scoring averages in double figures. Julius Thedford (11.4 points per game) and Babacar Faye (15.0) are each shooting 40 percent or better from 3-point range. Western Kentucky also figures to challenge the Wildcats on the boards as it enters the game ranked in the top 25 in defensive rebounding (30.4 per game). Faye leads the Hilltoppers in that department, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game and figures to battle Williams inside. "We're not the biggest team in the world, but our depth and our quickness are our strengths," Plona said. --Field Level MediaKYIV, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile. escalating the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks Friday during a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, representatives of the military-industrial complex and developers of missile systems at the Kremlin in Moscow. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six nonnuclear warheads, each releasing six submunitions. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia will launch production of the Oreshnik. “No one in the world has such weapons,” he said. “Sooner or later, other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development. “We have this system now,” he added. “And this is important.” Putin said that while it isn’t an intercontinental missile, it’s so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin’s claim that even with conventional warheads, “the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.” In this photo taken from a video released Friday, a Russian serviceman operates at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined," he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow’s talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick ... there will be consequences,” he said. Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky speaks to journalists Friday during a joint news conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha in Kyiv, Ukraine. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday’s missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He said the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday's previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations "in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who said it's not the first time such a threat has been received. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday's attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. We're all going to die someday. Still, how it happens—and when—can point to a historical moment defined by the scientific advancements and public health programs available at the time to contain disease and prevent accidents. In the early 1900s, America's efforts to improve sanitation, hygiene, and routine vaccinations were still in their infancy. Maternal and infant mortality rates were high, as were contagious diseases that spread between people and animals. Combined with the devastation of two World Wars—and the Spanish Flu pandemic in between—the leading causes of death changed significantly after this period. So, too, did the way we diagnose and control the spread of disease. Starting with reforms as part of Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s, massive-scale, federal interventions in the U.S. eventually helped stave off disease transmission. It took comprehensive government programs and the establishment of state and local health agencies to educate the public on preventing disease transmission. Seemingly simple behavioral shifts, such as handwashing, were critical in thwarting the spread of germs, much like discoveries in medicine, such as vaccines, and increased access to deliver them across geographies. Over the course of the 20th century, life expectancy increased by 56% and is estimated to keep increasing slightly, according to an annual summary of vital statistics published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2000. Death Records examined data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to see how the leading causes of death in America have evolved over time and to pinpoint how some major mortality trends have dropped off. According to a report published in the journal Annual Review of Public Health in 2000, pneumonia was the leading cause of death in the early 1900s, accounting for nearly 1 in 4 deaths. By the time World War I ended in 1918, during which people and animals were housed together for long periods, a new virus emerged: the Spanish Flu. Originating in a bird before spreading to humans, the virus killed 10 times as many Americans as the war. Many died of secondary pneumonia after the initial infection. Pneumonia deaths eventually plummeted throughout the century, partly prevented by increased flu vaccine uptake rates in high-risk groups, particularly older people. Per the CDC, tuberculosis was a close second leading cause of death, killing 194 of every 10,000 people in 1900, mainly concentrated in dense urban areas where the infection could more easily spread. Eventually, public health interventions led to drastic declines in mortality from the disease, such as public education, reducing crowded housing, quarantining people with active disease, improving hygiene, and using antibiotics. Once the death rates lagged, so did the public health infrastructure built to control the disease, leading to a resurgence in the mid-1980s. Diarrhea was the third leading cause of death in 1900, surging every summer among children before the impacts of the pathogen died out in 1930. Adopting water filtration, better nutrition, and improved refrigeration were all associated with its decline. In the 1940s and 1950s, polio outbreaks killed or paralyzed upward of half a million people worldwide every year. Even at its peak, polio wasn't a leading cause of death, it was a much-feared one, particularly among parents of young children, some of whom kept them from crowded public places and interacting with other children. By 1955, when Jonah Salk discovered the polio vaccine, the U.S. had ended the "golden age of medicine." During this period, the causes of mortality shifted dramatically as scientists worldwide began to collaborate on infectious disease control, surgical techniques, vaccines, and other drugs. From the 1950s onward, once quick-spreading deadly contagions weren't prematurely killing American residents en masse, scientists also began to understand better how to diagnose and treat these diseases. As a result, Americans were living longer lives and instead succumbing to noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs. The risk of chronic diseases increased with age and, in some cases, was exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyles. Cancer and heart disease shot up across the century, increasing 90-fold from 1900 to 1998, according to CDC data. Following the post-Spanish Flu years, heart disease killed more Americans than any other cause, peaking in the 1960s and contributing to 1 in 3 deaths. Cigarette smoking rates peaked at the same time, a major risk factor for heart disease. Obesity rates also rose, creating another risk factor for heart disease and many types of cancers. This coincides with the introduction of ultra-processed foods into diets, which plays a more significant role in larger waistlines than the increasing predominance of sedentary work and lifestyles. In the early 1970s, deaths from heart disease began to fall as more Americans prevented and managed their risk factors, like quitting smoking or taking blood pressure medicine. However, the disease remains the biggest killer of Americans. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death and rates still indicate an upward trajectory over time. Only a few types of cancer are detected early by screening, and some treatments for aggressive cancers like glioblastoma—the most common type of brain cancer—have also stalled, unable to improve prognosis much over time. In recent years, early-onset cancers, those diagnosed before age 50 or sometimes even earlier, have seen a drastic rise among younger Americans. While highly processed foods and sedentary lifestyles may contribute to rising rates, a spike in cancer rates among otherwise healthy young individuals has baffled some medical professionals. This follows the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020. At its peak, high transmission rates made the virus the third leading cause of death in America. It's often compared to the Spanish Flu of 1918, though COVID-19 had a far larger global impact, spurring international collaborations among scientists who developed a vaccine in an unprecedented time. Public policy around issues of safety and access also influences causes of death, particularly—and tragically—among young Americans. Gun control measures in the U.S. are far less stringent than in peer nations; compared to other nations, however, the U.S. leads in gun violence. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens (around 2 in 3 are homicides, and 1 in 3 are suicides), and deaths from opioids remain a leading cause of death among younger people. Globally, the leading causes of death mirror differences in social and geographic factors. NCDs are primarily associated with socio-economic status and comprise 7 out of 10 leading causes of death, 85% of those occurring in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization. However, one of the best health measures is life expectancy at birth. People in the U.S. have been living longer lives since 2000, except for a slight dip in longevity due to COVID-19. According to the most recent CDC estimates, Americans' life expectancy is 77.5 years on average and is expected to increase slightly in the coming decades. Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Death Records and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!