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Greg Schiano spoke to the media after the game about losing to Illinois. Opening Statement “Obviously a really tough, tough loss. I feel awful for our seniors. Senior Day, we have a group of young men down there that gave so much. Believed in us when there was no reason to believe in us. But this was our last game at SHI Stadium, and I really, really wanted to send them out as a winner at home in their last game. But they are winners. The things they have done here, the things they have learned here, they are going to be big-time winners in life, and I guess I just wish that we could have done a little bit more. Illinois, hats off to them. They made one more play than we did, and as I said to the team, in the Big Ten Conference, it's really good football that's played, and they coached a little better and they played a little better; literally a little better, and they won the game. That's what we have to deal with. It's not easy, but you know that when you get into it.”Red Bluff beats Foothill 21-10, will play for first section title in 25 years

Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to ChabadProhibition was a difficult time for those who enjoyed a tipple. In an effort to get a drink, or made moonshine at home. Many others visited speakeasies. After Repeal Day, speakeasies all but disappeared as regular pubs, bars, and clubs took their place. Speakeasies only re-emerged in the 1990s and early 2000s, acting not as a secret location to indulge in illicit drinks but a quiet, calm setting that placed cocktail artistry – and the appreciation of it — front and center. While location, décor, and a sense of discovery have all come to form a part of speakeasies over the years, craft cocktails remain a fundamental part of the speakeasy experience. However, lengthening and increasingly complicated menus mean many customers are unsure of what to order when visiting one of the nation's many speakeasies. To aid you with this decision, we have interviewed three leading mixologists based in Las Vegas who work in some most respected speakeasies in Las Vegas: Anthony Partridge, lead bartender at , Pahola Figueroa, bartender at Wax Rabbit a speakeasy located within , and Tony Arnone, lead mixologist at . Each of these experts has years of experience helping customers find their perfect speakeasy drink. We're sure they can do the same for you. Order: Manhattan As with any other bar, the quality of a speakeasy can be judged on how it makes classic cocktails; tried and tested drinks that have been enjoyed for generations such as the old fashioned, daiquiri, and martini. If a speakeasy gets these staples wrong, you can probably assume the rest of the mixed drinks will also fail to hit the mark. As Anthony Partridge told us, "Poor execution of an old-fashioned Manhattan, or even a daiquiri, would have me ordering something neat or on the rocks afterward." While as good a yard stick as any classic cocktail, our experts don't solely order Manhattans — or — to test a bartender's skills. In actual fact, many knowledgeable people, Tony Arnone included, recommend ordering this simple mixture of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters because it stands as an excellent introduction to the type of cocktails enjoyed during The Prohibition Era. Arnone said, "Personally, I would recommend the Manhattan. Not only does this classic give you a glimpse into the style of cocktails for that era but also shows the beauty of simplicity when it comes to cocktail creation." Order: Vieux Carré Those of us who visit speakeasies are easily intimidated by cocktails that have names we don't recognize. All too often, we avoid ordering these drinks no matter how enticing they sound. The Vieux Carré, a drink , is one such cocktail. Tony Arnone is on a mission to change that by championing the drink wherever possible. He told us, "The Vieux Carré is an amazing cocktail that was created as a tribute to the diversity of social groups within the French Quarter in the 1930s. It encompasses a wide range of sweetness and bitterness by using an array of different spirits and is an amazing piece of history as well as a delicious drink." It's easy to see why lead mixologists like Arnone are enamored with this drink. When made well, it presents a fantastic balance of bitterness and sweetness, wrapped in a smooth, boozy body. What's more, it was invented only a few years after Prohibition ended, making it well-suited to the traditional speakeasy setting. Avoid: Wine and beer Just about all speakeasies specialize in craft cocktails. That being said, the majority also carry a select offering of beer and wine. This gives customers a greater degree of choice and allows those who don't want a spirit-based drink to still indulge in something alcoholic. That being said, both Tony Arnone and Anthony Partridge generally don't encourage people to order beer or wine when visiting a speakeasy for the simple reason that it's not that adventurous. In our interview, Partridge said, "Pouring a beer or wine is missing the point [...] You risk defaulting to a safe and run-of-the-mill experience with beer and wine." Arnone added, "Personally, I wouldn't recommend ordering beer or wine because it's generally not the focus of a speakeasy, and there are many better options available." This touches on an important point: customers get the most enjoyment when they visit a venue that caters to their specific wants and needs. If that "need" happens to be craft beer, customers are better off visiting a taproom or craft beer bar instead of a speakeasy. This isn't to say that wine or beer lovers can't have a wonderful time in a speakeasy, rather that they will have the best time only if they choose to indulge in the speakeasy's specialties. Order: Dark spirits Although Wax Rabbit, The Barbershop, and The Laundry Room all serve a range of exceptional cocktails, our experts often give suggestions to those who would rather drink something a little simpler. In these instances, they usually suggest one of several dark spirits. Given that Wax Rabbit specializes in Mexican spirits, it's no surprise that Pahola Figueroa recommends two of the country's most famous exports. She said, "Go for something dark to match the room. Personally, I would recommend an aged tequila or mezcal [...] if you aren't feeling that adventurous, a good bourbon or scotch can also give those Prohibition vibes." Tony Arnone echoed the latter statement, adding, "The Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails, where I work, is a whiskey and rock 'n' roll-themed speakeasy, so I'd say dark [spirits]. I'd recommend drinking whiskey, not only for the venue but because it's a personal favorite as well." The Barbershop also happens to stock over 60 whiskeys, including Suntory Whisky Toki and Drambuie, making Arnone's job of recommending an exceptional whiskey that much easier. Aside from matching the dark atmosphere of speakeasies, dark spirits like aged mezcal and whiskey are also more flavorful than their light counterparts thanks to the greater maturation period they have undergone . This means that, while initially challenging for some drinkers, dark spirits hold layers of flavor that many people appreciate. Order: Something you wouldn't usually drink One of the few things all our experts mentioned in their interview was that speakeasies are places where drinkers should try something new. As Pahola Figueroa said, "I always encourage people to try something different and new, it's a great chance to broaden your horizons." Visiting a speakeasy is a great opportunity to do this thanks to the range of unique drinks that are usually on offer. For example, Wax Rabbit uses premium Mexican spirits in novel ways, creating drinks like Medusa, a blend of extra añejo tequila, raspberries, egg whites, lemon, and agave syrup. Customers will be hard pressed to find anything similar to this drink at other bars. While Figueroa encourages drinkers to try something new, Tony Arnone goes one step further. In our interview he said, "I always encourage people to step outside their comfort zone. If there is something you tell me you don't like, my response is 'You haven't found a way in which you enjoy it.' [...] If there is something you usually avoid, you could be surprised by how the bartender incorporates those flavors into a cocktail that you may end up loving." In other words, challenge the experts to change your opinion on spirits you don't often enjoy. Who knows, one such challenge may lead you to a lifetime of enjoyment. Order: Mai tai Tiki cocktails might not be the first thing customers think of when they visit a speakeasy, however many speakeasy venues across the United States include a couple of tiki-inspired drinks on their menu. Wax Rabbit is one of them, as Pahola Figueroa explained. "At Wax Rabbit we have our 'Hidden Passion' which is sweet and fruity, with subtle hints of citrus and topped off with aromatic bitters [...] it's our take on a Mai Tai with tequila." Many customers may scoff at the idea of ordering a Mai Tai, especially in a speakeasy setting. The cocktail's reputation has, after all, suffered in recent decades as substandard iterations, far removed from , have become the norm. However, craft-orientated speakeasies are the perfect place to indulge in this Tiki classic for reasons explained by Tony Arnone who said, "I feel that most people haven't had a real one. One made with fresh ingredients at a craft/mixology/speakeasy setting. It is an amazing cocktail with so much depth and flavor, and worth getting from someone who knows what they're doing." Avoid: Anything involving a blender Although it wasn't mentioned by any of our experts, a general rule when ordering drinks at a speakeasy is that drinks which require the use of a blender are off limits. In fact, the vast majority of speakeasies won't even offer blended drinks in the first place. This is for a couple of reasons. Firstly, blenders are loud, messy, and can ruin the ambiance of any bar let alone that of a chilled speakeasy. As bar owner Duggan McDonnell highlighted to : "I worked in one restaurant that did blender drinks and I'm telling you the noise, the whirring, you're going through blades in the middle of service, and craziness abounds." Secondly, the majority of drinks that are made in blenders, such as the Miami Vice, don't really conform to most people's idea of Prohibition-style cocktails. Add to this blended drinks' reputation for getting people plastered, and it is no wonder that most bartenders suggest avoiding them. Order: Paloma Known as the "lazy man's margarita," that is notoriously simple to make. Traditional recipes only call for three ingredients: tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda. The drink's simplicity has done nothing to hamper its popularity and many bartenders, including Pahola Figueroa, encourage customers to order one. She said, "A paloma is a must, especially at Wax Rabbit. It's the national drink of Mexico, and we elevate it by using a smoky mezcal to deepen its flavor profile and make it unique. Everyone loves a good paloma." One of the reasons why the drink is so popular is that these ingredients create a surprisingly complex cocktail with the spirit — whether it is tequila or mezcal — adding earthy notes that mix well with the cocktail's bright citrus flavors. Such a flavor profile ensures that the paloma offers a welcome relief from the dark, heavy cocktails that often dominate speakeasy menus. Order: Non-alcoholic aviation It has been a whirlwind few years for low and no alcohol businesses. Growing demand for non-alcoholic drinks has come in conjunction with a boom in alcohol-free spirit innovation. To put it simply, bartenders and mixologists now have the tools and demand necessary to create a host of wonderful mocktails. In our interview, Tony Arnone reflected this, saying, "It's not a question of what works and what doesn't, but how to make them work. I would build the mocktail menu around the setting and theme of the venue. For example: in a classic speakeasy setting, one may design a variation of a non-alcoholic Aviation." For those who are unaware, the aviation is a cocktail that includes gin, crème de violette, maraschino liqueur, and lemon juice. It has a wonderful, floral taste and an appetizing light blue color. It has also been served since the early 20th century, making it a popular feature of many modern speakeasies. Until a few years ago, making a non-alcoholic version of this cocktail would have been incredibly difficult as non-alcoholic gins lacked the quality and complexity of their full strength counterparts. This, however, has changed, meaning that non-alcoholic aviations are now interesting and engaging despite containing non-alcoholic gin and violet syrup in place of crème de violette. Order: Sidecar The sidecar is a Prohibition-era classic that was served in venues across Europe and the United States, including Paris' famous Harry's New York Bar. Despite being one of the premier cocktails of its time, this mixture of brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice is one of few classic cocktails that have failed to regain their standing in recent decades. While martinis and negronis are ordered the world over, few people ever order a sidecar. Pahola Figueroa is trying to change that. "A sidecar is always a great choice. A cognac-based cocktail that is spirit-forward and delicious, it's easy to drink and looks great served in a martini glass with sugar. You can't go wrong with it." And yet, so often bartenders manage to create a poor version that lacks the sidecar's distinct tart, dry flavor profile. Make it with too much cognac and the drink becomes overbearingly boozy; too weak and it'll quickly become sweet and flabby. That being said, the drink is truly exceptional when made well so, if you trust the bartender at your local speakeasy, take Figueroa's advice and give this underappreciated Prohibition classic a try. Order: Anything from the signature menu Drinks listed on a speakeasy's signature cocktail menu are often the bar's best work. They frequently use local ingredients and have been designed with the speakeasy's unique atmosphere, setting, and location in mind. Aside from this, the signature menu often contains the drinks bartenders and mixologists have put the most work into and are proudest of. In intimate settings, such as The Laundry Room's 22-seat space, customers have the opportunity to pick the mixologist's brains about signatures like hindsight, the speakeasy's delightful take on a rum sour. It's for these reasons that Tony Arnone turns to signature menus whenever he is ordering drinks at a speakeasy he's never been to. "I always ask to see the signature cocktail menu if one is available. I know how much passion and time goes into creating cocktails, as I've done for over 10 years. With that respect and regard, I'll order from there." Admittedly, such an approach requires nerve, a willingness to take a chance, and the courage to put your trust in the person serving you. Although daunting, the opportunity to try new things is the modern speakeasy's main appeal, and our experts encourage customers to make the most of it. Order: Non-alcoholic mojitos Given advances in non-alcoholic spirit production, many popular cocktails now retain their quality when made in a non-alcoholic format. The mojito is a shining example. Usually made with white rum, sugar, lime juice, mint, and soda water, this enormously popular cocktail loses no quality when the rum is substituted for non-alcoholic alternative such as Lyre's white cane spirit. Other recipes, which replace the rum with fruit juice, also abound. Each offers a unique but recognizable take on what is one of the most popular cocktails around. As a leading bartender and mixologist, Pahola Figueroa is more than aware of a non-alcoholic mojito's charm and encourages those looking for low and no options to order one. She said, "Mojitos are a great conversion to mocktails as they are refreshing and can be flavored or lightly adjusted to make something delicious. While not every bartender enjoys making them, I enjoy it and love how they look." Avoid: Some non-alcoholic drinks Mixologists, like everyone else, have different opinions, and while our experts agree on the majority of drinks mentioned in this article, there was one point of contention: the presence of non-alcoholic drinks in speakeasies. As we've seen, both Pahola Figueroa and Tony Arnone encourage customers to enjoy the range of non-alcoholic options speakeasies serve. Anthony Partridge has a slightly different view. In our interview, Partridge said, "I don't believe n/a's are suited to speakeasies. Speakeasies are supposed to be your seeking out the illegal alcohol experience. No one needs the cloak and dagger for juice and soda. This is not to say you can't have a fine n/a beverage, but it's missing the point." These days, just about all speakeasies put a great deal of care into their non-alcoholic options. This was not the case when speakeasies were popularized during Prohibition. As we all know, during this period speakeasies were where customers went to get drunk, not to enjoy a non-alcoholic beverage. In this regard Partridge has a point; for a modern speakeasy visit to come anywhere close to recreating the Prohibition-era experience, alcohol is a must. Order: Anything with interesting flavor combinations While each of our experts has their own personal likes and dislikes when it comes to speakeasy drinks, they all agree that customers should adopt an open and adventurous approach when ordering. One way of doing this is to look for interesting flavor combinations. As Anthony Partridge said, "I look for odd combinations in cocktails. After tasting the drink, I can piece together the measurements to understand the intent and art of the target taste values. Reading "Masala infused Peychaud's" is one thing, but experiencing it in the cocktail as a segment of its whole is another. It's like knowing that there's a cello in an orchestra but not knowing its place in a symphony." Aside from ensuring that customers try something slightly off-piste, focusing on flavor combinations also allows novice drinkers to navigate intimidating menus. While a cocktail's name might confuse them, the list of ingredients gives a tangible means of deciphering the drink's nature. Pahola Figueroa reminded us that searching for unusual flavor combinations also opens customers up to exciting possibilities, saying, "I always look for the most intricate, show-stopping cocktails that are unique to that specific speakeasy. When I go out, I'm there for the experience first and the booze second." If you remember anything from this article, make it that; it's a sure fire way to order the perfect drink when you next visit a speakeasy. RecommendedFollow along as Varsity Maine provides updates of the high school football state championship games. Football: State championship games at a glance Week 12 high school football predictions We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Press Herald account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « PreviousSHE plays picture-perfect Good Witch Glinda in the big-screen adaptation of West End hit Wicked. But despite having a dream role in a hit Hollywood film, Ariana Grande has lifted the veil on her own path to stardom ­— revealing that she first saw a therapist at the tender age of eight. The Thank U, Next singer told how she struggled to “process things” after mum Joan Grande and dad Edward Butera ended their marriage in 2001. She said: “I first saw a therapist when I was eight after my parents’ divorce — but I don’t think I was really mature enough to process things. “But as I have gotten older, my therapist has been everything to me.” Ariana previously credited therapy with helping her process the aftermath of the terror bomb attack on the Manchester Arena which tragically killed 22 at her concert in May 2017. The pop star suffered further heartbreak when her rapper ex Mac Miller died from an accidental drug overdose in 2018. She added: “Therapy has saved my life. That is why I am so passionate about making therapy and mental health services available for all. "It shouldn’t just be for those that can afford it.” Meanwhile, the US singer also opened up about her close relationship with Wicked co-star and British actress Cynthia Erivo , who plays Elphaba in the film, which hit cinemas on Friday. She said: “We have become such criers — especially in the last few weeks. "As we have been able to see the final product of what we have done, as we have been able to see people’s reactions to the movie — it’s just been so emotional. “ Cynthia and myself just randomly burst out crying — but don’t worry, they are good tears! “Honestly, she has become my sister. "The first time we met we had what we thought would be a short conversation about what we wanted to achieve creatively — and it ended up with us talking for hours, bonding over so many things. “Creatively we wanted to do all we could — but we also decided early on that we would be there during shooting for each other — no matter what. “I am so proud of what everybody on Wicked has achieved — but the greatest thing for me is that I have gained a sister for life.” POP superstar Sabrina Carpenter is in the pink as she wraps the North American leg of her Short n’ Sweet Tour. The Espresso hitmaker glittered in a fuchsia bodysuit and matching suspenders as she posed backstage earlier this week. She said: “I have always dreamt of bringing this tour to life but it was even better than I could have imagined because of every crowd that showed up and gave 100 per cent of their energy and time.” Sabrina added: “Cry because it’s over for now, but we can’t wait to see you in the new year in Europe.” She kicks off in the UK on March 6 at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena. I cannot wait. LOTTIE MOSS plans to ditch her OnlyFans career to bag brand deals. It sounds like she is following the lead of her model half-sister Kate, who previously had deals with Diet Coke and been the face of Calvin Klein. Speaking to Biz on Sunday at Boohoo’s party at Kachette in Shoreditch, East London, Lottie, said: “I want to do brand deals to make the money that I’ll lose from OnlyFans.” FAMILY matters were on Adele's mind when her mum joined her on stage as her long-running Las Vegas residency drew to a close. Penny Adkins appeared alongside her daughter on Friday night at the singer’s penultimate show at Caesars Palace. Adele, who shares 12-year-old Angelo with ex-husband Simon Konecki, said: “My own motherhood has helped me see my mother as a person rather than as a mum. “My [social media] feed used to be about pets and nail results and the motivational meme was: ‘Go easy on your mother – it’s her first time living too.’ “And that really, really changed my perspective on everything to do with myself as a mum, her as a mum or all parents. “Because life is hard. Life sucks. It doesn’t matter what situation you’re in. The problems never, never disappear – they just come in different forms.” Adele, who completed her 100th show on Saturday night, said the residency has been the perfect “bookend” to her album 30, which she released in 2021. She said: “All I wanted to do was do some shows – I didn’t mean to do this many. “I wanted to do some songs from 30 and just fall in love with performing again. Adele revealed: “My last tour in stadiums f * g freaked me out”, adding that she performed before “so many people, it took me a long time to kind of wrap my head around it. “This [residency] felt perfect and was the bookend to this story and this album.” Las Vegas won’t be the same without her. HE famously sang about wooing a woman every day of the week, but Craig David is ready to settle down. The 7 Days hitmaker said: “I would have said I was commitment-phobic. I was all about the music. Now my heart is saying, ‘Open up’.” Craig, left, will kick off his aptly named Commitment tour in Leeds next year, with special guest Lemar joining him for 11 UK dates. ED SHEERAN has been spotted getting into the Christmas spirit. The Thinking Out Loud hitmaker was filming in Southwold, Suffolk, with Bridgerton star Claudia Jessie also starring in a video for his new festive track Under The Tree, earlier this month. The song is set to feature in a new Netflix animation film, That Christ-mas, directed by Love Actually and Notting Hill writer Richard Curtis. A fan filmed the pair sitting in a beach hut with their arms around each other as Richard gave them instructions. Claudia – best known as Eloise Bridgerton – could also be seen making cups of tea as pals stopped by to chat. Earlier this year, Ed said of Richard: “He came to me two years ago to play me the rough [version] of That Christmas. “It was just sketches and voices, but it blew me away. So emotional, yet so heartwarmingly funny.” The film is set in the fictional town of Wellington-on-Sea and tells the story of the worst snowstorm in history, which causes havoc for everyone – including Santa. Let’s hope Storm Bert doesn’t do the same... JAMES BOND actor Daniel Craig reckons 007 movie bosses gambled on him. He said: “They took a big risk and I am eternally grateful.” But the Brit star of five Bond films had to take the job. He said of franchise producer Barbara Brocolli: “If you ever tried to tell Barbara ‘no’, you may understand. SIMONE ASHLEY has swapped Bridgerton for Bastille in her latest project. The Netflix star, who rose to fame as Kate Sharma, in the hit regency series, is the star of the band’s short film for their track Eve and Paradise Lost. It sees Simone crying as she takes on the role of Eve with the lyrics delving into love, loss and betrayal. Lead singer Dan Smith, who worked with British director Dominic Savage, said: “I was totally blown away by Simone’s performance on the day which surpasses anything I could have imagined.” Simon added: “When I first heard this song, I immediately felt a connection to it. I loved working with Dan and Dominic and feel so proud of what we have created."

Abortions are up in the US. It's a complicated picture as women turn to pills, travel By GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press and KEVIN S. VINEYS Associated Press Abortion has become slightly more common despite bans or deep restrictions in most Republican-controlled states, and the legal and political fights over its future are not over yet. It's now been two and a half years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and opened the door for states to implement bans. The policies and their impact have been in flux ever since the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Here's a look at data on where things stand: Overturning Roe and enforcing abortion bans has changed how woman obtain abortions in the U.S. But one thing it hasn't done is put a dent in the number of abortions being obtained. There have been slightly more monthly abortions across the country recently than there were in the months leading up to the June 2022 ruling, even as the number in states with bans dropped to near zero. "Abortion bans don't actually prevent abortions from happening," said Ushma Upadhyay, a public health social scientist at the University of California San Francisco. But, she said, they do change care. For women in some states, there are major obstacles to getting abortions — and advocates say that low-income, minority and immigrant women are least likely to be able to get them when they want. For those living in states with bans, the ways to access abortion are through travel or abortion pills. As the bans swept in, abortion pills became a bigger part of the equation. They were involved in about half the abortions before Dobbs. More recently, it's been closer to two-thirds of them, according to research by the Guttmacher Institute. The uptick of that kind of abortion, usually involving a combination of two drugs, was underway before the ruling. But now, it's become more common for pill prescriptions to be made by telehealth. By the summer of... GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press , KEVIN S. VINEYS Associated Press

Christmas is not just a season of celebration but also one of giving and receiving. Santa Claus, who embodies generosity toward the less fortunate, reminds us of the joy of generosity. In this spirit, we appeal to the PM for five significant ‘gifts' to address the pressing concerns of the Christian community in India. We appreciate the Prime Minister's gestures of solidarity, such as meeting with the Archbishop of Delhi and other dignitaries, and hope for a similar outreach this year. Addressing the anti-conversion issue The enactment of anti-conversion laws in 12 states is distressing, often leading to unjust persecution of Christians. These laws, misnamed ‘Freedom of Religion Bills,' impose stringent and unreasonable restrictions, violating personal liberty and human rights. Despite Christians contributing immensely to education, healthcare, and social services, they face baseless accusations of mass conversions. Over 75 years of Independence, our population has remained at 2.1%, debunking such myths. We urge the PM to foster genuine freedom of religion by directing states to adopt a more tolerant approach. Resolving the Manipur crisis Despite the Union minority affairs minister's assurances of safety, Christians in Manipur continue to face challenges, with the civil unrest lingering for over 18 months. The absence of the PM's visit to this beautiful state is deeply felt. We appeal for peace in Manipur, echoing the angel's proclamation at Christ's birth: "Glory to God and peace to men of goodwill." Halting attacks on Christians and institutions Reports of violence against Christians are alarming, with 767 incidents recorded in 2024 alone. Over 80 Christians are imprisoned simply for their faith. While the ministry of external affairs dismissed international concerns, the reality of intolerance persists. We request the PM to ensure the safety and dignity of Christians, curbing the actions of a few extremists tarnishing the image of India's harmonious majority. Uplifting SC/ST Christians Since the 1950 Presidential Order, Christians of SC/ST origin have been denied reservation benefits granted to converts of other religions. This longstanding injustice contradicts the equality enshrined in our Constitution. We urge the PM to ensure equal rights for all citizens. Facilitating Pope Francis' visit The community eagerly anticipates Pope Francis' visit to India in 2025, a Jubilee Year marking 2025 years since Christ's birth. The PM's invitation to the Holy Father during their June 2024 meeting in the Vatican brought immense joy. We hope he will follow up to make this historic visit a reality. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a bright New Year! (The writer is the Archbishop of Bengaluru) Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .

At least six Russian mercenaries have been killed in an attack by an Al-Qaeda-linked group in central Mali. A statement released by the extremists, known by its acronym, JNIM, said on their social media platform that the group had ambushed a convoy of mercenaries working for the Wagner Group on Thursday in the Mopti region, killing fighters and burning vehicles. A Mali security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed an attack on Russian soldiers occurred. The official said several people died while manning a checkpoint in the centre of the country. Russia has capitalized on deteriorating relations between the West and coup-affected Sahel nations in West Africa to send fighters and assert its influence. Russia has capitalized on deteriorating relations between the West and coup-affected Sahel nations in West Africa to send fighters and assert its influence. Wagner has been active in the Sahel, the vast expanse south of the Sahara Desert, with the mercenaries profiting from seized mineral riches in exchange for their security services. Wagner has been present in Mali since late 2021 following a military coup, replacing French troops and international peacekeepers to help fight militants who have threatened communities in the central and northern regions for more than a decade. At the same time, Wagner has been accused of helping to carry out raids and drone strikes that have killed civilians. The incident comes months after the deadliest attack on the group, where approximately 50 Wagner fighters were killed by an al-Qaida ambush on their convoy along the border with Algeria.

Plaudits for Jimmy Carter across US political divideLOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 29, 2024-- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) mourns the death of United States President Jimmy Carter, a champion in the human rights movement. In February 2023, Carter, then 98, entered hospice care at his Georgia home. He died there earlier today at 100, the longest-lived president in U.S. history, having recently marked his centennial birthday October 1 st. Carter and his wife Rosalynn brought worldwide attention—as well as their own physical labor—to the need for safe, affordable housing through their eponymous Carter Work Project in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity. Since 1984, the Carters reportedly helped house more than 4,300 families in 14 countries around the world. First Lady Rosalynn Carter passed away in November 2023 at the age of 96 during President Carter’s tenure in home hospice. The Carters also worked tirelessly to improve global public health. Their not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center, has focused on fighting six preventable diseases, including malaria. In March 2024, the Center announced its success in nearly eradicating Guinea worm disease with only 14 cases reported in 2023. “We mourn and remember former President Jimmy Carter today as a human rights champion for his tireless, lifelong work on civil rights, social justice, health care, affordable housing, and more—far beyond the reach and accomplishment of most men and often done with far more humility than many other public figures of his stature,” said Michael Weinstein , founder and president of AHF, which also operates the housing advocacy group, Housing Is A Human Right ( HHR ). “Jimmy Carter had a fundamental understanding that housing is a human right and that human rights must be a cornerstone of American domestic and foreign policy. We offer our condolences to the entire Carter family as well as our gratitude to Mr. Carter for his decency, vision, and tenacity in helping those less fortunate.” AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global HIV and AIDS organization, provides medical care and/or services to more that 2 million individuals in 47 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website , find us on Facebook , follow us on IG and Twitter , or subscribe to our “AHFter Hours” podcast. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241023544959/en/ CONTACT: Ged Kenslea, AHF Sr. Comms Dir. +1.323.791.5526gedk@aidshealth.orgW. Imara Canady, National Director, Communications & Community Engagement for AHF +1.770.940.6555Imara.Canady@aidshealth.org KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA GEORGIA EUROPE UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT INFECTIOUS DISEASES FOUNDATION PHILANTHROPY CELEBRITY CONSUMER ENTERTAINMENT RESIDENTIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY AIDS HEALTH OTHER PHILANTHROPY WHITE HOUSE/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS ADVOCACY GROUP OPINION SOCIAL ACTIVISM SENIORS SOURCE: AIDS Healthcare Foundation Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/29/2024 05:40 PM/DISC: 12/29/2024 05:39 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241023544959/enFrom sex drive woes to cheating and porn addiction, Dear Deidre reveals readers’ most common problems of 2024

KBC Group NV Raises Stock Holdings in NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (NYSE:NXRT)

Justin Sullivan The last few months have been particularly good for shareholders of SoFi Technologies ( NASDAQ: SOFI ). You see, back in August of this year, I wrote a bullish article about the company. In it, I did say that Crude Value Insights offers you an investing service and community focused on oil and natural gas. We focus on cash flow and the companies that generate it, leading to value and growth prospects with real potential. Subscribers get to use a 50+ stock model account, in-depth cash flow analyses of E&P firms, and live chat discussion of the sector. Sign up today for your two-week free tria l and get a new lease on oil & gas! Daniel is an avid and active professional investor. Crude Value Insights Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s false claims linking autism to childhood vaccinations are receiving new scrutiny now that President-elect Donald Trump has selected him to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, a sprawling agency with a budget of $1.7 trillion that oversees research into both autism and vaccines. The myth that autism is caused by childhood vaccines — proposed in 1998 by a British doctor who was later banned from practicing medicine in the United Kingdom — has been thoroughly debunked . Hundreds of studies have found vaccines to be safe . The World Health Organization estimates that over the past 50 years, immunizations have saved 154 million lives around the world. Kennedy, who espouses a number of health-related conspiracy theories , has pointed to vaccines to explain the substantial rise in autism diagnoses in recent decades, which have ballooned from an estimated 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 today. Research suggests that much of that increase is due to increasing awareness and screening for the condition; changing definitions of autism to include milder conditions on the spectrum that weren’t recognized in previous years; as well as advances in diagnostic technology. “For a very long time, the anti-vaccine movement has been exploiting families of autistic people, promoting a market for pseudo-scientific treatments that don’t provide the answers they’re looking for and that can expose autistic people to real harm,” said Ari Ne’eman, co-founder of the nonprofit Autistic Self Advocacy Network and an assistant professor of health policy and management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “More discredited conspiracy theories linking autism and vaccines are not the answer.” Timothy Caulfield, research director at the University of Alberta’s Health Law Institute in Canada, who studies health misinformation, said that people often are more willing to believe conspiracy theories about conditions such as autism, whose causes are complex and not fully understood, than diseases with clear causes. People seem less inclined to speculate, for example, about alternative explanations for Down syndrome, which causes intellectual disabilities and has long been known to be caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. “It’s really a shame because there are vulnerable families [of people with autism] who need our support,” said Judith Miller, a clinical psychologist and senior scientist and training director at the Center for Autism Research at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Every dollar and hour spent trying to debunk a conspiracy theory is a dollar and an hour lost that could have been spent trying to understand how to help families.” A complex condition Finding the causes of autism is complicated, because it’s not a single disorder, said Manish Arora, a professor of environmental medical and climate science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. “Autism is a spectrum, not a single narrow disease,” Arora said. “It’s many, many things under one umbrella.” Although people diagnosed with autism often have similar strengths and challenges, “there are many paths to autism and many presentations of autism,” Miller said. Scientists have found a variety of risk factors for autism — most of which exist before birth — but there is no single cause for a neurological and developmental condition that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave. A number of the traits sometimes seen in people with autism — such as being sensitive to loud noises, for example, or finding it difficult to interpret social cues — are also found in people who have not been diagnosed with autism. Doctors diagnose autism based on a person’s behavior, noting that there is no simple test for the condition, as there is for Covid or diabetes, said Arora, founder and CEO of a start-up company that researches biomarkers for autism and other neurological conditions. Finding the cause of an infectious disease — such as influenza, which is caused by the flu virus — is much more straightforward. While researchers continue to study the factors that influence the development of autistic traits, “the one thing we know doesn’t cause autism is vaccines,” said Catherine Lord, a psychologist and researcher at the Center for Autism Research and Treatment at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Genetic vulnerability Doctors have long known that genes play a large role in autism, simply by noting that autism can run in families. For example, in identical twins — who share all of their DNA — if one twin has autism, the other usually does, as well. In the case of fraternal twins — who share about half their DNA — if one fraternal twin has autism, the chance that the other will have autism ranges from 53% to 67%, according to an analysis of research studies. Scientists have identified more than 100 genes related to autism, Miller said, and genes are believed to play a role in 60% to 80% of cases. “The genetics of autism have never been better understood,” said Dr. Gregory Cejas, medical director of the Autism Clinical Center and Fragile X Clinic at the Washington University School of Medicine. “We’re making leaps and bounds about known genetic causes of autism.” Yet genes clearly don’t explain every case of autism. Autism is very different from conditions like sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis, which are caused by a single gene. Scientists believe that people develop autistic traits due to a combination of genetic vulnerability and environmental exposures, Lord said. “People have found many, many different genetic patterns associated with autism, but none of them are only associated with autism and none of them are always associated with autism,” Lord said. For example, fragile X syndrome — caused by a mutated gene on the X chromosome — is the most common known cause of autism. But only a fraction of children with the genetic mutation actually develop autism, Miller said. It’s possible that this mutation leaves some people more vulnerable to developing autistic characteristics, while others with the same mutations don’t develop autistic traits, because they are shielded by protective factors that have not yet been identified. Some people blamed the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine with autism because symptoms of the condition often occur at around 12 to 15 months of age, the same time toddlers get that immunization. But Miller notes that “most of the genetic conditions that affect our life and health aren’t apparent at birth. Symptoms or characteristics won’t show up until later, but the genetic code will have been with us the whole time.” Prenatal vulnerability Many of the known risk factors for autistic characteristics occur before birth or at the time of delivery, Arora said. Babies who experience complications at birth , such as their umbilical cord becoming wrapped around their neck, have a higher risk of autism. So do babies born prematurely , perhaps because of something that happened in the womb. Children are also slightly more likely to be diagnosed with autism if they have older fathers and possibly if they have older mothers, Miller said. It’s not clear if something in the biology of older parents causes a child to have a higher risk of autism, or if socioeconomic issues could play a role. It’s possible that older parents have better access to health care, making it more likely for their child to receive an autism diagnosis. A mother’s health influences her child’s autism risk in several ways, according to multiple studies: Children have a greater chance of being diagnosed with autism if their mothers were exposed to high levels of air pollution or developed a serious infection , such as the flu or pneumonia, while pregnant. While Ne’eman, of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, said he’s not opposed to basic biological research on autism or its causes, he said those studies do little to help people with autism overcome the barriers they face in their everyday lives. He notes that only 8.4% of the $419 million spent on autism research in the United States is devoted to support and services for people with autism. “We need an autism research agenda,” he said, “that reflects the true priorities of autistic people and our families: supports across the lifespan and inclusion in the community.” This article first appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more from NBC News here: Hyundai announces recall of over 42,000 vehicles due to wiring issue that can cause them to roll away How ‘Wicked’ the movie compares to ‘Wicked’ the musical Matthew Perry recalls 'scary' confrontation with Jennifer Aniston: 'She was the one'

Kansas City (14-1) at Pittsburgh (10-5) Wednesday, 1 p.m., EST, Netflix. BetMGM NFL Odds: Chiefs by 2 1/2. Against the spread: Chiefs 7-8; Steelers 10-5 Series record: Steelers lead 25-14. Last meeting: Chiefs beat Steelers 42-21 in the first round of the playoffs on Jan. 16, 2022, in Kansas City. Last week: Chiefs beat Texans 27-19; Steelers lost to Ravens 34-17 Chiefs offense: overall (13), rush (15), pass (12), scoring (11). Chiefs defense: overall (3), rush (3), pass (17), scoring (3). Steelers offense: overall (19), rush (11), pass (25), scoring (12). Steelers defense: overall (11), rush (8), pass (20), scoring (7). Turnover differential: Chiefs plus-4; Steelers plus-16. WR Marquise Brown, who hurt his shoulder on the first play of the preseason and landed on injured reserve, made an impressive regular-season debut against Houston last week. “Hollywood” caught five passes for 45 yards, including an early 13-yarder that converted a fourth down and led to an eventual touchdown. But perhaps most importantly, Brown's mere presence kept Houston from double-teaming Xavier Worthy, DeAndre Hopkins and Travis Kelce all afternoon. LB T.J. Watt. The perennial All-Pro is dealing with an ankle injury and had a quiet game in the loss to Baltimore, finishing with just four tackles and didn’t have a single hit against Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. Pittsburgh's best chance at pulling the upset relies heavily on disrupting Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes at every turn. To do it, Watt will need to do some Watt-like things. The 30-year-old leads the NFL in forced fumbles for a defense that thrives on takeaways. Steelers RBs Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris against the Chiefs rush defense, which is ranked third in the NFL and allowing just 91.4 yards per game. The Chiefs held the Texans' Joe Mixon to just 57 yards rushing last week, the latest in a season-long trend of shutting down top running backs. The Browns' Nick Chubb had 41 yards the previous week, and the Ravens' Derrick Henry, the Falcons' Bijan Robinson and the Saints' Alvin Kamara are among those who have similarly struggled against Kansas City. Chiefs: LT D.J. Humphries (hamstring) and CB Chamarri Conner (concussion) are likely to miss a second straight game. DT Chris Jones (calf) and RT Jawaan Taylor (knee) are iffy after getting hurt against Houston. Steelers: WR George Pickens (hamstring) should return after missing the past three games. S DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and DT Larry Ogunjobi (groin) may also be back after sitting the past two weeks. Starting CB Joey Porter Jr. (knee) and backup wide receiver/special teams ace Ben Skowronek (hip) are out. The Steelers have dominated the series, leading 23-14, but the Chiefs have won the past three games. That includes a 42-21 rout in their most recent matchup in the wild-card round of the playoffs on Jan. 16, 2022 — the last game played by Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Prior to the Chiefs' three-game win streak, the Steelers had won three in a row, including an 18-16 victory in the divisional round on Jan. 15, 2017, that they won despite not scoring a touchdown. Kansas City can clinch the No. 1 seed and first-round playoff bye with a win over the Steelers, or if the Bills lose or tie when they play the Jets on Sunday. ... Pittsburgh has dropped two straight, but can still earn its first AFC North title since 2020 by winning its last two games. ... The Chiefs can set a franchise record for regular-season wins with their 15th by beating Pittsburgh or Denver in their regular-season finale, breaking a tie with the 2020 and ‘22 teams. ... The Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes needs three TD passes to break Peyton Manning’s record of 244 for a QB's first eight seasons. Mahomes did not start as a rookie and has played just 111 games while Manning played 128 over that span. ... Mahomes has dominated the Steelers so far in his career, throwing 14 touchdowns without a pick while leading Kansas City to three victories in as many tries. ... Chiefs WR DeAndre Hopkins has an NFL-leading 177 straight games with a catch. TE Travis Kelce is second with 173. ... Kelce has 76 TD catches, tied with Tony Gonzalez for the Chiefs record. Kelce has 79 total TDs, four shy of Priest Holmes' franchise record. ... WR Xavier Worthy has five TD catches, tied for the sixth most by a rookie in Chiefs history. Worthy also has three TD runs, and the eight total is also tied for sixth most in franchise history. ... Chiefs DB Trent McDuffie has intercepted a pass in back-to-back games. He did not have a pick in his first 48 games. ... This is the 12th game in Steelers history to be played on Wednesday and the first since 2020, when a showdown with the Ravens was repeatedly postponed because of COVID-19 issues. Pittsburgh is 5-6 all time on Wednesdays. ... A healthy Pickens will likely give the Steelers passing game a serious boost. QB Russell Wilson is averaging just 167.7 yards per game in Pickens' absence, down from 271 yards per game with Pickens in the lineup. ... This is Pittsburgh's first regular-season game against a team with 14 wins. ... The Steelers have five wins against the defending Super Bowl champions since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. ... Pittsburgh is 26-12 in Weeks 17 and 18 since the start of the 1990 season, the second-most wins in the NFL over that span behind Green Bay (28). ... The Steelers have won seven straight games and 12 of their past 13 the week following a loss of at least 17 points. ... Pittsburgh leads the NFL with 31 takeaways. and has forced at least two turnovers 11 times. It might be championship week in your league, so why not turn to a championship quarterback. Mahomes has earned the benefit of the doubt even in a “down” season by his standards and with Pittsburgh missing its top cornerback and the pass rush slowed of late, give Mahomes a start against a team he has toyed with in his career. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflMeet Amit Goyal whose wedding the Gandhi family is attending in Jaipur

Brian Travis wasn’t the type of dad you would often hear at his children’s events, but he was the guy you’d always see. Whether he was tracking stats in the back row of the bleachers at a baseball game or dancing on stage in a rockstar outfit for a father-daughter dance, Travis was always there for his family. “He lived for family and his kids,” said Mindy Travis, Brian’s wife. Even in his final days, Brian Travis gave his all. After he died Dec. 5 — 12 days after the 48-year-old Lincoln man went into cardiac arrest — his family donated his organs. The community rallied around the Travis family for the donation as hundreds of people, including teammates, coaches and friends, filled the hospital hallway during an honor walk that same day at Bryan East Campus. “I didn’t know how much impact that he had or we had on people,” Mindy said. Kara Cordell, spokeswoman for Live On Nebraska, said that honor walks occur every time a family undergoes an organ donation. The final tribute includes the donor's caregivers and loved ones lining the hallways of the hospital as the donor is transported to the operating room. "Legacy is important to donor families," Cordell said. "Whether in front of a small group of staff members or with dozens of people present, the significance of the donor's life and their impact on others is recognized and celebrated." Cordell said the walk brings pride and comfort to those saying goodbye to their loved ones, whether it's friends, coworkers or others close to the family. Organ donations aren't common, Cordell said, because donor candidates must be in a hospital and on ventilation prior to the organ donation surgery. In Nebraska, there have been 111 successful organ donation cases this year. Of those, only five have been at Bryan East. Outside of the hospital, hockey sticks were set out by those who knew Travis through the Lincoln Junior Stars, where his son Matthew plays hockey. The online tribute “Sticks out for Brian” was circulated on social media. “You don’t know how many people care or have your back,” Mindy said. “It’s been overwhelming, but I’m grateful because I don’t know how to do this without them.” Mindy and Brian’s relationship was built on support, love and their contrasting personalities, she said. Despite Mindy’s independent nature after losing both her parents at a young age, Brian was steadfast in her life. “I’m pretty strong-willed and hard-headed, and I would push to see if he would break,” Mindy said. “He never would and I could never understand why he stayed with me.” Brian was the parent who read to their three kids each night and could be counted on for helping with any crafts. “He would always make the kids and I homemade Valentine cards,” Mindy said. “He did that when we dated as well. My birthday card was always homemade.” Mindy first met Brian in Columbia, Missouri, while attending college. After he proposed on a bike trail, the two got married and moved to Nebraska in 2003. After 11 years of living in Kearney, the family moved to Lincoln, where they would raise their sports-loving family of five. Brian and Mindy were determined to make it to every event, whether it was track meets, hockey games or dance recitals. He even participated in both their daughters' dance recitals several times. “He would go and learn the steps, and then secretly, he would practice them downstairs,” Mindy said. “He did it because his kids wanted him to do it, and he took pride in their sports.” His love for children wasn’t limited to his own. Mindy said Brian treated other kids as if they were his, offering unwavering support to the families around him. Dave Quevedo and his wife, Joey, met the Travis family nearly 10 years ago as their children grew up playing flag football, baseball and hockey together. Mindy and Joey would run the events together and Brian could often be found chalking lines and helping with warmups. “We were always together at different events because of our boys,” Dave Quevedo said. “Brian was always around.” Brian was the kind of parent to keep track of each player’s stats and which opponents their team would be going up against. He’d sit toward the back with his paper book during the baseball games until the stats were digitized and kept electronically. “He probably actually got to enjoy the games at that point,” Quevedo said. In addition to working in insurance at Continental Western Group, Brian became a pedicab driver in 2018 to supplement the family’s income. He would often donate plasma to ensure they could make ends meet and to provide the best opportunities for his family. For years, Quevedo would watch his best friend work hard to make sure he could always provide the best for his family. “He was that amazing human,” Dave said. “It sucks. Why are the good ones the ones that are dying so young?” On the evening of Nov. 23, Brian was working as a pedicab driver around downtown Lincoln after the Nebraska-Wisconsin volleyball game. It was at about 9:30 p.m. when he collapsed at the Embassy Suites hotel. Bystanders performed CPR and his heart was shocked twice, but he never woke up. Mindy still doesn’t understand what happened to Brian, who seemed healthy and had a very active lifestyle. In the weeks after his death, it’s been difficult for her to come home expecting to see her upbeat husband and not seeing him there. The Quevedos are just a few of their close friends making sure Mindy and her children never feel alone. In November, Joey Quevedo started a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses. “It’s so hard for me to accept help,” Mindy said. “I’m good at giving it, so to receive it is so hard for me because it makes me feel guilty.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Aussies still girt by monarchy

GEORGETOWN, Texas - You might say the true meaning of Christmas was alive and well in Georgetown on Wednesday. People came together for a special Christmas morning gathering on the square to enjoy each other's company and to give back. "Donuts, cookies, coffee, hot chocolate and merriment," said "Santa" Phil Gingras, the Georgetown Beard Club president. That about sums up Christmas morning in downtown Georgetown . "It's a magical place. It really is," said musician David Crawford. The second-annual Coffee and Hot Chocolate on the Square drew about 100 people to the steps of the courthouse. "I just saw it on Facebook and I kind of surprised her," said Julie Edwards of Georgetown, who brought her daughter. "We were pleasantly surprised that there were so many people out. Just shows the Christmas spirit," said Bonnie Heinrich of Round Rock. It's hosted by the Georgetown Beard Club, a nonprofit focused on community service, with some help from local businesses. "Lulu's Pie Shop donated pastries. Lamppost coffee donated the coffee. Jimmy Vega Smokehouse donated the hot chocolate. And then we just ask people to bring food," said Georgetown Beard Club co-founder Rob Kiddie. Neighbors, families, friends and total strangers enjoyed a hot drink, a sweet treat, and plenty of holiday conversation. "Oh, it's wonderful out here. A lot of people," said Round Rock resident Gary Heinrich. "It's beautiful. I think it's nice that everybody gets together and gets to know each other," said Edwards. "In today's technology-driven society, I think we miss that common touch with people. So, I mean, people are laughing and having fun," said Bonnie Heinrich. Meanwhile, Beard Club members gave away coats, blankets, hoodies and cold weather bags to those in need. "This is our Georgetown. Yeah, we love our people, and we take care of each other," said Gingras. There was also some live Christmas music to serenade those gathered. "Me being a musician, the positive experience that you get from playing here and the smiles. I love people going by, and they're smiling," said Crawford. Despite Georgetown being named the fastest-growing city in the country, three years running, organizers say events like this keep the tight-knit feel of this community. "We try to keep it small by doing stuff like this and forming a community on this square," said Kiddie. The Beard Club says they'll definitely be back on the square next Christmas. The Source: Interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's John KrinjakHONOLULU (AP) — KyeRon Lindsay and Terence Harcum each scored 16 points as Murray State beat Loyola Chicago 71-68 on Wednesday for seventh place at the Diamond Head Classic. Lindsay also had five rebounds and four steals for the Racers (7-6). Harcum went 5 of 10 from the floor, including 2 for 6 from 3-point range, and 4 for 6 from the line. AJ Ferguson shot 4 of 8 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line to finish with 11 points. The Ramblers (9-4) were led by Miles Rubin, who posted 16 points and three blocks. Des Watson added 12 points and Sheldon Edwards had 10 points. Lindsay scored eight points in the first half and Murray State went into halftime trailing 36-34. Harcum led the way with 10 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .