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up psp INDIANAPOLIS — Death. Taxes. And Quenton Nelson. Star running back Jonathan Taylor suggested Thursday the Indianapolis Colts’ All-Pro left guard is one of life’s inevitabilities. A legion of NFL defenders likely would nod in resigned agreement. “Any time backs come in, I always tell them, ‘Listen, when in doubt, you know 5-6 (Nelson’s jersey number) will take you to the light,’ ” Taylor said. “But what he does is (a result of) preparation throughout the week, what he does in the offseason, his routine in season. He’s a true professional, and it shows week in, week out and year after year. So I’m just thankful, and I’m glad that I’m on a team with him.” Nelson played a pivotal role in Sunday’s 38-30 victory against the Tennessee Titans, helping to usher the way for Taylor to gain 218 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. The Colts gained a single-season franchise record 335 total yards on the ground, and Nelson shook off a fourth-quarter ankle injury to return even while many on the sideline suggested he should rest with the game apparently in hand. Nelson again put together a highlight reel of dominant blocks, none more impressive than his effort on quarterback Anthony Richardson’s 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. After pulling from his position, Nelson quickly got to the second level in front of Richardson and drove his defender through the back of the end zone. The quarterback essentially jogged into the end zone behind Nelson, untouched and unbothered. “It makes it easier for me,” Richardson said. “I get to see 56 running around. I just get to follow up behind him and let him do his dirty work, and I just follow up and get the touchdown. I get all the credit, but, no, he does all the dirty work for us. So we appreciate that for sure.” Nelson emphatically threw his arms up in celebration as Richardson crossed the goal line. That’s also in character for the hulking lineman. He’s almost always the first player to pick up a ball carrier after a run – no matter the distance from the line of scrimmage – and Richardson said Nelson often is happier than the player who scored each time Indianapolis finds the end zone. It’s a mentality Nelson said was installed by former Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, and his joy is the product of a total team effort. “There’s 11 guys doing their job for the common goal of scoring a touchdown and trying to win the game,” Nelson said. “Seeing it come to fruition after all the hard work we put in during the week is awesome.” Guard is far from a glamour position, and it’s not among the most highly valued roles in the NFL. Very few players at the position become stars. But Nelson is on another level. When he was drafted with the sixth overall pick in 2018 after a sterling career for the Fighting Irish, Colts owner Jim Irsay immediately made Hall of Fame comparisons. Nelson has lived up to the high expectations with three first-team All-Pro nods and six Pro Bowl appearances in his first six seasons. He’s one of the most recognizable names on Indianapolis’ roster and a fan favorite. But, despite outside appearances, Nelson’s success was not inevitable. His unmatched drive and work ethic have allowed him to reach the game’s elite levels. “I think his competitive nature that he brings every single day, his toughness, his attitude, his love for the game, and he plays that way,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said of what sets Nelson apart. “I mean, he shows up for his guys every single day and does it the right way and plays for the guy next to him every single time. “He’s got that relentless determination that you want up front. Just a hell of a leader for us. And obviously, when we need a big play, too, a lot of the times he’s our lead blocker in those situations.” Tight end Mo Alie-Cox (toe), Richardson (back, foot) and linebacker E.J. Speed (knee) did not practice Thursday. Indianapolis reportedly is optimistic Richardson will be able to play Sunday against the New York Giants. Linebacker Jaylon Carlies (shoulder) and Nelson (ankle) were limited. Cornerback JuJu Brents (knee), cornerback Jaylon Jones (throat), wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) were full participants. Safety Raheem Lane (knee), linebacker Micah McFadden (neck), wide receiver Malik Nabers (toe), center John Michael Schmitz (ankle), cornerback Greg Stroman (shoulder, shin), running back Tyrone Tracy (ankle) and wide receiver Dee Williams (toe) did not practice for the Giants. Defensive tackle Cory Durden (shoulder), offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (wrist), quarterback Drew Lock (right shoulder) and offensive guard Greg Van Roten (knee) were limited.

The unnamed dead of Honolulu may be revealed through DNA testingBy ALEXA ST. JOHN | Associated Press DETROIT — Electric vehicles had another whirlwind year around the globe, driven by buyers in China, and growth in parts of Europe and the United States, despite headwinds. In a milestone for China, the world’s biggest auto market, EVs hit 50% of new car sales in July. That included pure battery EVs plus plug-inhybrid electric vehicles . Chinese companies such as BYD continue to gain traction worldwide with their inexpensive EVs. RELATED: Thinking of buying an EV? You might want to move quickly Electric vehicles also made headway in Europe and the U.S. Uncertainty around purchase subsidies could complicate matters come 2025, especially under the incoming Trump administration in the U.S. But mainstream consumers remain interested in new models, longer driving ranges, better performance and lower prices. The transition to electric vehicles is an important part of the shift to clean energy. Road transport accounts for around one-sixth of all global emissions from energy, according to the International Energy Agency. Widespread EV adoption could significantly address climate change. Here are five facts about EVs this year. Most of the data comes from consultancy Rho Motion. The global EV market, including pure EVs and plug-in hybrids, grew by 25% year-over-year as of November. Rho Motion estimates 15.2 million EVs had been sold worldwide ahead of the end of the year, and the International Energy Agency expected electrified vehicle sales to reach one in five cars sold globally. Most were in China. Mexico sold roughly 5 times as many EVs this year than last, mostly from Chinese powerhouse automaker BYD, according to Rho Motion. Related Articles Business | Thinking of buying an EV? You might want to move quickly Business | ‘Alarming’ new car prices push Bay Area buyers toward used vehicles, but they’re pricey, too Business | Car insurance premiums are rising: Which Bay Area cities pay more? Business | Walters: Major hurdles ahead for California’s zero-emission vehicle mandate Business | California auto emissions case gets US Supreme Court review Because China’s population is so much larger, its 40% growth year-to-date translates to many more EVs than Mexico’s fivefold increase. Other areas of note are the United Kingdom, which saw a roughly 17% increase year-to-date. That’s interesting to compare to France and Germany, which saw sales decline. In Turkey, the EV market grew by almost 50% year-to-date, driven by Tesla entering the market last year and Togg, a Turkish auto company, ramping up its sales. In Norway, which for years has been in first place for share of vehicles that are electric, 90% of new cars were EVs. The best-selling pure electric vehicles were the Tesla Model Y, followed by the Tesla Model 3 — both globally and in the U.S., according to Rho Motion. The Model Y SUV was released in 2020. Its base version today costs nearly $45,000. The Model 3 was released in 2017. The least expensive version sells for around $42,000. Both have been eligible for a $7,500 tax credit in the U.S. Tesla’s market share stood at 17% of all electric cars across the globe through October, according to Rho Motion. In the U.S., Tesla’s market share was 49% through October. That means the company still has the biggest EV market share. But its hold is shrinking as other auto companies combined sell a growing number of electrics. For example, GM, Ford, Honda and more are offering a wider variety of EVs at lower prices and sizes and are chipping away at Tesla’s longstanding lead. Tesla remains the most valuable auto company in the world, with a market value of $1.4 trillion. Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate solutions reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn . Reach her at ast.john@ap.org . The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .

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President-elect Donald Trump’s team has signed an agreement with the White House unlocking key transition briefings and activities after a lengthy delay amid concerns, in part, over a mandatory ethics agreement. “President-elect Trump is entering the next phase of his administration’s transition by executing a Memorandum of Understanding with President Joe Biden’s White House,” incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in a statement. “This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power,” Wiles continued. The White House agreement, which was due October 1, serves as the gatekeeper for access to agencies and information and could lay the groundwork for Trump’s team to receive security clearances necessary to begin receiving classified information, although it was not immediately clear how that information sharing with the Biden administration would proceed. “The Transition already has existing security and information protections built in, which means we will not require additional government and bureaucratic oversight,” the Trump transition said in a statement. Trump’s team declined to sign a separate memorandum with the General Services Administration, due September 1, which would provide access to office space and secure communications, among other provisions. White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma confirmed that Trump’s team signed the White House agreement, adding that the Biden administration and the GSA “repeatedly made the case” to Trump’s team to sign the pair of agreements starting in September. President Joe Biden and his chief of staff, Jeff Zients, pressed Trump and Wiles to sign the agreements during their November 13 Oval Office conversation, people familiar with that conversation said, and Trump and Wiles expressed openness to moving forward. Zients, a person familiar said, met once more with Wiles on November 19 to stress the importance of starting transition briefings for national security and other continuity purposes. With the White House agreement in place, members of the Biden administration can now begin to prepare their incoming counterparts for a handoff on January 20. The signed agreement “will allow for certain, authorized members of the Trump transition team to have access to agency and White House employees, facilities, and information,” according to Sharma. White House officials said that federal agencies will receive guidance on facilitating secure information sharing with Trump’s team. CNN has reached out to the Office of Management and Budget and the GSA for comment. Trump team doesn’t sign GSA agreement Trump’s team said it “will not use government buildings or technology provided by GSA (the General Services Administration) and will operate as a self-sufficient organization.” And the team “will not utilize taxpayer funding for costs related to the transition.” Its existing ethics plan “will meet the requirements for personnel to seamlessly move into the Trump Administration,” it said, noting that that agreement will be posted to the GSA’s website. The ethics plan was required to follow the Presidential Transition Act passed by Congress but it was not immediately published to the GSA’s website. The Biden White House did “not agree” with the decision to forego the GSA agreement. “While we do not agree with the Trump transition team’s decision to forgo signing the GSA MOU, we will follow the purpose of the Presidential Transition Act, which clearly states that ‘any disruption occasioned by the transfer of the executive power could produce results detrimental to the safety and wellbeing of the United States and its people,’” Sharma said. There are certain safeguards in the signed White House memorandum, White House officials said, aimed at bolstering protections from conflicts of interest. For instance, officials said, “The Trump transition team must provide the names and current employer of individuals who would have access to agencies, agency personnel, and government information,” and those who are receiving classified information must have “the security clearance necessary to have access to that information, the requisite need to know, and (have) signed the requisite non-disclosure agreements.” Separately, the Trump team has yet to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Justice, White House officials said, but “progress has been made towards an agreement.” The department, the officials noted, “is ready to process requests for security clearances for those who will need access briefing materials and national security information once the MOU is signed.” This story has been updated with additional information.Native American patients are sent to collections for debts the government owesFormer Chelsea defender Jason Cundy insists the 'wheels have come off' at Manchester City after their three-goal implosion on Tuesday night. Pep Guardiola 's side looked to be in cruise control when Erling Haaland scored in the 53rd minute to put City up 3-0 at home against Feyenoord in the Champions League. But in the space of 14 staggering minutes, Feyenoord had equalised thanks to David Hancko in the 89th minute, sending the Etihad into a stunned silence aside from the pocket of travelling fans. Although the 3-3 result snapped a five-game losing streak for City across all competitions, blowing a three-goal lead will have felt like a defeat for Guardiola and his troops. Reacting on talkSPORT's Sports Bar immediately after the contest, Cundy and ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara couldn't believe the capitulation that had just transpired. "It's a stinker, that," O'Hara said. "3-0 up? What are they doing?" Cundy added: "Tonight, wheels have come off. "Look, Spurs were brilliant on the weekend. City were terrible, they got turned over in the Premier League. "3-0 up against Feyenoord with 15 minutes to go? And you draw 3-3? Wheels have come off. That's it." Some fans will point out City look a completely - and not for the better - team without Ballon d'Or winner Rodri in their midfield. However, given Rodri tore his ACL against Arsenal in September, O'Hara wasn't having that excuse any more. "It can't just be about Rodri," O'Hara said. "We've got past that now. There's something going on at Manchester City that no-one seems to have the answer for." Cundy then delivered a brutal dissection of just what had gone wrong for City, with plenty of warning signs presenting themselves during a 4-0 loss to Tottenham last Sunday. "They are so open," Cundy said. "Their press, there is no joined-up thinking. Pep has signed a new deal , which is good for City. "But right now, this is probably going to be his biggest job ever in management to turn this around. They are a mess. "I'm watching Man City against your lot (Tottenham) on the weekend. I'm watching Spurs bop the ball around deep in their own half. Not only that, Spurs get out, there's an overload, three versus one, on the right-hand side. How is that happening? That never happens. "Spurs were magnificent. City, terrible. Watching tonight, they don't look comfortable at 3-0 up. How can that happen? "The wheels have come off tonight, officially. Spurs at the weekend, they were wobbling. Tonight, the wheels have come off." O'Hara noted that with City's dreadful run of form, 'Liverpool must be licking their lips.' As it stands, Premier League leaders Liverpool hold an eight-point advantage over second-placed City. That gap could easily become 11 when Arne Slot's side welcome a battered and bruised City to Anfield on Sunday. If Liverpool can snag three points from that contest, it could lead some to boldly declare City have too much ground to catch up in the race for the Premier League title. Should City lose to Liverpool on Sunday, they may end the weekend as low as fifth given Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton are all on 22 points. Safe to say, there will be a lot of soul-searching among Guardiola and City's stars before that match as they look to snap a six-game winless streak.

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By Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts, KFF Health News (TNS) Tescha Hawley learned that hospital bills from her son’s birth had been sent to debt collectors only when she checked her credit score while attending a home-buying class. The new mom’s plans to buy a house stalled. Hawley said she didn’t owe those thousands of dollars in debts. The federal government did. Hawley, a citizen of the Gros Ventre Tribe, lives on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. The Indian Health Service is a federal agency that provides free health care to Native Americans, but its services are limited by a chronic shortage of funding and staff. Hawley’s local Indian Health Service hospital wasn’t equipped to deliver babies. But she said staff there agreed that the agency would pay for her care at a privately owned hospital more than an hour away. That arrangement came through the Purchased/Referred Care program, which pays for services Native Americans can’t get through an agency-funded clinic or hospital. Federal law stresses that patients approved for the program aren’t responsible for any of the costs. But tribal leaders, health officials, and a new federal report say patients are routinely billed anyway as a result of backlogs or mistakes from the Indian Health Service, financial middlemen, hospitals, and clinics. The financial consequences for patients can last years. Those sent to collections can face damaged credit scores, which can prevent them from securing loans or require them to pay higher interest rates. The December report , by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, found these long-standing problems contribute to people in Native American-majority communities being nearly twice as likely to have medical debt in collections compared with the national average. And their amount of medical debt is significantly higher. The report found the program is often late to pay bills. In some cases, hospitals or collection agencies hound tribal citizens for more money after bills are paid. Hawley’s son was born in 2003. She had to wait another year to buy a home, as she struggled to pay off the debt. It took seven years for it to drop from her credit report. “I don’t think a person ever recovers from debt,” Hawley said. Hawley, a cancer survivor, still must navigate the referral program. In 2024 alone, she received two notices from clinics about overdue bills. Frank White Clay, chairman of the Crow Tribe in Montana, testified about the impact of wrongful billing during a U.S. House committee hearing in April. He shared stories of veterans rejected for home loans, elders whose Social Security benefits were reduced, and students denied college loans and federal aid. “Some of the most vulnerable people are being harassed daily by debt collectors,” White Clay said. No one is immune from the risk. A high-ranking Indian Health Service official learned during her job’s background check that her credit report contained referred-care debt, the federal report found. Native Americans face disproportionately high rates of poverty and disease , which researchers link to limited access to health care and the ongoing impact of racist federal policies . White Clay is among many who say problems with the referred-care program are an example of the U.S. government violating treaties that promised to provide for the health and welfare of tribes in return for their land. The chairman’s testimony came during a hearing on the Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act, which would require the Indian Health Service to create a reimbursement process for patients who were wrongfully billed. Committee members approved the bill in November and sent it for consideration by the full House. A second federal bill, the Protecting Native Americans’ Credit Act , would prevent debt like Hawley’s from affecting patients’ credit scores. The bipartisan bill hadn’t had a hearing by mid-December. The exact number of people wrongfully billed isn’t clear, but the Indian Health Service has acknowledged it has work to do. The agency is developing a dashboard to help workers track referrals and to speed up bill processing, spokesperson Brendan White said. It’s also trying to hire more referred-care staff, to address vacancy rates of more than 30%. Officials say problems with the program also stem from outside health providers that don’t follow the rules. Melanie Egorin, an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said at the hearing that the proposed legislation doesn’t include consequences for “bad actors” — health facilities that repeatedly bill patients when they shouldn’t. “The lack of enforcement is definitely a challenge,” she said. But tribal leaders warned that penalties could backfire. Related Articles Health | How America lost control of the bird flu, setting the stage for another pandemic Health | How to kick back, relax and embrace a less-than-perfect holiday Health | New childhood leukemia protocol is ‘tremendous win’ Health | For some FSA dollars, it’s use it or lose it at year’s end Health | Norovirus is rampant. Blame oysters, cruise ships and holiday travel White Clay told lawmakers that some clinics already refuse to see patients if the Indian Health Service hasn’t paid for their previous appointments. He’s worried the threat of penalties would lead to more refusals. If that happens, White Clay said, Crow tribal members who already travel hours to access specialty treatment would have to go even farther. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report found clinics are already refusing to see any referred-care patients due to the program’s payment problems. The bureau and the Indian Health Service also recently published a letter urging health care providers and debt collectors not to hold patients accountable for program-approved care. White, the Indian Health Service spokesperson, said the agency recently updated the referred-care forms sent to outside hospitals and clinics to include billing instructions and to stress that patients aren’t liable for any out-of-pocket costs. And he said the staff can help patients get reimbursed if they have already paid for services that were supposed to be covered. Joe Bryant, an Indian Health Service official who oversees efforts to improve the referral program, said patients can ask credit bureaus to remove debt from their reports if the agency should have covered their bills. Leaders with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington state helped shape the proposed legislation after their citizens were repeatedly harmed by wrongful billing. Tribal Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson said problems began in 2017, when a regional Indian Health Service office took over the referred-care program from local staff. It “created a domino effect of negative outcomes,” Erickson wrote in a letter to Congress. He said some tribal members whose finances were damaged stopped using the Indian Health Service. Others avoided health care altogether. Responsibility for the Colville Reservation program transferred back to local staff in 2022. Staffers found the billing process hadn’t been completed for thousands of cases, worth an estimated $24 million in medical care, Erickson told lawmakers . Workers are making progress on the backlog and they have explained the rules to outside hospitals and clinics, Erickson said. But he said there are still cases of wrongful billing, such as a tribal member who was sent to collections after receiving a $17,000 bill for chemotherapy that the agency was supposed to pay for. Erickson said the tribe is in the process of taking over its health care facilities instead of having the Indian Health Service run them. He and others who work in Native American health said tribally managed units — which are still funded by the federal agency — tend to have fewer problems with their referred-care programs. For example, they have more oversight over staff and flexibility to create their own payment tracking systems. But some Native Americans oppose tribal management because they feel it releases the federal government from its obligations. Beyond wrongful billing, access to the referred-care program is limited because of underfunding from Congress. The $1 billion budget this year is $9 billion short of the need, according to a committee report by tribal health and government leaders. Donald Warne, a physician and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, called the proposed legislation a “band-aid.” He said the ultimate solution is for Congress to fully fund the Indian Health Service, which would reduce the need for the referred-care program. Back in Montana, Hawley said she braces for a fight each time she gets a bill that the referral program was supposed to cover. “I’ve learned not to trust the process,” Hawley said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.