sole fish

sole fish Ian Jackson scores career-high 26, UNC beats Campbell 97-81

Army of civilian experts needed to guard nation’s interests: SC judgeTownsquare Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. ( NYSE:FND – Free Report ) in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor acquired 1,827 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $227,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of FND. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Floor & Decor by 242.0% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 277 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 196 shares during the last quarter. Chris Bulman Inc bought a new position in shares of Floor & Decor in the second quarter worth about $30,000. J.Safra Asset Management Corp lifted its position in shares of Floor & Decor by 630.5% during the second quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp now owns 431 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in shares of Floor & Decor by 37.8% during the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 715 shares of the company’s stock valued at $89,000 after purchasing an additional 196 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC increased its holdings in shares of Floor & Decor by 15.8% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,289 shares of the company’s stock valued at $160,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Floor & Decor Stock Performance FND stock opened at $109.92 on Friday. Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. has a 1-year low of $89.06 and a 1-year high of $135.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The firm has a market cap of $11.79 billion, a PE ratio of 61.07, a P/E/G ratio of 14.13 and a beta of 1.82. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $108.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $107.52. Analysts Set New Price Targets FND has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $110.00 price objective on shares of Floor & Decor in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Floor & Decor from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on Floor & Decor from $97.50 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Floor & Decor from $98.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $95.00 price target on shares of Floor & Decor in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $104.37. Get Our Latest Research Report on Floor & Decor Floor & Decor Profile ( Free Report ) Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer of hard surface flooring and related accessories, and commercial surfaces seller in Georgia. The company offers tile, wood, laminate, vinyl, and natural stone flooring products, as well as decorative accessories, wall tiles, and installation materials and tools; and vanities, shower doors, bath accessories, faucets, sinks, custom countertops, bathroom mirrors, and bathroom lighting. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FND? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. ( NYSE:FND – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Floor & Decor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Floor & Decor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — Rob Martin had 17 points in Southeast Missouri State's 88-39 victory against Westminster (MO) on Sunday night. Martin also contributed seven rebounds for the Redhawks (7-6). Braxton Stacker scored 16 points while going 7 of 11 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and added five rebounds. Damarion Walkup went 5 of 11 from the field (4 for 10 from 3-point range) to finish with 14 points. The Blue Jays were led in scoring by Walker Gohring, who finished with 13 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Islanders host the Red Wings after Palmieri's 2-goal gameLatrell’s $1m payback bid; big heat on four coaches: Who’s most under pressure at every NRL club

Jake Paul wants “to set the record straight,” when no straightening is required. If anyone would understand that we moved on from his “fight” against Mike Tyson, it should be Paul, who has made a fortune in the split-second entertainment world of social media. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Jimmy Carter, 39th US president, Nobel winner, dies at 100PHILADELPHIA — The mood in the Eagles’ locker room was a bit more bleak than it should have been for a team riding a nine-game winning streak and celebrating a franchise rushing record. Former 1,000-yard receiver DeVonta Smith — who caught a touchdown pass and not much else — was exasperated at the offensive no-show. A.J. Brown, who holds a slew of team receiving records, had as much to offer in his sour postgame interview as he did on the field when he was held to four catches. This was the sullen attitude of a team still in the hunt for a top seed in the NFC? Here’s the good news for the Philadelphia: Saquon Barkley rushed for 124 yards to break the Eagles season record, and Jalen Hurts threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score in Sunday’s 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers. Barkley’s consistent brilliance aside, Hurts and the Eagles slogged through another rough offensive outing. “Everybody has a reason to want more,” Hurts said. The Eagles (11-2) maintained their position as the No. 2 team in the NFC, behind Detroit (12-1), after a mostly lethargic effort against the Panthers (3-10). Hurts’ passing numbers were a pedestrian 14 of 21 for 108 yards. Brown had four catches for 43 yards — and threw his helmet in anger after a three-and-out — and Smith had four catches for 37 yards. What do the Eagles need to improve on? “Passing,” Brown deadpanned. How tough was it for the receivers to find a rhythm? “Incredibly tough,” he said. Hurts didn’t do enough to get Smith and Brown involved, one reason why the lowly Panthers stayed in striking distance until the final possession. He took four sacks. He held the ball too long as open receivers ran with their arms up trying to get their QB’s attention. “I play my role in how we execute,” Hurts said. “But ultimately it’s about what position we put ourselves in. It’s not my choice.” That message will surely reverberate through coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s offices this week. “I think that’s fair that the questions are about our pass game right now,” Sirianni said. The Eagles at least had Barkley to bail them out. Barkley added another milestone in his MVP push when he used a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter to surpass LeSean McCoy’s Eagles record of 1,607 yards, set in 2013. Barkley now has 1,623 yards with four games left. “How cool is it that we have a team rushing record in Week 13?” Sirianni said. Hurts had flashes of form, like when he hit Grant Calcaterra with a 4-yard TD pass and Barkley ran in the 2-point conversion for a 22-16 lead early in the fourth. Bryce Young gamely moved the Panthers into Eagles territory on the final drive. He completed a 13-yard pass on fourth down that moved the ball to the 38, and a second-down pass to Xavier Legette gave the Eagles a brief scare when the receiver seemed to have the ball in the end zone. He didn’t. Young eluded a pass rush on fourth down but his final attempt was incomplete. He finished 19 of 34 for 191 yards. Panthers coach Dave Canales said Legette “absolutely” had to make the catch. “That’s a big play we’re counting on. He’d be the first one to tell you he’s got to make that play,” Canales said. “Bryce steps up, makes a beautiful throw in the situation. We had the coverage we wanted, all that. Those are the plays that we’ve just got to find a way to make for us to get back on the winning column.” A 12 1/2-point underdog according to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Panthers played more like a team with playoff seeding at stake. Chuba Hubbard, who rushed for 92 yards and topped 1,000 on the season, made it 16-14 on a 1-yard run in the third quarter. Eddy Pineiro, who kicked a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter, missed the extra point. Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was examined earlier for a concussion, changed the game late in the second quarter when he picked off Young’s deep pass at Philadelphia’s 41. Hurts scrambled 15 yards on the next drive and finished it with a 4-yard TD pass to Smith for a 14-10 lead. Gardner-Johnson’s pick bailed out an uneven effort by the Eagles. They failed to score on their opening drive for the 13th time this season, but the offensive bursts that usually follow never came. Hurts scored on tush push early in the second quarter, his 13th rushing score of the season, for a 7-3 lead. With nothing to lose, the Panthers went for it on fourth-and-3, and Young hit Tommy Tremble for a 3-yard TD and a 10-7 advantage. The Eagles did just enough. Their challenge now is getting the receivers’ production up — and getting them happy — headed into the postseason. “Let the dissatisfaction fuel you for more,” Hurts said. “I think that’s always a fair place to be. And so we know there’s more out there for us, and we’re in pursuit of trying to find it.”

Jayden Daniels and the offense stalling have the Commanders on a three-game losing streak LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Allowing two kickoff return touchdowns and missing an extra point all in the final few minutes added up to the Washington Commanders losing a third consecutive game in excruciating fashion. Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press Nov 25, 2024 2:16 PM Nov 25, 2024 2:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) answers questions during a press conference after an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. The Cowboys won 34-26. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Allowing two kickoff return touchdowns and missing an extra point all in the final few minutes added up to the Washington Commanders losing a third consecutive game in excruciating fashion. The underlying reason for this slide continuing was a problem long before that. An offense led by dynamic rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels that was among the NFL's best for a long stretch of the season put up just nine points and 169 yards for the first three-plus quarters against Dallas before falling behind 20-9 and teeing off on the Cowboys' conservative defense. “We just couldn’t really get it going,” said receiver Terry McLaurin , whose lengthy touchdown with 21 seconds left masked that he had just three catches for 16 yards through three quarters. “We’ve got to find a way to start faster and sustain drives, and that’s everybody: the whole coaching staff and the offensive players just going out there and figuring out ways that we can stay on the field.” This is not a new problem for Washington, which had a season-low 242 yards in a Nov. 10 home loss to Pittsburgh and 264 yards four days later in a defeat at Philadelphia. Since returning from a rib injury that knocked him out of a game last month, Daniels has completed just under 61% of his passes, after 75.6% over his first seven professional starts. Daniels and coach Dan Quinn have insisted this isn't about injury. The coaching staff blamed a lack of adequate practice time, but a full week of it before facing the Cowboys did not solve the problem. It is now fair to wonder if opponents have seen enough film of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's system to figure it out. “I think teams and coordinators are going to see what other teams have success against us and try to figure out how they could incorporate that into their scheme," Daniels said after going 12 of 22 for 80 yards passing through three quarters in the Dallas game. "We’ve been in third and longer a lot these past couple games, so that’s kind of where you get into the exotic pressures and stuff like that. We’ve just got to be better on first and second downs and stay ahead of the chains.” Daniels has a point there, and it predates this losing streak. The Commanders have converted just 36% of third-down opportunities (27 for 75) over their past seven games after 52% (31 for 60) in their first five. That challenge doesn't get any easier with Tennessee coming to town Sunday. The Titans, despite being 3-8, have the second-best third-down defense in the league at 31.6%. What’s working The defense kept the Commanders in the game against Dallas, allowing just 10 points until the fourth quarter and 20 total before kickoff return touchdowns piled on to the other side of the scoreboard. Even Cooper Rush's 22-yard touchdown pass to Luke Schoonmaker with five minutes left came after a turnover that gave the Cowboys the ball at the Washington 44. The defense spending more than 35 minutes on the field certainly contributed to fatigue as play wore on. What needs help The running game that contributed to a 7-2 start has taken a hit, in part because of injuries to top back Brian Robinson Jr. The Commanders got 145 yards on the ground because Daniels had 74 on seven carries, but running backs combined for just 57. Daniels could not say how much the rushing attack stalling has contributed to the offense going stagnant. “You’ve got to be able to run the ball, keep the defense honest,” he said. "We got to execute the plays that are called in, and we didn’t do a good job of doing that.” Stock up Linebacker Frankie Luvu keeps making the case to be first-year general manager Adam Peters' best free agent signing. He and fellow offseason addition Bobby Wagner tied for a team-high eight tackles, and Luvu also knocked down three passes against Dallas. Stock down Kicker Austin Seibert going wide left on the point-after attempt that would have tied the score with 21 seconds left was his third miss of the game. He also was short on a 51-yard field goal attempt and wide left on an earlier extra point. Seibert, signed a week into the season after Cade York struggled in the opener, made 25 of 27 field goal tries and was 22 of 22 on extra points before injuring his right hip and missing the previous two games. He brushed off his health and the low snap from Tyler Ott while taking responsibility for not connecting. “I made the decision to play, and here we are,” Seibert said. “I just wasn’t striking it well. But it means a lot to me to be here with these guys, so I just want to put my best foot moving forward.” Injuries Robinson's sprained ankle and fellow running back Austin Ekeler's concussion from a late kickoff return that led to him being hospitalized for further evaluation are two major immediate concerns. Quinn said Monday that Ekeler and starting right tackle Andrew Wylie are in concussion protocol. It's unclear if Robinson will be available against Tennessee, which could mean Chris Rodriguez Jr. getting elevated from the practice squad to split carries with Jeremy McNichols. The Commanders still have not gotten cornerback Marshon Lattimore into a game since acquiring him at the trade deadline from New Orleans. Lattimore is trying to return from a hamstring injury, and the secondary could use him against Calvin Ridley, who's coming off a 93-yard performance at Houston. Key number 17 — Handoffs to a running back against Dallas, a significant decrease from much of the season before this losing streak. Next steps Don't overlook the Titans with the late bye week coming immediately afterward. The Commanders opened as more than a touchdown favorite, but after the results over the weekend, BetMGM Sportsbook had it as 5 1/2 points Monday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Lions receiver Jameson Williams won't be charged for having a gun in a car Nov 25, 2024 2:29 PM The Giants were a no-show against the Bucs after releasing quarterback Daniel Jones Nov 25, 2024 2:26 PM Believe it or not, Cowboys might have hope yet after chaotic win at Washington Nov 25, 2024 2:19 PMRKL Wealth Management LLC Lowers Stake in Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions said in a statement today that recent speculation that Paul’s Nov. 15 record-breaking match against Mike Tyson was rigged or scripted is “incorrect and baseless.” The company, which partnered with Netflix for what was the most-streamed global sporting event in history, insisted they complied with all appropriate regulations for a match that was sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR). “Both fighters in good faith performed to the best of their abilities with the goal of winning the fight,” MVP’s statement said. “There were absolutely no restrictions — contractual or otherwise — around either fighter. Each boxer was able to use his full arsenal to win the fight. Any agreement to the contrary would violate TDLR boxing rules.” Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) earned a unanimous decision against former heavyweight champion Tyson (50-7, 44 KOs). The judges scored it 80-72, 79-73, 79-73, with the former YouTube star winning the striking battle 78-18 across eight two-minute rounds. The event attracted a record-breaking gate at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 15 with 72,300 fans in attendance leading to $18,117,072 in total revenue, a record for boxing and mixed martial events held outside of Las Vegas. Netflix saw the fight peak at a record 65 million concurrent streams. However, reaction to the fight came with questions about its authenticity from big names in the sport, including Hall of Famer Oscar de la Hoya, who posted on social media, “Everybody is talking about how staged this fight was. I do believe it was scripted and I believe that Tyson was certainly held back. “Look, I’m a fighter and I can see it. It goes on their record and it was sanctioned. Jake Paul paid to get the W on his record! For what? For your own personal satisfaction? I keep telling you, if you want to be a real fighter like you say you want to be, what are you doing? Who’s next? Joe Biden? You have to fight real fighters.” Paul himself fueled some of the rumors when asked in the post-match press conference whether he took his foot off the gas in round three. “Yeah, definitely. Definitely a bit,” he told reporters. “I wanted to give the fans a show, but I didn’t want to hurt someone that didn’t need to be hurt.” MVP said it was “illogical and inane” to suggest the company would risk a new and potentially lucrative partnership with Netflix by breaking the rules. “Trash talk and speculation are common in sports, and athletes and promoters need to tolerate nonsensical commentary, jokes and opinions. But suggesting anything other than full effort from these fighters is not only naive but an insult to the work they put into their craft and to the sport itself.” MVP’s co-founder, Nakisa Bidarian, defended Paul, a YouTube millionaire-turned-pro athlete. “From day one in this sport, people have doubted his abilities — unable to reconcile how someone with his background has accomplished so much in such a short time,” Bidarian said today. “Jake has not only proven himself repeatedly, but he has continuously set historic records that speak for themselves. ... As long as Jake continues to exceed expectations, there will always be those who try to discredit his achievements. We embrace the doubt — it only fuels Jake to work harder and achieve greater success.”

PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — CJ Happy had 18 points in Princeton's 99-63 victory over Nazareth on Wednesday night. Happy had five rebounds for the Tigers (6-3). Peyton Seals scored 16 points while going 5 of 10 from the floor, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and 3 for 3 from the line and added five rebounds and five assists. Jack Stanton shot 4 for 5 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points. Merritt Holly finished with 14 points for the Golden Flyers. Tyler Putney added 11 points for Nazareth. Jaylen Savage finished with 10 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Empowered Funds LLC Increases Holdings in Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ)Belarusian Opposition Figure Extradited Amid Intensified CrackdownNo. 8 Kentucky flying high ahead of Western Kentucky meeting

Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI) Shares Sold by MetLife Investment Management LLCKorea Atomic Energy Research Institute's (KAERI) SMART Comprehensive Effect Test Facility / Courtesy of KAERI By Kim Hyun-bin Ambassadors from key countries including Sweden, Finland and the European Union (EU) visited two of Korea’s premier research institutes on Nov. 26, as part of Global R&D Friends Day. The event, hosted by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), aimed to showcase advanced research facilities and foster international collaboration. The visiting dignitaries commenced their tour at KAERI, where they explored the SMART Comprehensive Effect Test Facility and the ATLAS Comprehensive Thermal-Hydraulic Test Facility for pressurized water reactors. These state-of-the-art facilities are integral to Korea's advancements in nuclear research and technology. Following their visit to KAERI, the ambassadors moved to ETRI. Here, they were introduced to cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence-driven cultural heritage transformation and the next-generation digital broadcasting standard ATSC 3.0. Additionally, the visitors had the opportunity to experience ETRI’s autonomous driving technology firsthand by riding the AutoVe shuttle. “It is an honor to introduce the research achievements and advanced facilities of Korea’s leading institutes to global partners. We hope this opportunity will lead to new international cooperation and joint research endeavors, resulting in significant achievements,” KAERI President Joo Han-kyu said. ETRI’s history museum offered the ambassadors a glimpse into Korea’s information and communications technology (ICT) evolution, showcasing significant milestones including the TDX electronic switching system, DRAM semiconductors, the CDMA digital mobile communication system and WiBro, a wireless broadband internet technology. In the ICT Experience Hall, the ambassadors encountered futuristic technologies, including 6G mobile communication capable of functioning in extreme environments, 360-degree digital holograms and digital portraits rendered in the style of Vincent van Gogh. The event facilitated dialogues between the ambassadors and Korean researchers about the accomplishments of government-funded research institutes and future plans for global research and development (R&D) collaboration. This initiative aligned with Korea’s efforts to join Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship R&D program, as an associate member, thereby seeking to build beneficial international research partnerships. “This occasion allowed us to showcase the dedication and efforts of our researchers to both ambassadors in Korea and the global community, while discussing future joint research initiatives. Collaborating with KAERI to host this meaningful event made it even more special,” ETRI President Bang Seung-chan said.

We commend Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for standing firm and opposing the dismissal of the hush money/Stormy Daniels case that resulted in Donald Trump’s 34 felony convictions in New York last spring. Now Acting Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan should do the right thing and stay Trump’s sentence until he serves out his second term in the White House — but let the conviction stand. We find Trump’s argument that the verdict delivered by the electorate on Election Day should render moot the verdict delivered in Manhattan criminal court unpersuasive. Trump’s lawyers argue that it is ridiculous to have a state criminal sentence overhanging a president for the entirety of his term, and we agree that it is a bizarre situation, but one borne of a bizarre situation that this president — who hid campaign-related payments to a porn actress he had an affair with — and the country that elected him have put themselves in. It is even more ridiculous, we believe, to have this conviction — not a politically-enacted one, not a frivolous finding, but the result of a full trial and unanimous jury — disappear because Trump is now on his way back to the White House. The three other Trump criminal cases, a federal indictment and Georgia indictment related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and his illegal retention and hiding of classified documents, are, in fact, disappearing. The reason is mostly the calendar and an overly broad immunity decision about “official acts” from the U.S. Supreme Court. Had there been sufficient time, those were strong cases with more than a possibility of resulting in convictions and prison time for the former president if they’d been allowed to mature. The Manhattan counts were about actions with fewer national and national-security implications than these cases, but these are no less crimes for having been lower-profile. Almost none of the public defenses of Trump have actually argued that he did not do what he was convicted of; they largely land on the idea that we shouldn’t care, that Trump should effectively be allowed to violate the law because of his imminent return to the Oval Office. The latest push to have the case dismissed doesn’t center really at all on the relevant facts or the case law, but entirely on the premise that Trump is now past the point of being held criminally responsible, even post-conviction. Trump’s past cannot be erased. In truth, the mark of a democracy in crisis is not when a leader faces criminal liability, but when a leader cannot. Even if this case truly has to wait until 2029 until it sees a resolution in the form of sentencing — which, as we’ve noted before, is not likely to be jail time in any case — then so be it. We hope, too, that one day Trump really can be held accountable for Jan. 6 and all his other machinations to suspend the peaceful transfer of power, and for his dangerous retention of some of the country’s most sensitive records. At the very least, we can impose punishment for the crimes for which he was already convicted. Even if it happens four years from now. — New York Daily NewsTexans foiled by mistake after mistake in 32-27 loss to Titans

Matvei Michkov doesn't turn 20 for a couple of weeks, but he continues to play well above his years for the Philadelphia Flyers. Fresh off his second overtime goal in the last five games, Michkov leads the Flyers into Monday's home game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Peggy Slappey Properties and Vision Home Crafters invite you to Old Town Estates, where easy country living meets the convenience of great local amenities and top-rated schools. These elegant single-family homes are situated on large lots (up to four acres) and showcase open floor plans, spa... Click for more. ON THE MARKET: Escape the City at Old Town Estates in Monroe

Austin Asset Management Co Inc Acquires 124 Shares of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)During the lead-up to the Academy Awards, it's common for an A-list celebrity to join a feature documentary as an executive producer. The addition of a boldface name to a doc title creates buzz and involves little to no legwork for the celebrity. But ever since the doc marketplace fell into disarray several years ago, an increasing number of celebrities have stopped simply slapping their names onto titles. Instead, they have begun to use their clout to bolster small, independently made nonfiction films, often about pressing political issues. Recently Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Thompson, and Jesse Eisenberg used their their A-list status to help get three indie docus made and seen. After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021, Lawrence and her producing partner at Excellent Cadaver, Justine Ciarrocchi, reached out to Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani ("A Thousand Girls Like Me") about directing a documentary about what was happening to the 15 million Afghan women essentially being held captive in their own homeland. Popular on Variety "Like the rest of the world, I was watching what was happening when Kabul fell to the Taliban, and women's rights were completely stripped overnight," says Lawrence. "It was horrifying. As a human being, I felt desperate and wanted to do something, anything helpful. My only course of action, or my only weapon, if you will, is filmmaking. It was important to me to make something permanent. We were aware of Sahra's work, so we reached out to her." Mani was in the midst of collecting videos from various women on the ground in Afghanistan when she got the email from Lawrence. "I received this email from Jennifer Lawrence's production company saying that, "If you want to make a film about this (situation), we are happy to support you," Mani recalls. "At first, I thought it was spam, so I just deleted it. Then the email came back again after a week. I did some research and found out that Excellent Cadaver was real. After that, we built a... Addie Morfoot

No. 8 Kentucky flying high ahead of Western Kentucky meetingIt didn't take Syracuse first-year coach Fran Brown long to figure out the key matchup for Saturday afternoon's Atlantic Coast Conference game visiting Miami. "Syracuse has a really good quarterback," Brown said of Kyle McCord, "and Miami has a really good quarterback (Cam Ward)." With a win on Saturday, the No. 6 Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 ACC) can clinch a berth in the league championship game against SMU. Miami is a 10 1/2-point favorite for Saturday's game. Syracuse (8-3, 4-3) has reached eight wins for just the fourth time since 2002, going 8-5 in 2010 and 2012 and 10-3 in 2018. However, the Orange haven't defeated a Top-10 team since knocking off Clemson in 2017. Miami leads the nation in scoring (44.7), and the Hurricanes will count on perfect passing conditions in Syracuse's dome. That could be huge for Ward, who leads the nation with 34 touchdown passes, ranking second in passing yards (3,774) and fourth in passing efficiency. Ward's top target is wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, who needs just 21 yards to reach 1,000 for the second straight season. Restrepo also ranks tied for seventh in the nation with 10 TD receptions. Ward has some other top targets, including 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end Elijah Arroyo, who is a walking mismatch because of his size and speed. He leads Miami with 18.5 yards per reception. Hurricanes wide receivers Isaiah Horton and Jacolby George have combined for 12 TD passes, and Sam Brown has added two more. Each of them has more than 500 receiving yards this season. Miami's running game features battering ram Damien Martinez (739 yards, 5.5 average, eight TDs); versatile Mark Fletcher Jr. (499 yards, 5.7 average, six TDs); and game-breaking freshman Jordan Lyle (361 yards, 8.6 average, four TDs). Defensively, Miami's big-play man is safety Mishael Powell, who ranks second in the ACC with five interceptions. "He's all about winning," Miami coach Mario Cristobal said of Powell. "He's a smart, self-starting team player." On special teams, Miami kicker Andres Borregales ranks second in the ACC with 97 points. He is 52-for-52 on extra points and 15-for-16 on field goals. Meanwhile, McCord ranks No. 1 in the nation in passing yards (3,946) and tied for seventh in TD passes (26). McCord, a transfer from Ohio State, has also set Syracuse's single-season record for passing yards. In last week's 31-24 win over Connecticut, McCord passed for a career-high 470 yards. However, McCord is just 46th in the nation in passing efficiency, due in part to his high total of interceptions (12). Syracuse also has three of the top six pass-catchers in the ACC in terms of yards: tight end Oronde Gadsden II (810) and wide receivers Jackson Meeks (801) and Trebor Pena (743). Gadsden, who is from the greater Miami area, has had three straight 100-yard games. He is the son of former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Oronde Gadsden. Syracuse's run game is led by LeQuint Allen, who has rushed for 819 yards, a 4.3 average and 12 TDs. The issue for Syracuse could be its defense, which ranks 13th in the ACC in points allowed (27.8). Miami's defense is fourth (22.3). Even so, Syracuse coach Brown said he's excited about this matchup. "I heard Miami is going to come deep," Brown said of Miami fans. "It's going to be intense in the stands. It's going to be intense on the field. I think this is a game everyone wants to see." --Field Level Media