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The Miami Hurricanes, who once appeared to be a near-lock for the College Football Playoff, are not playing for a national title. Instead, they will play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. That bowl berth against Iowa State is a let-down for fans with dreams of a sixth national title in their minds, as well as players hoping to compete for a championship. However, Miami’s trip to Orlando and the lead-up to it are still crucial periods for the Hurricanes for multiple reasons. First, it’s a chance for the program to achieve something it has not done in more than two decades: win 11 games. Although the 11th win won’t get them closer to a championship, it is a good sign of the program’s progress over Mario Cristobal’s tenure. It would also end UM’s five-game losing streak in bowls. “We’re not satisfied,” Cristobal said. “We want to win every single game. We won 10. We were close on the other two, but close isn’t good enough. We want progress. We’re hungry and driven to get better, and so that’s what our focus is on: to improving as a football program, to getting better, to moving into the postseason with an opportunity against a great football team like this and putting our best on the field.” There are signs the Hurricanes will show up at close to full strength for the bowl game. Running back Damien Martinez announced he was going to play, and star quarterback Cam Ward said in a video call posted on social media that he intends to play, as well. “We’re trying to win our first bowl game in 20 years,” Ward said in the video, mistaking the length of UM’s long bowl losing streak. “We’re going hard.” Playing in the bowl game also provides the opportunity for the Hurricanes to get in several practices between now and the game. That means Miami can develop its young players and prepare them for next season during both the practices and the bowl game itself. “It’s extremely valuable,” Cristobal said. “You really don’t have many opportunities throughout the course of the year — time is limited more and more each season with your student-athletes. I want to state this and be very clear: it’s very important, it’s ultra-important for the University of Miami to continue to develop and grow and progress by stressing the importance of offseason opportunities ... You learn a lot about your team and learn a lot about your people and your program when you head to the postseason.” Of course, there are potential negatives. Players can get hurt; Mark Fletcher Jr. suffered a foot injury in the Pinstripe Bowl last year that cost him all of spring practice. A poor performance can also potentially set the tone for next season, like how Florida State, fresh off a playoff snub last year, suffered a devastating loss against Georgia in the Orange Bowl and went on to a dismal 2-10 season this year. “This is the ending of ’24 and the beginning of ’25,” Cristobal said. “This is the last opportunity to be on the field and carry some momentum into the offseason. So it is, in essence, it is the most important game because it’s the next game. “There’s a lot of excitement in the form of opportunity for our guys. Our guys love to play football. The chance to play one more time with this special group — this is a special group of guys now. They’ve worked hard to really change the trajectory of the University of Miami, and they want to continue to elevate the status and the culture at the University of Miami. So certainly a ton to play for.” ____ Get local news delivered to your inbox!Jimmy Carter, 39th US president, Nobel winner, dies at 100Suvo Strategic Minerals executes term sheet with PT Huadi to establish low carbon cement JV in Indonesia
NoneBy CHRISTINE FERNANDO CHICAGO (AP) — As Donald Trump’s Cabinet begins to take shape, those on both sides of the abortion debate are watching closely for clues about how his picks might affect reproductive rights policy in the president-elect’s second term . Trump’s cabinet picks offer a preview of how his administration could handle abortion after he repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue on the campaign trail. He attempted to distance himself from anti-abortion allies by deferring to states on abortion policy, even while boasting about nominating three Supreme Court justices who helped strike down the constitutional protections for abortion that had stood for half a century. In an NBC News interview that aired Sunday, Trump said he doesn’t plan to restrict medication abortion but also seemed to leave the door open, saying “things change.” “Things do change, but I don’t think it’s going to change at all,” he said. The early lineup of his new administration , including nominations to lead health agencies, the Justice Department and event the Department of Veterans Affairs, has garnered mixed — but generally positive — reactions from anti-abortion groups. Abortion law experts said Trump’s decision to include fewer candidates with deep ties to the anti-abortion movement could indicate that abortion will not be a priority for Trump’s administration. “It almost seems to suggest that President Trump might be focusing his administration in other directions,” said Greer Donley, an associate law professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Karen Stone, vice president of public policy at Planned Parenthood Action Fund , said while many of the nominees have “extensive records against reproductive health care,” some do not. She cautioned against making assumptions based on Trump’s initial cabinet selections. Still, many abortion rights groups are wary, in part because many of the nominees hold strong anti-abortion views even if they do not have direct ties to anti-abortion activists. They’re concerned that an administration filled with top-level officials who are personally opposed to abortion could take steps to restrict access to the procedure and funding. After Trump’s ambiguity about abortion during his campaign, “there’s still a lot we don’t know about what policy is going to look like,” said Mary Ruth Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law. That approach may be revealed as the staffs within key departments are announced. Trump announced he would nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department, which anti-abortion forces have long targeted as central to curtailing abortion rights nationwide. Yet Kennedy shifted on the issue during his own presidential campaign. In campaign videos, Kennedy said he supports abortion access until viability , which doctors say is sometime after 21 weeks, although there is no defined timeframe. But he also said “every abortion is a tragedy” and argued for a national ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy, a stance he quickly walked back. The head of Health and Human Services oversees Title X funding for a host of family planning services and has sweeping authority over agencies that directly affect abortion access, including the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The role is especially vital amid legal battles over a federal law known as EMTALA, which President Joe Biden’s administration has argued requires emergency abortion access nationwide, and FDA approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. Mini Timmaraju, president of the national abortion rights organization Reproductive Freedom for All, called Kennedy an “unfit, unqualified extremist who cannot be trusted to protect the health, safety and reproductive freedom of American families.” His potential nomination also has caused waves in the anti-abortion movement. Former Vice President Mike Pence , a staunch abortion opponent, urged the Senate to reject Kennedy’s nomination. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said the group had its own concerns about Kennedy. “There’s no question that we need a pro-life HHS secretary,” she said. Fox News correspondent Marty Makary is Trump’s pick to lead the FDA, which plays a critical role in access to medication abortion and contraception. Abortion rights groups have accused him of sharing misinformation about abortion on air. Russell Vought , a staunch anti-abortion conservative, has been nominated for director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought was a key architect of Project 2025 , a right-wing blueprint for running the federal government. Among other actions to limit reproductive rights, it calls for eliminating access to medication abortion nationwide, cutting Medicaid funding for abortion and restricting access to contraceptive care, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives such as IUD’s. Despite distancing himself from the conservative manifesto on the campaign trail, Trump is stocking his administration with people who played central roles in developing Project 2025. Trump acknowledged that drafters of the report would be part of his incoming administration during the Sunday interview with NBC News, saying “Many of those things I happen to agree with.” “These cabinet appointments all confirm that Project 2025 was in fact the blueprint all along, and the alarm we saw about it was warranted,” said Amy Williams Navarro, director of government relations for Reproductive Freedom for All. Dr. Mehmet Oz , Trump’s choice to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is a former television talk show host who has been accused of hawking dubious medical treatments and products. He voiced contradictory abortion views during his failed Senate run in 2022. Oz has described himself as “strongly pro-life, praised the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade , claimed “life starts at conception” and referred to abortion as “murder.” But he also has echoed Trump’s states-rights approach, arguing the federal government should not be involved in abortion decisions. “I want women, doctors, local political leaders, letting the democracy that’s always allowed our nation to thrive to put the best ideas forward so states can decide for themselves,” he said during a Senate debate two years ago. An array of reproductive rights groups opposed his Senate run. As CMS administrator, Oz would be in a key position to determine Medicaid coverage for family planning services and investigate potential EMTALA violations. Related Articles National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president National Politics | With Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fight National Politics | Trump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection As Florida’s attorney general, Pam Bondi defended abortion restrictions, including a 24-hour waiting period. Now she’s Trump’s choice for attorney general . Her nomination is being celebrated by abortion opponents but denounced by abortion rights groups concerned she may revive the Comstock Act , an anti-vice law passed by Congress in 1873 that, among other things, bans mailing of medication or instruments used in abortion. An anti-abortion and anti-vaccine former Florida congressman, David Weldon, has been chosen to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which collects and monitors abortion data across the country. Former Republican congressman Doug Collins is Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs amid a political battle over abortion access and funding for troops and veterans. Collins voted consistently to restrict funding and access to abortion and celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade. “This is a team that the pro-life movement can work with,” said Kristin Hawkins, president of the national anti-abortion organization Students for Life.
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A mother whose daughter spent her first Christmas undergoing intense chemotherapy treatment following a rare cancer diagnosis now raises thousands in order to donate gifts to other children in hospital. Angelica Campbell, 30, from Guildford, Surrey, said her now four-year-old daughter, Eliza, had a “horrendous” start to her life after she was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer named BCOR sarcoma at just 10 weeks of age in December 2020, where it was found a large tumour was growing close to her spine and compressing her lung. After undergoing 14 rounds of intense chemotherapy treatment nicknamed the “Red Devil” as well as a major surgery to remove the tumour, Eliza was given the all-clear in August 2021 when she was 11 months old. Read more: Mum whose son was born premature praises support from the “incredible” staff in the neonatal unit Read more: ‘This might be my last Christmas – the thought my baby son might not remember me is heartbreaking’ However, because of the location of the tumour, she suffered with a spinal cord injury which has left her disabled and in a wheelchair. While physiotherapy and hydrotherapy is helping Eliza to get “stronger all the time”, Angelica said it is not likely she will make a full recovery from her battle with cancer, although this has not stopped her from being “feisty” and “determined”, and from being “best friends” with her brother, three-year-old Otis. Eliza was treated by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) and spent her first Christmas in their care, prompting Angelica to fundraise through GoFundMe for the first time in 2022 to purchase gifts for other children with cancer spending the festive season at the hospital. This year, she has undertaken the initiative again, raising nearly £5,000 so far. “Eliza is like a little celebrity where we live because everybody is amazed with what she’s done and what she’s overcome,” Angelica, who stopped working as a mental health support worker to care for her daughter, told PA Real Life. “Her first Christmas was a strange one – we were grateful she was still alive but as it was during Covid-19, it was sad and it meant she was just with me as nobody else could come to visit... it was quite lonely and daunting.” Angelica said she thought something was wrong with her daughter from the “minute” she was born in September 2020. “She was a good baby but she was always asleep, she never really woke up to feed,” she said. “Even from the minute she was born, I thought there was something wrong with her.” She took Eliza to a doctor a few times but no issues could be found – until Angelica noticed a lump had started to grow just above her daughter’s right shoulder blade. “It was thought it could be a muscle tear from birth, or a cyst,” Angelica said. Eliza was referred for further tests but as the country was still battling through the Covid-19 pandemic, Angelica was told the appointment could take a while. Weeks went by and the lump on Eliza’s shoulder continued to grow, so Angelica made the decision on December 1 2020 to take her daughter to A&E at their local hospital in Guildford, the Royal Surrey County Hospital. “They did an X-ray and they could see she had a really big tumour that was growing really close to her spine and compressing her lung,” Angelica said. “We got blue-lighted to Great Ormond Street Hospital and we didn’t leave there until about February for the first time.” Eliza was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer named BCOR sarcoma on December 3 2020 and she was just 11 weeks old when she began having chemotherapy treatment at GOSH. “She was a newborn, just a tiny little baby,” Angelica said. “It was horrendous, it was shocking, you’re kind of numb and you don’t really believe it’s happening to you.” Doctors were able to shrink the size of the tumour during the 14 rounds of chemotherapy Eliza received before they were able to operate and remove it in a major surgery on June 15 2021, which left her in intensive care for one night. “She had some of the strongest chemotherapy you can have, they call it the Red Devil,” Angelica said. Having spent the first year of her life in hospital, Eliza finished her cancer treatment and was given the all-clear when she was 11 months old in August 2021 – although she still requires check-up scans every six months. “For her first birthday in September, we went up to Great Ormond Street so she could ring the bell,” Angelica said. As the tumour grew so close to Eliza’s spine, she has been left disabled and using a wheelchair. While physiotherapy and hydrotherapy are helping Eliza to get “stronger all the time”, it is not certain whether she will ever make a full recovery. “Eliza is so determined and she’s such a girly-girl – she loves pink, loves Barbie,” Angelica said. “She’s feisty and she knows what she wants, even at her little age.” She added that Eliza and her son, Otis, are “really close” and even though they argue as brothers and sisters do, they are “best friends”. “He’s a good brother, he comes to all her appointments and he’s really patient,” she said. As Eliza spent her first Christmas in hospital, Angelica decided to raise money through GoFundMe in 2022 to donate presents to children with cancer spending the festive season at GOSH. Angelica is doing so again this year, raising nearly £5,000 so far and saying she has bought “loads and loads of presents”. She has purchased electronics such as iPads, Nintendo Switch games and PlayStation 5 games which will remain on the ward for children to share. She has also bought plenty of presents which the children will be able to keep and take home, including teddies, Lego, puzzles, craft kits, colouring books, Disney princess dolls, Nerf guns, Play-Doh and sensory toys. Angelica said she will deliver the gifts to GOSH in two carloads on December 19 before they are wrapped and distributed on Christmas Eve night for the children to wake up to on Christmas morning. She added any leftover money will be placed on an Amazon gift card and given to the hospital to spend throughout the year as they see fit. “I’ve seen so many children in Great Ormond Street with cancer, it’s not rare to me but it’s horrendous,” she said.
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Tyrin Lawrence scored 13 of his 14 points in the second half as Georgia rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat South Carolina State 79-72 and run its win streak to seven in a nonconference finale for both teams on Sunday. Lawrence had only a free throw to show for his efforts in the first half for Georgia's Bulldogs (12-1), who improved to 9-0 at home. But he made 4 of 6 shots with a 3-pointer and all four of his foul shots after Georgia trailed 41-24 at intermission. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekBaltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey has been fined $11,255 for unsportsmanlike conduct (taunting) during their 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16. NFL insider Tom Pelissero posted a clip of the incident to X. The NFL fined #Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey $11,255 for unsportsmanlike conduct (taunting) — holding the ball towards #Steelers WR Calvin Austin III on his pick-six last week. pic.twitter.com/nhxhjfSKkk Early in the fourth quarter, Humphrey picked off Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown. The NFL fined Humphrey because it believed he was taunting Pittsburgh receiver Calvin Austin by holding the ball out towards him while running it back. However, after the game Humphrey claimed that wasn't the case. "I want to make this pretty clear," Humphrey said. "When I was running with the football, I saw [Ravens linebacker] David Njabo, a really great teammate of mine, and I was trying to pitch him the football. Some people brought up to me that it looked like taunting or something, but I was trying to pitch him the football. There was no taunting there at all. I just want to make that very clear." It is important to note that Humphrey was not flagged on the play. The lack of consistency between being penalized and fined for something has been very frustrating for players over the last several years. Both Austin and Njabo were behind Humphrey as he was running, so it's difficult to establish intent. Regardless, that's a pretty hefty amount of money for something that didn't hurt anyone. Humphrey has a good reputation as a standup person, making the fine even more harsh. The veteran defender is a former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler. In 15 games played this season Humphrey has 63 tackles, six interceptions (tied for second-most in the league), 14 passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. As unfortunate as this is, Humphrey will have to try to put it behind him and move forward. He and the Ravens are rolling, winners of their last three games. They clinched a playoff berth with their Christmas Day win over the Houston Texans, and can secure the AFC North title with a win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 18, or with a Steelers' loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited ( OTCMKTS:NPSGY – Get Free Report ) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 800 shares, an increase of 60.0% from the November 30th total of 500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 8.0 days. Nippon Sheet Glass Stock Performance OTCMKTS:NPSGY opened at $2.00 on Friday. Nippon Sheet Glass has a one year low of $2.00 and a one year high of $2.50. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $2.40 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.56. About Nippon Sheet Glass ( Get Free Report ) Read More Receive News & Ratings for Nippon Sheet Glass Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nippon Sheet Glass and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Tech review: Earbuds and phones for those on your holiday list
AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:39 p.m. EST
