tongits go 777 The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by nine current players who argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Underground fire still burning at Williamsburg Premium Outlets; officials advise caution Underground fire still burning at Williamsburg Premium Outlets; officials advise caution 7 people in custody after barricade situation in Norfolk 7 people in custody after barricade situation in Norfolk Underground fire causes partial parking lot collapse at Williamsburg Premium Outlets Underground fire causes partial parking lot collapse at Williamsburg Premium Outlets One nation, under watch: Flock Safety cameras help the police solve crime. But how much should privacy matter? One nation, under watch: Flock Safety cameras help the police solve crime. But how much should privacy matter? Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of ‘Love Connection’ and ‘Scrabble,’ dies at 83 Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of ‘Love Connection’ and ‘Scrabble,’ dies at 83 Teel: Return as columnist at The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press is a privilege Teel: Return as columnist at The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press is a privilege Corey Hairston retires as Warwick football coach; defensive coordinator Thomas Sykes is named successor Corey Hairston retires as Warwick football coach; defensive coordinator Thomas Sykes is named successor Virginia live election results Virginia live election results Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference, classified documents cases against Trump Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference, classified documents cases against Trump Newport News man dies, 1 seriously injured in Isle of Wight crash Newport News man dies, 1 seriously injured in Isle of Wight crash Trending Nationally Holiday homecoming for 1,300 Camp Pendleton Marines brings smiles One nation, under watch: Flock Safety cameras help the police solve crime. But how much should privacy matter? Lizzo shows off dramatic weight loss in new photos Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths here in Florida. Here’s why After bankruptcy court, Spirit sees future as a higher value airline ‘for years to come’

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 3:45 p.m. EST

Jordan Roberts scores 19 to lead Texas A&M-Corpus Christi over Schreiner 103-44

Evans scores again as Canadiens down Lightning 5-2Scoreboard: Class AA boys wrestling rankings

FIFA is facing a new battle against Europe's major leagues, including the and , over plans for a winter World Cup in Saudi Arabia in 2034 with sources telling ESPN that "concrete agreement" would be needed from leagues and players for the fixture calendar to be hit by such disruption. by FIFA on Wednesday after emerging as the only bidders for the tournament. A multi-nation tournament in 2030, hosted by Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, will also be rubber-stamped by FIFA. But with FIFA's evaluation report into the Saudi bid highlighting climate concerns that would force the 2034 World Cup to be staged between October and April to avoid searing summer temperatures in the Middle East, it is almost certain that the competition will staged in mid-season in a similar fashion to Qatar 2022, which was held in November and December 2022. FIFPRO Europe -- the players union -- and European Leagues representing national leagues filed a legal complaint to the European Commission in October about FIFA's control of the International Match Calendar, citing a conflict of interest as a competition organiser and governing body. The legal complaint specifically focuses on the men's International Match Calendar, including the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the men's 2026 World Cup, amid concern over player fatigue and burnout. But sources have told ESPN that FIFA has not consulted the major leagues or players unions about staging the 2034 World Cup during the northern hemisphere winter, despite requiring agreement from both parties to move the tournament from its traditional June - July slot. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar led to major European leagues extending club seasons and shutting down leagues for at least a month to accommodate the shift to a winter World Cup. Sources have told ESPN that a 48-team tournament in 2034 would lead to 104 games and a five week competition, potentially disrupting league seasons for up to seven weeks and requiring players to be released by their clubs for up to 49 days. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has found in legal cases against FIFA that the body would need the agreement of leagues and players to make substantial changes to the International Match Calendar. FIFA sources have told ESPN that the existing International Match Calendar is in place until 2030 and all stakeholders, including leagues and players, will be consulted before the calendar for 2034 is finalised.Executive director, CFO and senior leader join president in exodus from turbulent teachers’ unionGermany has said it will tighten its law to make it easier to prosecute those helping to smuggle migrants to the UK, as part of a new plan agreed between the two countries. Currently facilitating people-smuggling is not technically illegal in Germany if it is to a third country outside the EU - which, following Brexit, includes the UK. Under the new agreement the Home Office says Germany has pledged to make the activity a clear criminal offence. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the "ground-breaking" new agreement would help tackle the criminal gangs organising small boat crossings across the Channel. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp has previously criticised the UK government's approach, labelling their plans to reduce small boat crossings "weak and vacuous". The agreement between the UK and Germany comes as the Home Office's own Border Security Command warns that Channel crossings "are the most dangerous they have ever been". Charlie Eastaugh, director of international operations at the command, told the BBC: "We've seen tyre inner tubes being used in place of life jackets, it's extraordinarily dangerous, they are death traps. "There are fewer boats and fewer engines in supply, we have seized over 450 boats and engines across Europe - and organised crime gangs are taking greater risks. "We're seeing increased numbers in these boats because of the disruptive work we have carried out with our law enforcement partners in Europe". Over 33,000 have crossed the English Channel by small boat this year, which is higher than the 29,000 last year, but below the record numbers in 2022. More than 70 people have died trying to make the crossing this year this year, and the average number of people per boat has risen to 53 compared with 10 back in 2019. After coming into power in July, the Labour government ditched the previous Conservative government's plan to deter crossings by sending to Rwanda those making the journey. Instead Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said his government would focus on tackling the criminal gangs arranging the crossings. As part of that approach, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has signed an agreement with Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, committing to co-operation on tackling people smuggling. Under the Joint Action Plan, Germany has confirmed its intention to make clear that activities in Germany that facilitate migrant-smuggling to the UK will be deemed criminal offences. The joint action plan also commits the two countries to "exchanging expertise with a special focus on removing migrant-smuggling content from social media platforms". The UK government said: "Once enacted, this anticipated law change is expected to significantly increase the number of prosecutions made in relation to migrant smuggling." Earlier this year the BBC investigated the German connection to small boat crossings in the Channel with people smugglers operating in the west German city of Essen. At the time, one UK Home Office source told the BBC there was "frustration" about Germany's legal framework, which did not technically consider the arranging of people smuggling to countries outside of the EU to be illegal. Cooper said the partnership would help the UK go after the gangs who had been "getting away with it for too long". Faeser said it would "help us end the inhumane activities of criminal migrant smuggling organisations". "Many of these crimes are planned in Germany. Together, we are now countering this unscrupulous business with even more resolve." The plan was signed ahead of a meeting of the Calais Group in London, hosted on Tuesday by the UK and Germany and attended by ministers and police from France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Sir Keir has said he wants to reduce both regular and irregular migration but has avoided setting a target for cutting numbers, arguing that an "arbitrary" cap would not work. Privately, Labour ministers acknowledged that tackling irregular migration will be key to how they are judged by voters.

Analysts are raving about Lunex Network (LNEX) , a promising DeFi protocol with unmatched cross-chain capabilities, rich staking incentives, and 10x potential for its utility token. By 2025, it might rival giants like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Dogwifhat (WIF). With Dogwifhat (WIF) pushing for a new all-time high and Dogecoin (DOGE) riding a wave of optimistic optimism, Lunex Network's creative platform and outstanding presale position it as the ideal underdog to watch. Read on to find out why these three tokens are getting huge investor attention and what is driving their explosive climb. Lunex Network Offers Low Fees and Unique Staking Rewards With its flawless cross-chain transactions across multiple blockchains including Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Solana, TRON, and more, Lunex Network is fast rising to be a leader in the DEX industry. Lunex Network provides some of the lowest transaction costs in the market, therefore enabling traders to optimize their earnings. Its design is based on user profitability. The platform's creative tools and reasonably priced solutions make it a perfect fit for everyone wishing to engage in decentralized finance, regardless of experience level in investment. Lunex Network's unique profit-sharing scheme, whereby LNEX token holders get a piece of the weekly income, increases their earnings passively and supports long-term platform participation. For individuals wishing to generate passive income, Lunex Network presents a great possibility with staking choices giving up to 18% APY for as little as 30 days. Priced at just $0.0031 during the ongoing presale, the LNEX token has already given early investors a 158% gain; analysts project considerably higher profits before the presale ends. Dogecoin Price Chart Analysis After weeks of consolidation between $0.11 and $0.19 , the Dogecoin price has been on an amazing surge breaking past the $0.18 crucial resistance zone. For those who hold Dogecoin (DOGE), this breakthrough has resulted in a more than 180% gain in just the previous month. Technical indicators such as the Moving Averages, Momentum Oscillator, Awesome Oscillator, and MACD all point to strong buying momentum as seen on the Dogecoin price chart. Hence, the overall trend remains rather positive even though the Dogecoin price has been consolidating between $0.42 and $0.34 over the previous week. With many market analysts believing Dogecoin (DOGE) could be en route to reaching a new all-time high (ATH) before the end of the year, the future of the altcoin seems bright. Dogecoin (DOGE) is becoming more appealing to both short-term traders and long-term holders as confidence among investors is driven by the recent breakout and steady optimistic momentum. Dogwifhat Price Chart Analysis The Dogwifhat price has been notably fluctuating over the past few weeks. Though the Dogwifhat price dropped more than 10% last week, its trajectory over the past month shows a big increase, jumping over 35%. Bearish pressure drove the price of Dogwifhat (WIF) back below $3.5, albeit at first soaring above $4.7 . Nonetheless, the general sentiment toward Dogwifhat (WIF) is still very positive, which reflects great investor trust in its long-term possibilities in spite of transient swings. Technical indicators support this hope since the MACD and Moving Averages provide buy signals, implying the positive momentum of Dogwifhat (WIF) is sustained. The altcoin seems to be en route to breaking its previous all-time high (ATH) before the end of the month as seen on the Dogwifhat price chart. With strong community support and positive technical signals, Dogwifhat (WIF) is becoming a standout performer providing a great chance for both traders and investors. Lunex Network Could Outshine Dogwifhat and Dogecoin With its low-fee cross-chain capabilities and creative staking rewards, Lunex Network is fast rising as a strong competitor in the DeFi space. Although Dogecoin (DOGE) and Dogwifhat (WIF) are right now facing bullish momentum, Lunex Network's unique strategy and outstanding presale gains position it for exponential expansion over the coming few years. You can find more information about Lunex Network (LNEX) here: Website: https://lunexnetwork.com Socials: https://linktr.ee/lunexnetwork Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.

Three-game skid over, NC State faces winless Coppin StateAn end to the hubcap margarita as Nacho Mama’s plans to close both locations

Former state Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon and three other women who accused former Attorney General Curtis Hill of drunkenly groping them at an Indianapolis bar dropped their civil lawsuit against him hours before jury selection was set to begin Monday. The women initially sued in federal court in 2019 before filing the civil lawsuit in 2020 claiming that Hill committed battery against them and then defamed them with repeated claims that their allegations were false. Their decision Sunday to drop the suit ends nearly seven years of investigations and litigation surrounding Hill’s actions during a March 2018 party on the final night of that year’s legislative session. Michael Conroy/AP In this Tuesday, June 18, 2019 file photo, Gabrielle McLemore, left; Niki DaSilva, left center; Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, right center; and Samantha Lozano listen as their attorney announces a lawsuit against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill and the State of Indiana during a press conference in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File) In a statement from their attorneys, the women said they agreed to dismiss the suit after reaching “the frustrating conclusion that proceeding with the trial cannot provide the relief they sought; namely, Mr. Hill accepting responsibility for his actions and admitting his fault in intentionally touching each of them in a sexual manner without consent.” Reardon, who is from Munster, declined to comment Tuesday. In response to sexual harassment allegations made last month against State Senator Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, Reardon recently said she was “extremely disappointed” that the culture at the statehouse hasn’t changed since she and the three other women filed the lawsuit. “Nothing has changed, even after we came forward,” Reardon said. “I was very disappointed that nothing substantive has ever changed to create a safe space at the statehouse.” Reardon, who left state politics, said sexual harassment in the statehouse has led to “a talent drain” for Indiana “when talented, bright, amazing women have to leave government — and sometimes the state — because of this abuse.” Current legislators should work toward implementing some workforce changes, Reardon said, which include an independent human resources structure, clear and independent reporting paths and preemptive training and resources. The legislature needs to allow for immediate investigations into any sexual harassment or abuse and consequences for the accused “especially when they admit that they’ve done wrong,” Reardon said. “Democrats and Republicans both have to take a hard look at their behavior. We cannot be known as the statehouse for an abusive workplace. We should be known as policymakers, who change people’s lives for the better,” Reardon said. Reardon said sexual harassment has been disproportionately “a man problem” that disproportionately affects women. The other women in the lawsuit were Gabrielle McLemore Brock, Samantha Lozano and Niki DaSilva. In 2018, Reardon was a Democratic state representative and the three other women were legislative staffers. When legislative leaders approached Hill with findings from their private report, he was “generally apologetic,” according to the Indiana Supreme Court’s disciplinary record. But Hill has repeatedly denied the women’s claims in public. Despite his denials, the Indiana Supreme Court ordered a 30-day suspension of his law license in 2020 after finding “by clear and convincing evidence that (Hill) committed the criminal act of battery” against the women. The Supreme Court justices ruled after nine people who attended the party testified at his professional misconduct hearing. The allegations were a key campaign issue when Hill narrowly lost the 2020 Republican attorney general nomination for his reelection to Todd Rokita, who took office in January 2021. The Associated Press contributed. akukulka@post-trib.com

Published 8:05 pm Sunday, December 29, 2024 By Associated Press ATLANTA — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, roughly 22 months after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections and house the homeless as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. Biden spoke later Sunday evening about Carter, calling it a “sad day” but one that “brings back an incredible amount of good memories.” “I’ve been hanging out with Jimmy Carter for over 50 years,” Biden said in his remarks. He recalled the former president being a comfort to him and his wife Jill when their son Beau died in 2015 of cancer. The president remarked how cancer was a common bond between their families, with Carter himself having cancer later in his life. “Jimmy knew the ravages of the disease too well,” said Biden, who was ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A president from Plains A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. And then, the world Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” ‘An epic American life’ Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. A small-town start James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine.HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — Eddie Ricks III had 13 points in James Madison's 96-64 win over Midway on Sunday night. Ricks added eight rebounds for the Dukes (7-6). Bryce Lindsay scored 13 points, going 5 of 9 (3 for 6 from 3-point range). Elijah Hutchins-Everett went 5 of 10 from the field to finish with 12 points. The Eagles were led by Miguel Shaw, who recorded 19 points and two steals. Robbie Henry added 14 points and five steals for Midway. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .None

December 24, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Liu Jia, Chinese Academy of Sciences A research team led by Prof. Nie Guangjun from the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and collaborators have demonstrated a tumor membrane antigens-based nanovaccine derived from liposomal doxorubicin treated tumor tissues, which is efficacious in inducing a potent immunological defense against tumors. The study is published online in Cell Reports Medicine . For solid tumor surgeries, challenges remain in postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis. The correlation between postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis and the host's antitumor immune status is well-established. Personalized cancer vaccines, using the patient's own tumor as an antigen source, stimulate a robust immune response that is efficacious in eliminating residual neoplastic foci following surgical intervention as well as in targeting metastatic lesions at a distance, significantly reducing the risk of postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis. The efficacy of autologous tumor cells in clinical trials has been limited by their weak immunogenicity. The tumor membrane contains tumor-presented antigens and associated antigens, which can be developed into a personalized antigen library that more accurately reflects the expression of tumor antigens. Vaccines based on autologous tumor cell membrane antigens have been developed. In clinical practice, patients administered autologous tumor cell membrane-based vaccines (TMVs) frequently have a history of prior therapeutic interventions with chemotherapy being the predominant modality. However, chemotherapy has the potential to alter the immunogenic properties of tumor cell membranes, consequently impacting the therapeutic efficacy of the TMVs. In this study, researchers investigated the effects of preoperative chemotherapy on the efficacy of TMVs employing nano-formulated liposomal doxorubicin (NP-Dox) as a preoperative medication. For the formulation of the TMVs, they obtained the tumor membrane as the antigen, and resiquimod (R848), a potent dual Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist with excellent efficacy, was encapsulated in Poly (lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles to act as the adjuvant of the vaccine. The TMVs formulated from liposomal doxorubicin-treated tumors induced superior dendritic cell maturation and T cell activation compared to doxorubicin, demonstrating better efficacy in preventing recurrence and metastasis in the postoperative murine model, as well as in extending postoperative survival. Mechanistically, researchers demonstrated that NP-Dox, as a paradigmatic inducer of immunogenic cell death in tumors, upregulates the expression of immune-related molecules on the tumor cell membrane, enhancing the immunogenicity of tumor membrane antigens. Moreover, they showed that NP-Dox improves the immunological status of the tumor microenvironment, creating favorable conditions for subsequent nanovaccine immunization. "In a previous study, we developed an integrated vaccine formulation based on autologous tumor membrane antigens and bacterial cytoplasmic membrane adjuvants, which could achieve enhanced antitumor immune responses with a favorable biosafety profile," said Assoc. Prof. Zhao Ruifang from NCNST and the first author of this study. "However, for its clinical applications, we found that patients had undergone various treatments before using autologous tumor membrane vaccines with chemotherapy being relatively common." "This study provides valuable insights into the clinical application of TMVs, demonstrating its potential in solid tumor treatments. Concurrently, in this study, we employ nano-drugs both pre-and postoperatively, and showcase the superiority of nanotechnology in the integrated application of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and tumor immunotherapy," said Prof. Nie Guangjun from NCNST and another first author of this study. More information: Yang Chen et al, Neoadjuvant chemotherapy by liposomal doxorubicin boosts immune protection of tumor membrane antigens-based nanovaccine, Cell Reports Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101877 Journal information: Cell Reports Medicine Provided by Chinese Academy of SciencesUS Expands Cyber Countermeasures As List Of China Telecom Hack Victims GrowsNone

Musk's controversial proposal that would save billions picks up steam

Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about one hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by an issue with a vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Middle East latest: Israel expels patients from a hospital in Gaza TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israeli soldiers raided a hospital in isolated northern Gaza after forcing all the patients and most of the doctors to leave. The Israeli military confirmed its troops had entered the Indonesian Hospital in the town of Jabaliya on Tuesday, as part of an operation searching for Hamas fighters. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza, with most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent. Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Major storm pounds California's central coast, blamed for man's death and partially collapsing pier SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm has pounded California’s central coast bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet Monday as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon. Forecasters have warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. Medellin Cartel victims demand truth and justice as cartel boss Fabio Ochoa walks free in Colombia BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — The return of the notorious drug trafficker Fabio Ochoa to Colombia, following his deportation from the United States, has reopened old wounds among the victims of the Medellin cartel, with some expressing their dismay at the decision of Colombian authorities to let the former mafia boss walk free.Some of the cartel victims said on Tuesday that they are hoping the former drug lord will at least cooperate with ongoing efforts by human rights groups to investigate one of the most violent periods of Colombia’s history, and demanded that Colombian prosecutors also take Ochoa in for questioning. Man arraigned on murder charges in NYC subway death fanned flames with a shirt, prosecutors say NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors say a man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train used a shirt to fan the flames, causing her to become engulfed. The suspect, identified by police as Sebastian Zapeta, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court on Tuesday. He faces murder charges that could put him in prison for life. Federal immigration officials say 33-year-old Zapeta is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally after being deported in 2018. The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Amsterdam court sentences 5 men over violence linked to Ajax-Maccabi soccer game THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An Amsterdam District Court has issued sentences of up to six months in jail against 5 men who were involved in violent disorder after a soccer match between the Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. The riots caused an international outcry and accusations of deliberate anti-Semitic attacks. The violence following a UEFA Europa League match left 5 people in hospital. More than 60 suspects were detained. The court on Tuesday sentenced one man to 6 months in prison, another to 2 1/2 months, two to 1 month and one to 100 hours of community service.