jili777 slot President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed Florida ’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to replace Matt Gaetz in the US House of Representatives. Gaetz stepped down from his seat in the House earlier this month after Trump nominated him to lead the Department of Justice. He withdrew his bid for attorney general last week as allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug mounted. The House Ethics Committee was reportedly set to release a “highly damaging” report on their investigation into these allegations just two days after Gaetz resigned. The committee’s investigation is now over given Gaetz’s resignation. They also have not released the report, despite pressure from lawmakers. Gaetz, who has denied all wrongdoing, said he would not return to Congress . Now, Trump has announced his favorite pick to replace Gaetz. “A fourth generation Floridian from the beautiful Panhandle, and owner of an iconic seafood restaurant, Jimmy has been a wonderful friend to me, and to MAGA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social . “As your next Congressman, Jimmy would work tirelessly alongside of me to Grow our Economy, Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Incredible Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.” “Should he decide to enter this Race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” he added. “RUN, JIMMY, RUN!” Patronis responded to Trump’s endorsement on X . “Put me to work, Mr. President,” he wrote. “@realDonaldTrump I am here to serve.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis set dates for the seat’s special election on Friday. The primary election will take place on January 28, and Gaetz’s successor will be elected on April 1. The Independent has contacted Patronis for comment. Patronis, a long-time ally to the president-elect, has served as Florida’s CFO since 2017. He is married with two children and owns a seafood restaurant in Panama City. In January, the CFO promoted a state bill that would have helped Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago residence is in Florida, pay his mounting legal fees . The “Freedom Fighters Fund” would have provided up to $5 million in “financial support to Florida residents running for President who face legal, partisan, political attacks by the Department of Justice or State Attorneys,” The Washington Post reported. The bill was ultimately withdrawn earlier this year after DeSantis threatened to veto it. Meanwhile, Gaetz could be considering new career options. The team at Newsmax, a right-wing media network, has made it clear they would like Gaetz to jump on board and potentially host his own show, The Independent reported last week . The former lawmaker also joined Cameo, a platform where users can pay celebrities to create personalized videos . “I have joined cameo,” Gaetz previously told The Independent . “I hope to bring people joy.”

Hegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the SenateDALLAS (AP) — The New York Yankees hope Max Fried pitches like he did in 2021 — when he won the World Series clincher for the Atlanta Braves . Two days after the Yankees lost Juan Soto to the rival Mets , Fried agreed Tuesday to join the pinstripes with a $218 million, eight-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. Fried's deal is the largest for a left-handed pitcher in baseball history, $1 million more than David Price's seven-year contract with the Boston Red Sox ahead of the 2016 season. Fried's agreement, first reported by ESPN, was subject to a successful physical, the person said on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized. Yankees fans were angry after Soto accepted the Mets' $765 million, 15-year offer over the Yankees' $760 million, 16-year proposal. The Yankees then redirected money to starting pitching, though Fried represents some risk: The two-time All-Star has been on the injured list 10 times since 2018, including at least once each season. A high school teammate of Jack Flaherty and Lucas Giolito at Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles, Fried gets the fourth-highest contract among pitchers behind the Los Angeles Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325 million for 12 years through 2035), the Yankees' Gerrit Cole ($324 million for nine years through 2028) and Washington's Stephen Strasburg ($245 million for seven years through 2026). Strasburg hasn't pitched since 2022 and has retired. After spending his first eight seasons with the Braves, Fried joins a list of rotation possibilities that also includes Cole, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman, making additional moves likely. He reached the agreement on the day Cortes turned 30 and Rodón turned 32. A three-time Gold Glove winner who turns 31 on Jan. 18, Fried has one of the broadest repertoires in the major leagues, throwing seven different pitches. He averaged 93.9 mph this year with his fastball, which he threw 33.6% of the time. Fried mixed in 21% curveballs, 15.6% sinkers, 13.6% changeups, 5.9% sweepers, 5.6% sliders and 4.7% cutters. He was 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA over 29 starts this year, striking out 166 and walking a career-high 57 in 174 1/3 innings. Fried missed time for left forearm neuritis, his seventh straight season on the IL. He had prior IL stints for a blister on middle finger of pitching hand and strained left groin (2018), blister on left index finger (2019), muscle spasm on left side of back (2020), strained right hamstring (2021), concussion (2022), and strained left hamstring, strained left forearm and blister on left index finger (2023). Fried was the seventh overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft by the San Diego. He had Tommy John surgery in August 2014 and was traded to the Braves in December 2014 as part of a six-player deal that sent outfielder Justin Upton to the Padres. He made his major league debut in August 2017 and was optioned to the minors five times in 2018. Fried was 17-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 2019 and 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, finishing fifth in the National League Cy Young Award voting. He went 14-7 with a 3.04 ERA in 2021, when he pitched six scoreless innings to beat Houston in World Series Game 6, and 14-7 with a 2.48 ERA in 2022, when he made his first All-Star team. Fried was 8-1 with a 2.55 ERA over 14 starts in 2023. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Super Clash: Kotoko coach Prosper Ogum counting on players’ self-believe for victory against Hearts

Asante Kotoko head coach, Prosper Narteh Ogum, is confident that his team is primed for victory in the much-anticipated Super Clash against arch-rivals Hearts of Oak. The fixture, set for Sunday, December 15, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, marks the first clash between the two teams in the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League season. Kotoko enters the showdown with renewed optimism following a vital victory over Aduana Stars on matchday 12. Speaking about his team's preparation, Coach Ogum emphasised the growing self-belief among the players, attributing it to their recent success. “This win [against Aduana Stars] has brought some self-belief into the players. They now believe that they can do it. They now believe it is doable. It is something that can be done, so going into our next game [against Hearts of Oak] we are going with a lot of confidence," he noted. Coach Ogum expressed confidence that the positive atmosphere within the team would translate into hard work and focus during training sessions. “I’m sure there will be a lot of smiles at training, there will be a lot of joy at training, and people will be ready to work harder. The key thing for our next game is that players will be more confident and believe in themselves that everything is doable and we can do it,” he added. Both Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak are currently preparing for what promises to be a thrilling showdown on Sunday.Trump's nominee for attorney general a longtime ally

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head coach Arne Slot has demanded more from his team after they battled to a in the Champions League and said he was "far from happy" with the performance. Liverpool looked some way from their best at the Estadi Montilivi, but secured the win thanks to a penalty in the second half after was deemed to have fouled inside the area. The victory means Liverpool continue their perfect record in Europe, having won all six of their Champions League games this term, but Slot insisted performances must improve if his team have ambitions of going all the way in the competition. Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, the Liverpool boss said: "If you ask me about all the six games I am really pleased with all the results and the performances in the five games. "I am far from pleased about the performance tonight. Especially two things. If you play against a team that has such a good idea about football, knows how to bring the ball out like teams we have played recently in and , you need to be so intense. "But if you are waiting to press and are so easily outplayed, this team can cause you problems. This is what they showed throughout Champions League except [against] PSV. "I feel sorry for them because they deserve more than three points. We have an incredible goalkeeper. When we lost the ball we were not aggressive enough. Hardly any control at all of the game. Maybe the second half was a bit better." One major positive for Liverpool was the return of Alisson to the starting lineup, with the goalkeeper having been sidelined since Oct. 5 with a hamstring injury. The Brazilian made a string of saves to preserve Liverpool's fifth clean sheet in Europe this season, and Slot was quick to dub him "the best goalkeeper in the world" after the match. "He definitely didn't look like he'd been away," Slot said. "I said as a bit of a joke the players wanted to test his fitness today [giving up chances]. "He showed today what I said so many times that he's our first goalkeeper. That's nothing to do with Caoimhin [Kelleher], who did well, but [Alisson] showed today he's one of the best, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper in the world. Let's hope he can keep these performances going and stay fit." Slot also defended striker , who spurned a number of chances against and has just three goals in 19 appearances for Liverpool this term. Asked whether the Uruguayan is low on confidence, Slot said: "What I can agree on is that he missed a few chances; then it is a question if he's low on confidence. "I think every striker has a moment when everything goes in and then a period where try so hard and don't score. But the good thing is we have many players who can score. He was a threat but unfortunately he couldn't score." Regardless of the results the rest of the day, Liverpool is guaranteed to finish the sixth of eight league phase rounds in first place on 18 points. The final two rounds will be played at the start of 2025. ESPN's Sam Marsden contributed to this story.The Real Housewives of Potomac Recap: Mamma Mia

Indiana should be able to breathe easy this week. It has very little chance of making it into the Big Ten championship game. On the other hand, Georgia's spot in the Southeastern Conference title game is so risky that if the Bulldogs lose they might have been better off sitting it out. Over the next two weeks, the warm familiarity of conference championship games, which began in 1992 thanks to the SEC, could run into the cold reality that comes with the first 12-team College Football Playoff. League title games give the nation's top contenders a chance to hang a banner and impress the CFP committee, but more than ever, the bragging rights come with the risk of a season-wrecking loss — even with an expanded field. “I just don’t think it’s a quality conversation,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said last week, sticking with the time-honored cliche of looking no further than the next weekend's opponent. Those who want to have that talk, though, already know where Georgia stands. The Bulldogs (9-2) are ranked sixth in this week's AP Top 25 and projected somewhere near that in the next set of CFP rankings that come out Tuesday. They already have two losses and will have to beat No. 3 Texas or No. 20 Texas A&M in the SEC title game on Dec. 7 to avoid a third. How bad would a third loss hurt? The chairman of the selection committee insists that a team making a conference title game shouldn't count against it. What that really means won't be known until the games are played and the pairings come out on Dec. 8. "We're going to let the season play out," Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said. “But I think teams who make that championship game, the committee looks at them and puts them in high esteem." All of which could be good news for Indiana in the unlikely event the Hoosiers find themselves playing for the Big Ten title. IU is coming off a flop in its first major test of the season, a 38-15 loss to Ohio State last weekend. After his team's first loss of the season, coach Curt Cignetti took offense to being asked whether the Hoosiers were still a playoff-caliber team. “Is that a serious question?” he asked. “I’m not even gonna answer that. The answer is so obvious.” What might hurt Indiana, which dropped five spots to No. 10 in the AP poll, would be another drubbing. The Hoosiers would be at least a two-touchdown underdog in a title-game matchup against top-ranked Oregon. The odds of that happening, however, are slim. It would take a Michigan upset over No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday, combined with a Maryland upset over No. 4 Penn State and, of course, an Indiana win over Purdue (1-10). Because this is the first year of the 12-team playoff, there's no perfect comparison to make. For instance, this is the first time Power Four conference champions are guaranteed a spot in the playoff. But 2017 provides a textbook example of how a team losing its conference title game suffered. That year, Alabama had one loss (to Auburn) and didn't play in the SEC title game, but made the four-team field ahead of Wisconsin, which was 12-1 after a loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. Ohio State didn't make it either — two losses didn't get teams into a four-team field. Neither did undefeated UCF. Saturday's results made things a little more clear for the rest of the conferences: — In the Big 12, winning the title game will probably be the only way for Arizona State (9-2), BYU (9-2), Iowa State (9-2), Colorado (8-3) or anyone else to earn a spot in the 12-team playoff. None are ranked higher than 14th in the AP poll. — The Atlantic Coast Conference could get multiple bids. Miami (10-1), SMU (10-1) and Clemson (9-2) all finished in the top 12 of this week's AP poll. They were cheering the loudest when both Alabama and Ole Miss suffered their third losses of the season. — The Mountain West would be a one-bid conference, but that's only a sure thing if Boise State wins. A loss by the Broncos could open the CFP for Tulane or Army of the American Athletic. Both the MWC and AAC title games take place at 8 p.m. on Dec. 6. — Where the committee places Alabama and Ole Miss on Tuesday will be an indicator of what it thinks of teams with three losses that played very strong schedules. — It could also set the stakes for Georgia, which faces the prospect of loss No. 3 in the Dec. 7 title game, assuming the Bulldogs beat rival Georgia Tech this week. — Clemson has been steadily climbing. Its 34-3 loss to Georgia came on Aug. 31. Is it ancient history to the committee, though? — Indiana's status as a playoff team — in, out, nervous? — will become apparent. The Ohio State game was Indiana's first against a top-flight opponent. Then again, it is the Hoosiers' only loss and their weak Big Ten schedule is not their fault. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

NonePresident-elect Donald Trump on Monday said his incoming administration would slap new tariffs on imported goods from Mexico, Canada and China, fulfilling a key campaign promise that could have a major impact on trade. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he plans to seek to impose a 25% tariff on products imported from Mexico and Canada, framing the proposed plan as a response to the ongoing fentanyl crisis. "On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders," Trump wrote. "This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!" Trump said that he would also seek to impose additional tariffs on China. "I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States — But to no avail," Trump wrote. "Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America." Embassies for Canada, China and Mexico did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday night. The U.S. and China held high-level talks this year about the fentanyl crisis in an effort to resume counternarcotics cooperation after President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in California last year. Biden also announced he would increase the tariff rate on various goods from China, saying in May that he would increase the tariffs on electric vehicles from 25% to 100% this year. On the campaign trail, Trump declared he would impose 20% blanket tariff on all imports, and add tariffs of at least 60% to Chinese products. During a presidential debate with then-Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, who called Trump's tariffs a "sales tax on the American people," Trump cast the proposed tariffs as a kind of payback. “Other countries are going to finally, after 75 years, pay us back for all that we’ve done for the world, and the tariff will be substantial,” Trump said during the September debate. Any proposed tariffs are likely to receive some pushback from businesses and on Capitol Hill, as NBC News has previously reported . This story first appeared on NBCNews.com . More from NBC News: 5 Democratic assumptions shattered by the 2024 election: From the Politics Desk Top federal prosecutor in New York announces resignation before Trump takes office Senator introduces bill to compel more transparency from AI developers

DETROIT (AP) — Starting in September of 2027, all new passenger vehicles in the U.S. will have to sound a warning if rear-seat passengers don't buckle up. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * DETROIT (AP) — Starting in September of 2027, all new passenger vehicles in the U.S. will have to sound a warning if rear-seat passengers don't buckle up. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? DETROIT (AP) — Starting in September of 2027, all new passenger vehicles in the U.S. will have to sound a warning if rear-seat passengers don’t buckle up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday that it finalized the rule, which also requires enhanced warnings when front seat belts aren’t fastened. The agency estimates that the new rule will save 50 lives per year and prevent 500 injuries when fully in effect, according to a statement. The new rule will apply to passenger cars, trucks, buses except for school buses, and multipurpose vehicles weighing up to 10,000 pounds. Before the rule, seat belt warnings were required only for the driver’s seat. Under the new rule, outboard front-seat passengers also must get a warning if they don’t fasten their belts. Front-center seats will not get a warning because NHTSA found that it wouldn’t be cost effective. The agency said most vehicles already have warnings for the outboard passenger seats. The rule also lengthens the duration of audio and visual warnings for the driver’s seat. The front-seat rules are effective starting Sept. 1 of 2026. Rear passengers consistently use seat belts at a lower rate than front passengers, the agency says. In 2022, front belt use was just under 92%, while rear use dropped to about 82%. About half of automobile passengers who died in crashes two years ago weren’t wearing belts, according to NHTSA data. The seat belt rule is the second significant regulation to come from NHTSA in the past two months. In November the agency bolstered its five-star auto safety ratings to include driver assistance technologies and pedestrian protection. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Safety advocates want the Department of Transportation, which includes NHTSA, to finish several more rules before the end of the Biden administration, because President-elect Donald Trump has said he’s against new government regulations. Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, urged the department to approve automatic emergency braking for heavy trucks and technology to prevent impaired driving. Advertisement AdvertisementPHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 16, 2024-- University of Phoenix is proud to announce the launch of its Degrees of SuccessTM podcast which showcases the inspiring journeys of its extraordinary alumni. Hosted by Freda Richards, the podcast delves into the personal and professional lives of graduates who have overcome challenges and achieved remarkable success. With her genuine enthusiasm for human connection and transparency, Richards brings a unique and engaging perspective to each conversation. The University, which has more than one million alumni, aims to share these incredible stories with a wider audience through the captivating series. "What makes Degrees of SuccessTM truly special is the depth of personal experiences our alumni share,” stated Provost and Chief Academic Officer of University of Phoenix John Woods, Ph.D. “These stories go beyond professional achievements; they reveal the heart and determination behind each hard-won success. Listeners will find not only inspiration but also practical insights and advice that can be considered for their own journeys." Dr. Mautra Jones, featured in the inaugural episode, shared her story of overcoming challenges on her path to leadership as president of Oklahoma City Community College. Despite the obstacles she faced, she says she is grateful for the experiences that shaped her both personally and professionally. "It taught me to not take things for granted, but to appreciate things," she shares in the interview. "I have a victor, not a victim, mentality because I’ve been able to overcome so much. The things I’ve gone through have made me stronger. Now I’m able to take all the things I’ve gone through and hopefully inspire others when I say, if I can make it, you can make it." The podcast is launching with four episodes – with new episodes released every other week – each featuring a unique and compelling story: Episode 1: Overcoming Adversity to Lead - Dr. Mautra Jones In the first episode, Richards interviews Dr. Mautra Jones, a distinguished University of Phoenix alumna and the president of Oklahoma City Community College. Jones made history as the first woman and first person of color to lead the college. Her accolades include being named Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO for public companies in 2023 by The Journal Record, receiving the 100 Women to Know Across North America Award, and being inducted into the Oklahoma African American Educators Hall of Fame in 2022. Jones's impactful and dynamic leadership has made her one of the nation’s most sought-after thought leaders. Episode 2: Mentorship and the Violet Movement - Dr. Scott Andrews Richards talks with Dr. Scott Andrews, the county manager for Doña Ana County in New Mexico. With 21 years of experience in public sector administration, Andrews has provided progressive vision and decisive leadership to local government organizations across Florida, Georgia, and California. A first-generation U.S.-born citizen and college graduate, Andrews honors the memory of his late daughter through The Violet Movement, a non-profit fostering love, kindness, and positive community change. Episode 3: Marine Corps to Corporate Leader - John Kirch In this episode, Richards interviews John Kirch, who has been living and working in Lima, Peru, for nearly 30 years. As the Corporate Health, Safety, and Security Manager for Grupo Gloria, Kirch oversees security operations for over 20 companies across seven countries. His career includes pivotal roles in aviation security post-9/11 and service as a United States Marine. Kirch holds two degrees from the University of Phoenix: a bachelor's in organizational security and an MBA. Episode 4: From Culinary School to Corporate Success - Gary Batara Richards talks with Gary Batara, a former French chef who transitioned into the marketing world. Growing up in a family of healthcare professionals, Batara pursued his passion for culinary arts, which led him to France. His career evolved from corporate food service to becoming the vice president of marketing at Garten. Batara is also an accomplished author of "Lessons to Inspire: Practical Advice from Successful People." Watch Degrees of SuccessTM on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and Podbean. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu/blog.html . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216031813/en/ CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACT:Michele Mitchum University of Phoenix michele.mitchum@phoenix.edu KEYWORD: ARIZONA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: EDUCATION ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY PODCAST CONTINUING INTERNET UNIVERSITY SOURCE: University of Phoenix Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/16/2024 03:23 PM/DISC: 12/16/2024 03:23 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216031813/en

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