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Big buyouts for college coaches are the norm. If athletes start getting revenue, that could change

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:16:17 GMT

The business of college athletics is run by stakeholders rather than stockholders and the bottom line is measured by victories rather than profits.That, sports economist Andrew Zimbalist says, is why Texas A&M is paying Jimbo Fischer more than $75 million to not coach its football team and coaches at some of the nation’s top programs have similar, massive severance packages baked into their contracts.There will be no end to these golden parachutes, Zimbalist and others said, until the business model changes and significantly more revenue is redirected to the athletes.“If we’re having this conversation in 30 years and athletes are employees, all these benefits and ridiculous severance payments coaches get will start to come down,” said Zimbalist, a Smith College professor emeritus of economics who has written more than a dozen books on college and pro sports. “In the meantime, there’ll be substantial losses for athletic programs.”Fisher was fired Sunday, just ov...

Iowa teen convicted of killing Spanish teacher gets life with possibility of parole after 25 years

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:16:17 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa teen convicted in the 2021 beating death of a high school Spanish teacher was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison with a possibility of parole in 25 years.A judge sentenced Jeremy Goodale for his role in killing Nohema Graber, a 66-year-old teacher at Fairfield High School. Goodale, 18, and a friend pleaded guilty earlier this year to first-degree murder in the beating death of Graber.The two high school students used a bat to kill Graber after stalking her as she took her daily walk in a large park in Fairfield, a small Iowa city about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Des Moines.Before being sentenced, Goodale apologized to the teacher’s family, the community and his own family.“I’m sorry, truly sorry. What I’ve taken can never be replaced,” Goodale said, at times through sobs. “Every day I wish I could go back and stop myself, prevent this loss and this pain that I’ve caused everyone.”Prosecutors said Goodale a...

24 people arrested in a drug trafficking investigation in Oregon

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:16:17 GMT

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — An investigation into what authorities described as a major drug trafficking group based in in southern Oregon resulted in two dozen arrests and seizures of guns, fentanyl, methamphetamine and other drugs, law enforcement agencies said Wednesday.The Drug Enforcement Administration, Oregon State Police and the Grants Pass Police Department were among the agencies involved in the probe, which lasted more than a year. The agencies announced the investigation at a joint press conference in Grants Pass on Wednesday.As part of the investigation, 24 people were arrested in Oregon on Tuesday, authorities said.Officers seized 37 guns, 2,000 grams of meth, 636 grams of fentanyl pills and 52 grams of fentanyl, Oregon State Police said. That amount of fentanyl had the potential to yield more than 144,000 lethal doses, said David Reames, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Seattle division. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly, according to the DEA.Officers...

Workers’ SIN, IDs likely taken in Toronto library hack, could end up on dark web: TPL

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:16:17 GMT

TORONTO — The Toronto Public Library says information on current and former employees has likely been taken in a cyberattack, including social insurance numbers and copies of government-issued identification.  The library says hackers stole a large number of files from its servers in an attack that first came to its attention on Oct. 28. It says cardholder and donor databases were unaffected, but some customer, volunteer and donor data that was on the compromised server may have been exposed.In an update this week, the library says current and former staff employed by the library and its charitable foundation from 1998 have been affected. It says staff names, home addresses, social insurance numbers, and copies of their government-issued identification were likely taken in the cyberattack. The library says it did not pay a ransom and it’s aware that stolen data connected to the cyberattack may end up on the dark web.“It is so unfortunate that data security and ransomware...

Jimmy Kimmel to host the Oscars for the fourth time

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:16:17 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Kimmel is returning as host of the Academy Awards for the second straight year and fourth time overall, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday.ABC is turning again to its late-night host a year after bringing Kimmel back for a 2023 ceremony that drew 18.7 million viewers, the most since 2020’s pre-pandemic broadcast. In the wake of Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, Kimmel led a cautious ceremony that helped stabilize the Academy Awards after years of turmoil.Kimmel also hosted the Oscars in 2017 and 2018.“I always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times,” Kimmel said in a statement.Though the comic is inching up in the record books, he’s still a long ways from the most frequent Oscar emcee. That title belongs to Bob Hope, who hosted a record 19 times either solo or as a co-host. Billy Crystal hosted nine times all between 1990 and 2012.The film academy earlier announced that Raj Kapoor w...

The Israeli military has set its sights on southern Gaza. Problems loom in next phase of war

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:16:17 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — After raiding the Gaza Strip’s largest hospital, Israel appears close to completing its takeover of the besieged territory’s northern sector, which it has described as the headquarters of the ruling Hamas militant group.But as the military sets its sights on southern Gaza in its campaign to stamp out Hamas, key challenges loom: International patience for a protracted invasion has begun to wear thin, and with nearly 2 million displaced Gaza civilians staying in overcrowded shelters in the south, a broad military offensive there could unleash a new humanitarian disaster during the cold, wet winter.Here’s a closer look at what could lie ahead in the coming weeks:TWO PHASES Israel declared war in response to Hamas’ unprecedented cross-border incursion on Oct. 7, when the Islamic militant group killed at least 1,200 people and took some 240 others hostage. Israel has set two goals: a return of all hostages and the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities...

‘Dances With Wolves’ actor asks Nevada Supreme Court to drop all charges

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:16:17 GMT

LAS VEGAS — The lawyer for Nathan Chasing Horse has asked the Nevada Supreme Court to drop all charges against the former “Dances With Wolves” actor and self-described medicine man. Chasing Horse has been jailed in Las Vegas since his January arrest in southern Nevada, where he is charged with 18 felonies, including sexual assault of a minor, child abuse and kidnapping.But his lawyer, Kristy Holston, argued in court that prosecutors presented no evidence the sex was non-consensual and that they provided improper instructions to a grand jury. Prosecutor William Rowles says the grand jury heard from two women who both testified they thought they loved Chasing Horse, but realized it was spiritual manipulation and assault. The Supreme Court has reserved its decision.Chasing Horse is also facing criminal charges in Montana, British Columbia and Alberta.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2023. The Canadian Press

US Navy warship shoots down drone from Yemen over the Red Sea

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:16:17 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. Navy warship shot down a drone that was heading in the direction of the ship as it sailed in the southern Red Sea, a U.S. official said Wednesday.The USS Thomas Hudner, a naval destroyer, was heading toward the Bab-el-Mandeb strait when the crew saw the drone, which originated in Yemen. The ship shot down the drone over the water. The official said the crew took action to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, and there were no casualties or damage to the ship. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations.It is not clear if the drone was specifically targeting the ship, and U.S. officials did not directly blame the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for the unmanned aircraft. But the Houthis have launched at least six aerial attacks against Israel since Oct. 7 and, according to the group’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, have vowed to target ships operating in the Red Sea.Another Navy destroyer, the USS Carney, took similar a...

Movie Review: Emotional complexity, melodramatic wit and masterful acting in ‘May December’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:16:17 GMT

There is hardly a false note in “ May December, ” an audaciously self-aware, mischievously funny and emotionally complex drama that defies simple categorization.Filmmaker Todd Haynes, working from a script by newcomer Samy Burch, deftly mixes cheesy movie of the week tropes with the psychological depths of Bergman to make this wholly singular piece that never quite lets the viewer relax on solid ground.The set up involves an actor, Elizabeth Barry, played by Natalie Portman, who is spending some time with the real person she’s decided to play in a film. That subject is Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore), who, when she was 36, was arrested and imprisoned for starting a physical relationship with a 12-year-old boy. Two decades later Gracie and that boy, Joe (Charles Melton), are married with three kids, one in college and twins about to go. There have been cheap, seemingly exploitative movies made about them before, which we get brief glimpses of. Gracie tells Elizabeth, on their fi...

Most expensive DoorDash order of 2023 recorded in Ontario as Canada’s food trends are revealed

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:16:17 GMT

Can you imagine spending over $3,000 on a DoorDash order? Well, one person from Ontario did just that as the online food delivery platform revealed the Canadian trends of the year.DoorDash Canada released its annual year-end food trend report, highlighting the top Canadian food-ordering habits of 2023. These range from the biggest spenders to the shortest delivery distance orders, the pickiest eaters, and the restaurants that received the most love this year.The food delivery company used data from January 2023 to November 2023 to deliver the results.According to DoorDash Canada, the most expensive order in 2023 was $3,335 in Markham, Ont. It included more than 30 beauty products, ranging from hair and makeup to beauty tools. Other big orders included four pairs of fancy headphones, two premium green teas and one spring water ordered in Vancouver, two tomato soups, 20 salads and 16 catering boxes in Vancouver and 105 burrito bowls ordered in Toronto.The shortest delivery distance wa...