COMMERCE, Texas (AP) — Zach Calzada passed for 333 yards and three touchdowns, and he rushed for a score as Incarnate Word beat East Texas A&M 38-24 on Saturday to claim the Southland Conference title. Incarnate Word (10-2, 7-0) became the first team in program history to finish undefeated in conference play. The No. 6 Cardinals await the FCS selection show on Sunday to learn the playoff matchups. Calzada came in leading the FCS in passing touchdowns with 30 on the season and No. 6 for passing yards (3,018). He finished 26 of 40 with an interception against East Texas A&M. Incarnate Word linebacker Darius Sanders made his third interception in two games then Calzada launched a 43-yard pass to Jalen Walthall to tie it at 14 midway through the second quarter. The Cardinals' Marcus Brown blocked a 45-yard field-goal attempt that would have broken a tie at 24 early in the fourth. Calzada found wide-open Logan Compton in the end zone for a 31-24 lead. Mason Pierce was also left wide open for an 18-yard score with 2:43 left. Ron Peace was 21 of 38 for 165 yards with one touchdown and one interception for East Texas (3-9, 2-4). He also rushed for a score. 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
Unlike scores of people who for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than 5% of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not respond well to the medications. It’s a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. “It’s all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight — and a person’s response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn’t happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It’s not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didn’t respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. “I’m hoping it’s slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Jonel Aleccia, The Associated Press
COMMERCE, Texas (AP) — Zach Calzada passed for 333 yards and three touchdowns, and he rushed for a score as Incarnate Word beat East Texas A&M 38-24 on Saturday to claim the Southland Conference title. Incarnate Word (10-2, 7-0) became the first team in program history to finish undefeated in conference play. The No. 6 Cardinals await the FCS selection show on Sunday to learn the playoff matchups. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.A Delaware judge ruled on Monday that Tesla CEO Elon Musk still is not entitled to receive a $56 billion compensation package despite shareholders of the electric vehicle company voting to reinstate it. The ruling by the judge, Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick of the Court of Chancery, follows her January decision that called the pay package excessive and rescinded it , surprising investors, and cast uncertainty over Musk’s future at the world’s most valuable carmaker. Musk did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Tesla has said in court filings that the judge should recognize a subsequent June vote by its shareholders in favor of the pay package for Musk, the company’s driving force who is responsible for many of its advances, and reinstate his compensation. McCormick also ordered Tesla to pay the attorneys who brought the case $345 million, well short of the $6 billion they initially requested . Shareholders also flooded the court with thousands of letters arguing that the January ruling increased the possibility that Musk would leave Tesla or develop some products like artificial intelligence at ventures other than Tesla. Attorneys for shareholder Richard Tornetta, who sued in 2018 to challenge Musk’s compensation package, had argued that Delaware law does not permit a company to use a ratification vote to essentially overturn the ruling from a trial. McCormick in January found that Musk improperly controlled the 2018 board process to negotiate the pay package. The board had said that Musk deserved the package because he hit all the ambitious targets on market value, revenue and profitability. But the judge criticized Tesla’s board as “beholden” to Musk, saying the compensation plan was proposed by a board whose members had conflicts of interest due to close personal and financial ties to him. After the January ruling, Musk criticized the judge on his social media platform X and encouraged other companies to follow the lead of Tesla and reincorporate in Texas from Delaware, although it is unclear if any companies did so. The judge in her January ruling called the pay package the “biggest compensation plan ever – an unfathomable sum.” It was 33 times larger than the next biggest executive compensation package, which was Musk’s 2012 pay plan. Musk’s 2018 pay package gave him stock grants worth around 1% of Tesla’s equity each time the company achieved one of 12 tranches of escalating operational and financial goals. Musk did not receive any guaranteed salary. Tornetta argued that shareholders were not told how easily the goals would be achieved when they voted on the package.
By MARC LEVY HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania conceded his reelection bid to Republican David McCormick on Thursday, as a statewide recount showed no signs of closing the gap and his campaign suffered repeated blows in court in its effort to get potentially favorable ballots counted. Casey’s concession comes more than two weeks after Election Day, as a grindingly slow ballot-counting process became a spectacle of hours-long election board meetings, social media outrage, lawsuits and accusations that some county officials were openly flouting the law. Republicans had been claiming that Democrats were trying to steal McCormick’s seat by counting “illegal votes.” Casey’s campaign had accused of Republicans of trying to block enough votes to prevent him from pulling ahead and winning. In a statement, Casey said he had just called McCormick to congratulate him. “As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last,” Casey said. The Associated Press called the race for McCormick on Nov. 7, concluding that not enough ballots remained to be counted in areas Casey was winning for him to take the lead. As of Thursday, McCormick led by about 16,000 votes out of almost 7 million ballots counted. That was well within the 0.5% margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law. But no election official expected a recount to change more than a couple hundred votes or so, and Pennsylvania’s highest court dealt him a blow when it refused entreaties to allow counties to count mail-in ballots that lacked a correct handwritten date on the return envelope. Republicans will have a 53-47 majority next year in the U.S. Senate. Follow Marc Levy at twitter.com/timelywriterTORONTO — Trae Young had a double-double as the Atlanta Hawks routed the struggling Toronto Raptors 136-107 on Sunday. Young had 34 points and 10 assists as Atlanta (18-15) won its fourth game in a row. He played only 32 minutes as both teams rested their starters with the game well in hand for the Hawks. De'Andre Hunter came off Atlanta's bench for 22 points. Clint Capela had a double-double with 13 rebounds and 11 points. Scottie Barnes had 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes of play as Toronto (7-26) dropped its 10th straight game. RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., scored 17 points with six rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes. Toronto saw an influx of talent to its rotation for the game. Centre Jakob Poeltl returned to the Raptors' starting lineup after missing four games with a strained his groin. He finished with 13 points and six rebounds. Veteran forward Bruce Brown had 12 points and three rebounds off the bench in his season debut after having arthroscopic surgery over the summer. Rookie guards Ja’Kobe Walter (illness) and Jamal Shead (knee contusion) also returned. Point guard Immanuel Quickley (partially torn UCL) remained out. Takeaways Hawks: A 13-2 run in the third quarter blew the game open for Atlanta, which led by as many as 22 points in the period. The Hawks dominated in most facets of the game, including fast-break points (30 to Toronto's 10) and bench points (57 to Toronto's 49). Raptors: It was one of the worst three-point shooting performances of the season for Toronto. The Raptors went seven for 24 from beyond the arc for 29.2 per cent. Toronto made just six threes in a 115-107 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 25. It was also a higher percentage than the 24.4 per cent they shot in a 129-92 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 5. Key moment Brown went up for a one-handed dunk with 1:28 left in the first quarter. When he slammed it down in front of Toronto's bench his teammates exploded onto the floor, celebrating the athletic play after the 28-year-old's season was delayed for 31 games by knee surgery. Key stat Toronto turned over the ball on each of its first five possessions. Taking care of the ball has been an issue all season and the Raptors struggled to recover after that start, giving up the ball 31 times for 30 points in the game. Their previous season high had been 27 in that same win over Philadelphia on Oct. 25. Up next Toronto: The Raptors wrap up 2024 with a visit to the NBA champion Boston Celtics on Tuesday. Atlanta: The Hawks fly to Colorado to face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
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BERLIN (Reuters) – U.S. billionaire Elon Musk drew criticism from German politicians from the government and opposition on Sunday for an opinion piece he wrote backing the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) which they deemed “intrusive” outside influence. The support of the AfD from Musk, who is set to serve U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s administration as an outside adviser, comes as Germans are set to vote on Feb. 23 after a coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed. The commentary published in German in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper, flagship of the Axel Springer media group, expanded on a post by Musk on social media platform X last week in which he wrote “only the AfD can save Germany” and praised the party’s approach to regulation, taxes and market deregulation. In response to the publication of his commentary, the editor of the newspaper’s opinion section said on X that she had resigned. Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition Christian Democrats and current favourite to succeed Scholz as chancellor, said in an interview with the Funke Media Group: “I cannot recall a comparable case of interference, in the history of Western democracies, in the election campaign of a friendly country.” Merz described the commentary as “intrusive and pretentious”. Saskia Esken, co-leader of Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), vowed fierce resistance to attempts by state actors as well as the rich and influential to influence Germany’s elections. “In Elon Musk’s world, democracy and workers’ rights are obstacles to more profit,” Esken told Reuters. “We say quite clearly: Our democracy is defensible and it cannot be bought.” Welt’s editor-in-chief designate defended the decision to publish the commentary, saying that democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of opinion, including polarising positions. The AfD is running second in opinion polls and might be able to thwart a centre-right or centre-left majority. Germany’s mainstream, more centrist parties have pledged to shun any support from the AfD at the national level.Is Walmart Making a Play to Win Market Share From Amazon? Here's What Investors Need to KnowNo. 25 Illinois rebounds in big way, blasts UMES 87-40
It is the largest successful union election in recent memory: 10,000 nurses will be joining the Teamsters. They work for hospital conglomerate Corewell Health at eight hospitals and one outpatient facility, all in southeast Michigan. “We’re so excited we can hardly stand it,” said Katherine Wallace, a nurse at the hospital in Troy, who has been a core part of the campaign since October 2023. The union won the November election with 63 percent, with more than 85 percent voting. The union committee is Nurses for Nurses, part of Teamsters Joint Council 43. The campaign was a response to staff cuts, unsafe practices, and worsening benefits, nurses said, after local hospitals were bought out by a conglomerate, now known as Corewell. “They did a lot of department mergers and cut a lot of staff, and that work has all been put on nurses,” said Becky Smola, a 10-year nurse in Dearborn. “It was becoming unsafe for us as nurses, and it’s not fair for the patients too because it’s not safe for them.” Hospital mergers and consolidations have been rampant in the U.S. over the last 30 years, with community hospitals absorbed into larger networks, sold, and then resold. Over 68 percent of hospitals are now part of networks, up from 53 percent in 2005. “I’ve been through five corporations at the hospital, and Corewell is the worst,” said nurse Natalie Lunsford, who has been at the Wayne campus since 1987. “I know what they have taken away from us. I have a small pension, but the new nurses won’t get that. I know the benefits, the holidays they’ve taken away from us. “They’re just going to keep taking from us, and enough was enough.” Corewell also forced a new insurance plan on the workers, doubling the out-of-pocket maximum and increasing prescription costs. As is increasingly the case with health care conglomerates, Corewell is the primary owner of the new insurance provider. “It was like double-dipping for them,” said Smola. The nurses had explored forming a union before, but this time was different because of problems resulting from the merger, and support from the Teamsters, they said. The organizers the nurses worked with “encouraged us not to be afraid to be public. I think that made other people feel comfortable too,” said Smola. “Teamsters were really good at helping us navigate conversations with harder questions,” said Wallace. Nurses had questions about how unions work, how dues work, and their democratic rights to vote on a contract. Wallace tabled at hospital shift changes to get basic information out to co-workers, and had many one-on-one conversations. “We refused to go door to door [to homes],” she said. “It was not well received in previous attempts. It created a backlash.” “Especially in the beginning, there were a lot of skeptical people because we’ve tried [to organize] before, most recently in 2019,” said Sarah Johnson, a radiation oncology nurse at Royal Oak, the largest hospital campus. “I just kept talking to people. I would table right outside the main entrance at shift change. We had nice conversations with people that way. “We had to get creative. If I put up a flier on the bulletin board, [managers] would take it down immediately. We created a Facebook page, a private group. We’d screen everyone first. It became our safe place to educate everyone.” Nurse organizers made creative use of TikTok and Instagram to educate other nurses and encourage their support, and the lead organizers used an encrypted app to keep in touch with each other across the nine campuses. They also used social media to combat misinformation from union-busters. The presence of union-busters was not well-received by the nurses. When the first one showed up, the nurses immediately got his picture and figured out his name. They made “wanted” posters to alert other nurses. Lunsford said that when hospital managers brought the union-busters into her campus, it backfired on the hospital, turning nurses who had previously planned to sit out the election into “yes” votes. After one of the union-busters left her nurses station, Lunsford said, she spoke with a nurse the union-buster had been talking to. “I said to her, ‘Did you know that was a union-buster?’ I started explaining to her everything we’ve lost. She wasn’t going to vote at all, and after I spoke with her, she said she was going to vote yes.” Following the vote, nurse organizers reported many co-workers reaching out to be part of the next steps of forming the union and bargaining a contract. Due to the size of the bargaining unit, the nurses will have their own local. “We’re just looking forward to a strong contract, and we’ll get it,” said Wallace. “We have strength in numbers with an immense bargaining unit. We’ll do real well at the table.”EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings waived cornerback Akayleb Evans on Saturday in another setback for their beleaguered 2022 draft class. Evans started 15 games last season, but he had been relegated to a special teams role this year after the Vikings added veteran cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin. Evans was a fourth-round pick out of Missouri, one of three defensive backs among Minnesota's first five selections in 2022. Lewis Cine (first round) was waived and Andrew Booth (second round) was traded earlier this year. One of their second-round picks, guard Ed Ingram, lost his starting spot last week. Evans was let go to clear a roster spot for tight end Nick Muse, who was activated from injured reserve to play on Sunday at Chicago. The Vikings ruled tight end Josh Oliver out of the game with a sprained ankle. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Recent feature on Advancements showcased breakthroughs in green energy for supercomputing & AI. JUPITER, Fla. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Advancements with Ted Danson recently explored how innovations in purpose-built renewable energy infrastructure are helping to meet the growing market demand for AI and carbon-free fuels across industries. This segment highlighted how Open Origin, an energy generation and distribution company, will apply advanced technology with industry-leading efficiency, to meet the growing global demand for energy and U.S. supply chain challenges for supercomputing and AI, while significantly reducing environmental impact. Viewers learned about Open Origin's dedication to advancing American innovation, to strengthen national security, support economic growth, and protect natural resources. Experts shared how Open Origin's groundbreaking Uninterruptible Power Plant (UPP) will redefine the future of scalable green energy, powering mission-critical infrastructure and AI with unmatched reliability. "We aim to reshape the energy landscape and contribute to a cleaner, greener future. We believe that this project is a significant stride toward renewable energy solutions. We're not only constructing an industrial-scale green ammonia plant; we're building a blueprint for sustainable and economic growth in the United States and around the world," said Wesley Powell, CEO of Open Origin. Audiences also learned how Open Origin will produce and distribute green fuels at industrial scale using 100% renewable energy, to meet the growing market demand for carbon-free fuels across industries. "By combining free-market principles with cutting-edge technology, Open Origin is building off-grid power capacity to address the nation's energy needs, while empowering local communities and creating jobs," said Dustin Schwarz , programming director for the Advancements series." About Open Origin: An innovative energy development company making strides in transforming the global energy landscape and specializing in large-scale, sustainable energy projects; Open Origin is dedicated to the deployment of advanced technologies to deliver environmentally friendly, cost-efficient energy solutions. The company is spearheading the construction of the first zero-waste, zero-carbon, industrial-scale green ammonia facility in the United States . Located in New Mexico , this ambitious project stands as a testament to Open Origin's commitment to driving sustainable growth, reducing carbon emissions, and pioneering the future of renewable energy. The company's unique approach of integrating multiple energy projects within an Eco-Industrial Park is setting new standards in the renewable energy sector, while strengthening the nation's energy security and fostering economic development. For more information, visit: https://www.openorigin.industries or email: GK@openorigin.industries . About Advancements: Advancements is an information-based educational television series that explores recent developments taking place across several industries and economies. With a focus on some of the major innovations responsible for global progress today, the award-winning series goes behind-the-scenes to discover and share how technology and innovation continue to drive the world forward. Advancements shines a light on several important issues and topics, while featuring an array of cutting-edge improvements, state-of-the-art technologies, and groundbreaking environmental and sustainable solutions. Its team of writers, directors, and producers remain dedicated to consistently producing commercial-free, educational programming for viewers and networks. For more information, please visit www.AdvancementsTV.com or call 866-496-4065. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/developments-in-sustainable-energy-generation-and-distribution-302320164.html SOURCE Advancements
The recent petrol price crash by Dangote Refinery and subsequent partnership with MRS Oil has been hailed as a good move The Independent Monitors Group on Economic Reform (IMGER) described the move as a commitment to the welfare of Nigerians The group also hailed Dangote Refinery’s special purchase offer, allowing customers to purchase an extra litre of fuel on credit secured by banks Don't miss out! Join Legit.ng's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now! Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade. The Independent Monitors Group on Economic Reform (IMGER) has lauded Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil for crashing the price of Premium petrol. Wasiu Akande praised the two firms' plans in a statement, saying they showed their commitment to the development and well-being of Nigerians. Dangote Refinery offers petrol on credit Akande also called for more such collaboration between the private sector and the Nigerian government to boost economic growth and development that benefits Nigerians. Read also Aliko Dangote explains decision to reduce petrol price PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! The group lauded Dangote Refinery's special purchase offer, which allows consumers to buy extra fuel on credit secured by a bank guarantee. According to The Nation, this initiative, according to Akande, provides added financial flexibility for consumers during the high-spending holiday period. IMGER believes that reducing fuel prices will positively impact the Nigerian economy, lowering the cost of transportation, food, and other essential commodities. The statement said: "IMGER commends Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil for their bold and laudable decision to reduce the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) during the yuletide season,". The move will improve economic standards The statement said the move shows the firm’s dedication to providing affordable petroleum products to Nigerian consumers. The group disclosed that it believes Dangote and MRS's crash in petrol prices will positively impact the Nigerian economy, helping to reduce transportation costs, food, and other key commodities. IMGER disclosed that the move will boost economic activity, stimulate growth and enhance the overall living standards nationwide. Read also NLC speaks on fuel price reduction by Dangote refinery, points at competition within sector The group asked the Nigerian government to support and collaborate with Dangote Refinery and MRS Oil to deliver on the nation’s economic potential. IMAGER also urged other private sector players to emulate the example of Dangote and MRS Oil by prioritising the welfare and well-being of Nigerians. Dangote collaborates with MRS to reduce petrol price Legit.ng earlier reported that Dangote Refinery has agreed with MRS to distribute petrol for N935 per litre through its retail outlets nationwide. Dangote Group's spokesman, Tony Chiejine, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, December 21, 2024. The mega refinery crashed petrol prices for marketers from N970 to N899 per litre to ease transportation burdens for Nigerians during the holidays. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng