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Amherst VFW Post 1662 hosts annual Children’s Christmas PartyThe Osun Chairman, the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. John Adeleke, on Sunday advised Nigerians to turn to God for the healing of the land from hunger and other challenges. Adeleke advised while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on the sidelines of the Faji Community Crusade at Faji Town, Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun. NAN reports the Community Christ Ambassador Evangelical Team organised the crusade. According to him, the nation faces many challenges because Nigerians have turned away from God. “There will be challenges in a country where the people and their leaders are not righteous. God is expecting that every sinner should repent and turn to Him. “Most of the things that are happening show that God is not happy with us. Somehow, we are experiencing famine as part of the last-day prophecies. The only solution is for everyone to turn to God and develop a fear of God. “Sinners should give their lives to Jesus Christ and turn away from their wicked ways; I believe God is the God of mercy, He will show mercy,” he said. The CAN chairman described the situation where leaders get to offices without any prior plan for the people as unfortunate. Related News Farotimi thanks Nigerians, hails public outcry against arrest, detention Living in bondage: How loan sharks plunge Nigerians into depression over debt The plight of 179m Nigerians living in dirt “Once they get to their respective offices, they do not care about the welfare of the people,” he said. He cried against political leaders who find it hard to fulfil their promises to the public because of the people they surround themselves with. “Hence, they get to listen to bad advice and sometimes, the power of dark forces is at work,” he said. Adeleke said leaders, who rely only on their abilities and intelligence, sometimes depending on ungodly forces, and not on God, create more problems than solutions. He said he desired and prayed that everybody, including leaders, retraced their steps to God. (NAN)

Artificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there's a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges. Here's a look at some of the most notable state laws taking effect: FILE - Director of Photography Jac Cheairs and his son, actor Wyatt Cheairs, 11, take part in a rally by striking writers and actors outside Netflix studio in Los Angeles on Friday, July 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use. Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so. FILE - In advance of Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri's Congressional testimony, to illustrate the harms children face on social media, parent activists brought an "Instagrinch" to the Capitol building in Washington, Dec. 7, 2021. (Eric Kayne/AP Images for ParentsTogether, File) New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges. A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February. A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, has filed a challenge. Several new California measures aimed at combating political deepfakes are also being challenged, including one requiring large social media platforms to remove deceptive content related to elections and another allowing any individual to sue for damages over the use of AI to create fabricated images or videos in political ads. FILE - Parents, students, and staff of Chino Valley Unified School District hold up signs in favor of protecting LGBTQ+ policies at Don Antonio Lugo High School, in Chino, Calif., June 15, 2023. (Anjali Sharif-Paul/The Orange County Register via AP, File) In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents if their children change their gender identification. The law was a priority for Democratic lawmakers who wanted to halt such policies passed by several districts. FILE - Christian F. Nunes, president of National Organization for Women speaks as abortion rights activists and Women's March leaders protest as part of a national day of strike actions outside the Supreme Court, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) Many states have passed laws limiting or protecting abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to the procedure in 2022. One of the latest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A law there will require the state employee health plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cover abortions with no deductible, copayments or other cost-sharing requirements. FILE - Gov. Tim Walz speaks before a crowd gathered for a rally on the steps of the state Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday evening, Aug. 7, 2019. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, center left, and his wife Gwen Walz, center right, stand by him. (Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune via AP, File) A new Minnesota law prohibits guns with "binary triggers" that allow for more rapid fire, causing a weapon to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when it is released. In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. Kentucky is becoming the latest state to let people use marijuana for medical purposes. To apply for a state medical cannabis card, people must get written certification from a medical provider of a qualifying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Minimum wage workers in more than 20 states are due to receive raises in January. The highest minimum wages will be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which will top $16 an hour after modest increases. The largest increases are scheduled in Delaware, where the minimum wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, where a ballot measure approved by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the current minimum of $12 an hour. Twenty other states still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. FILE - A man talks on his cell phone while driving in Los Angeles, Monday June 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File) In Oregon, using drugs on public transit will be considered a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. While the measure worked its way through the legislature, multiple transportation officials said drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers feel less safe. In Missouri, law enforcement officers have spent the past 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is illegal. Starting with the new year, penalties will kick in: a $150 fine for the first violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and up to 15 years imprisonment if a driver using a cellphone cause an injury or death. But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law. Montana is the only state that hasn't banned texting while driving, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. FILE - Surrounded by members of the legislature and signs touting saving families money, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announces her 'Axe the Food Tax' campaign at Dillons grocery store in Topeka, Kan., Monday, Nov. 8, 2021 by holding an axe. (Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal via AP, File) Tenants in Arizona will no longer have to pay tax on their monthly rent, thanks to the repeal of a law that had allowed cities and towns to impose such taxes. While a victory for renters, the new law is a financial loss for governments. An analysis by Arizona's nonpartisan Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated that $230 million would be lost in municipal tax revenue during the first full fiscal year of implementation. Meanwhile Alabama will offer tax credits to businesses that help employees with child care costs. Kansas is eliminating its 2% sales tax on groceries. It also is cutting individual income taxes by dropping the top tax rate, increasing a credit for child care expenses and exempting all Social Security income from taxes, among other things. Taxpayers are expected to save about $320 million a year going forward. FILE - Election board inspector Pat Cook readies "I Voted" stickers for voters during early voting in Oklahoma City, Friday, Oct. 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File) An Oklahoma law expands voting privileges to people who have been convicted of felonies but had their sentences discharged or commuted, including commutations for crimes that have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Young, an Oklahoma City Democrat, carried the bill in the Senate. "I think it's very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens," Young said. Associated Press writers Trân Nguyễn in Sacramento, California; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky; Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri; Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Joe Biden walks to the Oval Office after attending the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz arrive during a campaign rally at Desert Diamond Arena, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) A delegate looks at her phone during the Republican National Convention Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jocardo Ralston, 47, from Pennsylvania, looks up to a television to watch the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at Tillie's Lounge on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Supporters of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump look on as a bus carrying Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris passes by following a campaign event, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Rochester, Pa. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Attendees look on at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak on the final day of the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives at the Republican National Convention Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at PPG Paints Arena, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and former first lady Michelle Obama arrive to speak during a campaign rally, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Mich. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) A supporter greets Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump after a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) A political advertisement for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris is displayed on the Sphere, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris walks toward reporters to speak before boarding Air Force Two, as she departs Las Vegas from Harry Reid International Airport, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, en route to Arizona. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) A voter works on her ballot at a polling place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Former President Donald Trump waits for the start of proceedings in Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in New York. Before testimony resumes Tuesday, the judge will hold a hearing on prosecutors' request to sanction and fine Trump over social media posts they say violate a gag order prohibiting him from attacking key witnesses. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, Pool) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump dances after speaking at a campaign event Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Savannah, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris looks at a monitor of the event from backstage, just before taking the stage for her final campaign rally, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump is prayed over with Pastor Paula White during the National Faith Summit at Worship With Wonders Church, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Powder Springs, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Forgiato Blow wears a necklace with a likeness of former President Donald Trump before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Elon Musk jumps on the stage as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Voters stand in line outside a polling place at Madison Church, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Phoenix, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris hugs President Biden during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Lee's Family Forum, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump is reflected in the bullet proof glass as he finishes speaking at a campaign rally in Lititz, Pa., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, bottom center, greets supporters after speaking during a campaign rally Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Mich. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) A young girl holds a "Black Voters for Harris-Walz" sign outside of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris' election night watch party at Howard University, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, shares a laugh with second gentleman Doug Emhoff, after reuniting in Pittsburgh, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, aboard Air Force Two, just before taking off from Pittsburgh for her final campaign rally in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) With tears streaming down her face, a supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris applauds as Harris delivers a concession speech after the 2024 presidential election, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Bikers show their support for President-elect Donald Trump while riding on I-84, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, near Lords Valley, Pa. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump stands on stage with steelworkers as he speaks during a campaign rally at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Latrobe, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Supporters cheer as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Erie, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris appears on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," with Maya Rudolph, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 in New York. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) A delegate wearing a small American flag on his ear watches as Republican presidential candidate and former president, Donald Trump, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris hugs a child after speaking during a campaign event at Washington Crossing Historic Park, in Washington Crossing, Pa., Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) President Joe Biden pauses before he addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, about his decision to drop his Democratic presidential reelection bid. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump departs after speaking at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) A voter watches the stage before former first lady Michelle Obama speaks at campaign rally in support of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in College Park, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris shake hands before the start of an ABC News presidential debate at the National Constitution Center, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Hugh Grant Has Always Played the Villain

A housing developer has prompted fury after it backtracked on its promise to contribute funding to schools and facilities for a major new housing scheme. Hodson Developments has been accused of reneging on an earlier pledge to invest millions in services and infrastructure for a 6,000-home development in Ashford, . Work has already begun on Chilmington Green development and Hodson has additional plans approved for another 665 new builds nearby. But the firm has now applied to the Planning Inspectorate to ditch or alter 33 of the funding commitments it made as part of its original planning agreement. It intends to save £50 million by not contributing to the building of schools and funding of social care and community projects. Hodson is reportedly planning to save a further £30 million by not providing funding to turn the A28 into a dual carriageway, leading to what residents fear will be increased congestion. It also wants to cut £14.9 million of funding, including scrapping an entire primary school, arguing that the development will only have 6,000 homes rather than the original plan for 7,000. Other cuts in promised funding will also include £213,000 to adult learning, £900,000 of library funding and £239,000 for youth services. Hodson had signed a legally binding Section 106 Agreement with Kent county council (KCC), but has now reportedly claimed that such funding is no longer possible in the current financial climate and would be prohibitively expensive and self-defeating. KCC has threatened legal action against the developer unless it reinstates its earlier agreement to fund road improvements. A spokesman for KCC told The Telegraph: “The county council as local highway authority has a duty to protect the network from the negative impacts of traffic generated by new development. “We will vigorously defend the legal obligations already placed upon this developer by and ourselves to secure the necessary infrastructure to prevent the A28 from becoming permanently gridlocked. “We are currently in negotiations with Hodsons to find a way forward, but if necessary will contest the issue in a Public Inquiry and a court of law.” Cllr Linda Harman, the portfolio holder for planning at Ashford borough council, backed KCC’s stand and said it would “appeal robustly against the proposed changes”. She said: “We do not feel they will benefit local residents or [the] wider community of Ashford at all. “We want Chilmington Green to be the sustainable development it was planned to be, with all the community facilities intended, so we will make the case that the proposed amendments to the S106 agreement will only short change residents.” Officials from the Planning Inspectorate are set to assess in February next year whether Hodson can back out of its promised funding. The firm is also understood to be seeking to set aside its original commitment to spend £800,000 towards a new graveyard for the area, contribute towards footpaths and cycling routes and provide £2.5 million of bus vouchers for homeowners. The backtracking has angered residents, who say that without the promised community facilities the new development will place an intolerable strain on existing services. Michael Ross, 76, a retired building manager, said: “Developers think they can do what they want. The considerations of local people are never thought about. It’s insanity to build thousands of new homes and not consider what infrastructure is needed as well.” Mr Ross told MailOnline: “The needs of locals are always just an afterthought. That’s really bad. Public services will collapse. The roads are so busy as it is. Getting anywhere is already a nightmare. There should be proper obligations in place to ensure these things are met.” Hodson Developments has defended the proposed changes, saying the cost and burden of the S106 infrastructure contributions are “undermining viability” and “deliverability” of the development, though it insists “none” of the changes relate to it wanting to “enhance its profit margin”. In submitted documents, Hodson stated: “The S106 agreement was drafted in relation to a fundamentally different development than that which has emerged. “The modifications and/or discharge of obligations are necessary in order to address critical viability and deliverability challenges that have arisen as a result of a range of circumstances beyond the appellant’s control. “The proposed changes enable the delivery of the development and wider scheme. Provided peak debt levels can be reduced in accordance with the variations requested, the scheme can be delivered by the appellant and will ultimately prosper in a way that will offer the opportunity in later Review Phases to increase the affordable housing provision, whilst ensuring the delivery of all essential infrastructure.” Hodson Developments has been approached for further comment.Drone operators worry that anxiety over mystery sightings will lead to new restrictions By DAVID KOENIG Associated Press Drones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base. The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” Who regulates drones? The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use, and Congress has written some requirements into law. Who enforces the rules? With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. What does it take to become a drone pilot? To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a “mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Are drones allowed to fly at night? Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Are drones a hazard? Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023. Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Will drone rules get tougher? Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it’s up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It’s a brand new technology that’s not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” ___ Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed. (AP) — The Biden administration has finalized a rule limiting Drone operators worry that anxiety over mystery sightings will lead (AP) — More than 400 tips were called into the (AP) — The leader of UnitedHealth Group conceded that the

The Green Bay Packers (11-4) travel to meet the Minnesota Vikings (13-2) for a Week 17 matchup Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX). Below, we look at Packers vs. Vikings odds from BetMGM Sportsbook's NFL odds before making our expert NFL picks and predictions later in the week. The Packers roughed up the injury-depleted New Orleans Saints 34-0 Monday night at Lambeau Field. Green Bay covered the spread as 14-point favorites and the Under (43.5) cashed. The Packers have won 5 of the past 6 games and have covered 5 contests in a row. The Under has hit in back-to-back games and in 5 of the past 7 outings. The Vikings kept pace with the Detroit Lions for first place in the NFC North, winning 27-24 at the Seattle Seahawks. Minnesota covered as a 2.5-point favorite with the Over (43) hitting. The Vikings have won 8 in a row, while covering in the last 3. They are 5-2-1 ATS in the win streak, while alternating the Over and Under in each of the past 6 outings since Week 11. Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now ! Packers at Vikings odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook ; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds . Lines last updated Tuesday at 5:54 p.m. ET. 2024 betting stats FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS Live games, analysis and more 7 days a week: Get ESPN+ Packers vs. Vikings head-to-head The Packers lead the all-time series 66-59-3, which includes a 1-1 split in 2 playoff matchups. The Vikings won 31-29 in the first meeting at Lambeau Field this season in Week 4 Sept. 29. Behind QB Sam Darnold , Minnesota jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the second quarter and hung on for the 2-point win, covering as a 2.5-point underdog with the Over (44.5) cashing. Darnold finished with 275 passing yards, 3 TDs (all in the first half) and 1 interception. The visiting team has actually won and covered the past 3 meetings in this series. Green Bay's last victory vs. Minnesota was in Week 17 of last season, a 33-10 rout as a 1-point road favorite with the Over (42) hitting. The Vikings are 5-3 straight up and ATS in the past 8 in the series, with the O/U splitting at 4-4. The losing team has been held to 10 or fewer points in 4 of the past 6 meetings, too. For more sports betting picks and tips , check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW . Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X . Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook . Access more NFL coverage: BetFTW | TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire More NFL Picks and Predictions! Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers odds, picks and predictions SportsbookWire's NFL Week 17 picks: ML, ATS and O/U predictions for all games First look: Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints odds and linesVALUE LINE, INC. ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS

Justin Baldoni Sued by Former Publicist Over Breach of Contract

Fred Harris was 33 years old when countless people dismissed him as a has-been. It was 1964. Harris, a Democratic state senator in Oklahoma, wanted the job coveted by his state's biggest celebrity. Harris ran for an open U.S. Senate seat against Republican Bud Wilkinson, the man credited with crushing Oklahoma's Grapes of Wrath image. Wilkinson had coached the football team at the University of Oklahoma to three national championships. From 1953-57, Wilkinson's Sooners won 47 consecutive games, still the record for Division I schools. After excelling against ferocious competition in football, Wilkinson couldn't imagine losing to Harris. And so Wilkinson did what he lectured his players never to do: He underestimated an opponent. Harris, a transplanted New Mexican, died last week at 94. The election of '64 might have been his favorite chapter in a rich, full life. Harris defeated two former governors in the Democratic primary election for the right to run against Wilkinson. Doubters figured Harris wanted too much too soon. They didn't see how he could outpoint a legend in the general election. Fans of Harris knew he had a chance. He was well-prepared, a Phi Beta Kappa scholar who had served in the state Senate since he was 25. But Wilkinson started with an obvious advantage. Because the coach had brought so much positive attention to Oklahoma, even people who did not care about football were intrigued by him. Telegenic and a polished public speaker, Wilkinson seemed like the ideal candidate. He was not. "Wilkinson was a strong right-winger, almost a Bircher," Harris told me in one of our many interviews. "He started giving speeches about why Rome fell, and he said it was because people got hooked on welfare. "I said I'd done my own research and found that Rome fell because people got too carried away with sports and gladiators in arenas. It was kind of bad history, but no worse than Wilkinson's." Being on the right side of history became pivotal in their Senate race. Debate was underway on landmark civil rights legislation favored by Democratic President Lyndon Johnson. Never had Wilkinson fumbled as he did on this issue. He had seemed enlightened on matters of race during his coaching career. Wilkinson desegregated his Oklahoma team in 1956 by recruiting Prentice Gautt, a Black running back. Welcoming a Black kid to a football program was, by some standards, a bold step. Coaches at collegiate powerhouses Texas and Alabama stalled until the early 1970s before they signed any Black talent. As if spiting his own record, Wilkinson invited South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond to campaign for him in the section of Oklahoma known as Little Dixie. "He brought in the strongest racist in the Senate when the polls showed we were splitting the Black vote 50-50," Harris said. "By the end, I was getting nine of every 10 of those votes." Harris knew the presidential election was another key to victory in his race. He announced his support for Johnson, and he urged Wilkinson to disclose his own choice for president. The coach's natural instinct was to accept any challenge. His strategists didn't want Wilkinson talking about who should be president. Wilkinson nonetheless committed himself to Republican Barry Goldwater, who was sinking in the polls. Harris spoke with authority on every issue from taxes to voting rights. This also set him apart from Wilkinson, whose world had been Oklahoma football from 1947 to 1963. "His understanding of government was really rather shallow," Harris said. Election Day brought a landslide and a lesson. Johnson thrashed Goldwater in Oklahoma by 107,000 votes. Harris sweated out a closer race, defeating Wilkinson by 21,000 votes. Harris' talents soon became apparent to party elders. He was one of the final two people Democratic presidential nominee Hubert Humphrey considered to be his running mate in 1968. The other was Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine. Humphrey evaluated both men, shuttling between their rooms in the same Chicago hotel. Just 37, Harris in this competition found his age was a disadvantage. "Fred, I'm going to have to go with the older man," Humphrey said. "If he's your choice, I'll nominate him," Harris replied. And he did, telling conventioneers Muskie was a strong addition to the ticket. Harris spent eight years in the U.S. Senate, became national chairman of the Democratic Party and twice ran unsuccessfully for president in the 1970s. Finished as a candidate, he moved to New Mexico. Harris taught political science at the University of New Mexico, wrote books and for a time led the state Democratic Party. His students remember Harris as a superb storyteller. Candidates who sought his counsel learned Harris took nothing for granted and neither should they. As for Wilkinson, he made a Dust Bowl state proud by winning more than 80% of his games at Oklahoma. But he was never in Harris' league.

Lil Wayne, GloRilla, Camila Cabello to perform at College Football National Championship

We’re taking a look back at some of our favourite and most popular Entertainment stories of 2024 , giving you a chance to catch up on some of the great reading you might have missed this year. In this story from October, we count down the 25 best animated films, ideal for inspiration if the kids are already bored with their Christmas presents. For years it was the superheroes who were saving Hollywood. From Spider-Man to Batman to, belatedly, a few women — the comic-book movie became a multibillion-dollar ballast for a business struggling to make money in a world of streaming and smartphones. But then, like Superman faced with kryptonite, said superheroes started to weaken and their fickle audiences moved on as studio execs started to panic. Who, they gasped, would save Hollywood now? Well, step forward ... cartoons. Lots of them. In a previous life the top of the box-office charts would be full of Oscar-worthy adult movies — but the days of cinema being dominated by serious dramatic fare are long gone. Five of the top 20 highest-grossing films worldwide this year were animated — and three of those five were among the top six money-makers. Such is the domination that the biggest film this year is Inside Out 2 , the sequel starring new emotions in the teenager Riley’s brain. It was the fastest film to date to reach US$1 billion (from box offices around the world) and that’s with half the publicity of a film like, say, Barbie , which made far less money. Meanwhile, Despicable Me 4 was the third-highest earner of the year and Kung Fu Panda 4 landed at No 6. “Entering the summer, the marketplace was suffering a malaise — a year-to-date downturn with films not living up to expectations,” says Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for the global media company Comscore. “Then family movies became the saviour of box office.” This is glorious for Hollywood. In 2020, when Trolls World Tour became the first film of the pandemic to be released at home at the same time as in cinemas, entire pricing structures fell into jeopardy. A family of four in the UK gathered around a TV would pay £20 to stream Trolls World Tour instead of north of £50 for four multiplex tickets and some overpriced popcorn and drinks. Losing that income for ever would have been fatal for the industry, but the success of Inside Out 2 and its ilk has brought back multigenerational family entertainment — something Marvel and DC superhero franchises never pulled off — when studios needed it most. Dave Holstein, a writer on Inside Out 2 , describes the film as “many movies in one. My six-year-old thinks it’s the funniest he’s seen. My mum thinks it’s the saddest. And when my son sees it again in 10 years he’ll have a whole different movie to watch.” By the end of this year the blockbusters with actual actors in them — The Fall Guy , Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dune: Part Two — will be further sidelined by the arrival of Moana 2 (the first Moana earned US$600 million) and Mufasa: The Lion King (the 2019 Lion King reboot took US$1.6 billion). Even the king of rom-coms Richard Curtis is getting in on the act with a cartoon, That Christmas. And The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has no A-listers in sight. Yet this year’s animation boom was not nearly as bright, gaudy and empty as the film posters tended to suggest. Yes, there was dross ( The Garfield Movie ) but more interestingly, more excitingly, it has brought a sense of creative expression and exuberance, as if animation is entering its baroque phase. Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is delivered in beautifully rendered anime, making the screen look like the best room in an art gallery; while the masterly and meaningful The Wild Robot , out this weekend, is like watching ET , Finding Nemo and Bambi as drawn by Claude Monet. Inside Out 2 had equal quality, following the rich Pixar tradition of Up, Wall-E and Soul by tackling the biggest topics — such as loneliness and death — in a way that never felt patronising. “One of my favourite films of the past 20 years is Toy Story 3 ,” Miguel Gomes, the Portuguese arthouse film-maker who won best director at the Cannes Film Festival this year, told The Film Stage. “Pixar is closer to the idea of mainstream classical cinema than most of what is made today.” And Gomes’s enthusiasm is the crux of the animation boom, explaining why the backbone of Hollywood profit shifting from superhero to cartoon will become less of a trend and more of an era. Comic-book films lost their audience in the 2020s due to creative stagnation and a dwindling interest in periphery characters ( The Flash? Ant-Man ?), yet animation is a sandbox where artists can draw what they want. Such endless ideas will always have a chance of welcoming new fans, especially those who grew up with gaming culture. This is a key factor in why animation is having a moment — because the future of cinema depends on convincing Gen Z and Gen Alpha that a multiplex remains as appealing as it did before various devices littered the home. The signs are encouraging: 37 per cent of the audience at Inside Out 2 ′s opening weekend was made up of 18 to 34-year-olds, an age group who go to the cinema without parents but, crucially, without kids. Why are they watching a cartoon? Because for younger fans animation is serious storytelling, with their most beloved yarns in gaming on Xbox and PlayStation spun via that medium. Studios know this. They have been trying and failing to bring video games to the big screen for at least 20 years, since before Angelina Jolie played Lara Croft in 2001. But rather than mimic stories, what if they tried for the essence of a video game instead? The feel and the look — the myriad possibilities? That is what we have seen in animation this year, because if studios were able to transpose what people enjoy about consoles on to the big screen, then Hollywood will own the next generation. It will save itself. The 25 best animated films ranked - from Snow White to Up The Times critics pick their favourite cartoons that you can watch now. We’re living in an animation boom. Family-friendly cartoons are taking over the box office, with two of the biggest movies of 2024 so far being Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4 . The Pixar film, about the emotions inside a teenager’s brain, became the highest-grossing animated film ever, raking in over US$1.6 billion since its release. And now The Wild Robot hits cinemas, a new animated film from DreamWorks about a robot named Roz. It has already been praised by critics as a masterpiece. But what’s the best animated film? Here our critics rank the top 25 of all time — from Up to Waltz with Bashir . Did they get it right? 25. Frozen (2013, Disney+) Disney spent ten years trying to adapt Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale The Snow Queen and the result was this shimmering, frosted fantasy. It tells a simple yet compelling tale of two sisters, one with icy powers, and a snowman named Olaf who likes summer days. It has become a cultural touchstone that has spread its icy tips across the globe with merchandise, stage shows and ice shows — until Frozen 2 in 2019 it was the highest grossing animated film. Crammed with earworms, this is the movie your children won’t let you forget, no matter how hard you try to, err, let it go. 24. Inside Out (2015, Disney+) It’s a perennial question: what actually goes on inside our heads? Pixar’s imaginative film follows Riley, an ice-hockey obsessed 11-year-old, as she moves to San Francisco. But she isn’t the star of the show. Instead, viewers get a peek inside her mind where anthropomorphised versions of emotions — Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, Anger — struggle to keep control. It’s an abstract premise delivered with giddy, colourful characters. The film is at once a tearjerker and pure joy. Its sequel became the highest-grossing animated film ever. 23. The Jungle Book (1967, Disney+) In 1967 Disney needed a hit: the response to the studio’s previous feature The Sword in the Stone (1963) had been lacklustre and Walt had died of lung cancer at 65 the year before. Luckily they had this lively animated adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling classic in the bag. Stuffed with exuberant characters and a jumpin’ score, this film is pure fun. The star is Baloo, the loveable bear, and his infectious track The Bare Necessities . It was the last film overseen by Walt Disney — a magical note to bow out on. 22. James and the Giant Peach (1996, Disney+) Henry Sellick’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic about a boy riding in a giant, runaway peach with a crew of ugly bugs matches Dahl’s mixture of spikiness and sparkiness almost exactly — the storytelling has a helium bounce thanks to inspired voice work by Simon Callow, Joanna Lumley, Richard Dreyfuss and Miriam Margolyes. The best Dahl adaptation before Wes Anderson got to work. 21. Monsters Inc (2001, Disney+) It’s not your typical plot for a children’s film: monsters elicit screams from children to power their glistening metropolis. Yet this is packed with warmth and cheerful high energy, delivered by a hairy blue-purple monster called Sulley, voiced by John Goodman, and his green pal Mike (Billy Crystal). At its heart it’s a tale of confronting one’s fears, but it never becomes bogged down. It’s full of gleeful gags and silliness (odorants called Wet Dog and Low Tide). How did it lose the Oscar to Shrek? A travesty. 20. Fantastic Mr Fox (2009, Disney+) This stop-motion animation and ingenious adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel comes from the mind of one of Hollywood’s most idiosyncratic directors: Wes Anderson. The director, a lifelong Dahl fan who read the book as a child in Texas, teams up with the co-writer Noah Baumbach to dream up a story that extends beyond the poultry-stealing fox (voiced by George Clooney) and greedy farmers. This is a world of misfits, disaffected parents and troubled teenagers. Plus, there’s a farmhand voiced by the pop singer Jarvis Cocker. 19. Alice (1988, Mubi) The Czech surrealist Jan Svankmajer’s stop-motion version of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is one to give even adults the jitters. Alice’s transformations unfold with the logic of a bad dream, in which everyday objects — playing cards, china dolls, croquet mallets — take on spooky life and significance. Sure, there is some live action there, but it’s directed in a way that never distracts from the spectacular animation. Knocks the Disney version into a mad hatter’s hat. 18. My Neighbor Totoro (1988, Netflix) Hayao Miyazaki’s magical film is about two sisters who move to a creaky house near the hospital where their mother is being treated. They explore a visually enchanting world of their invention, a fantasy realm with a big, cuddly forest spirit and a “catbus”. Its friendly characters delight children, but its themes of wonderment and the thrill of exploration are great enough to awaken anyone’s inner child. The stage adaptation became a monster hit in the West End. 17. Pinocchio (1940, Disney+) Walt Disney didn’t like the Pinocchio of Carlo Calodi’s source novel very much and invented the character of Jiminy Cricket to give him a conscience, thus bequeathing to the studio its theme song: When You Wish Upon a Star , sung heartbreakingly by the singer-comedian Cliff Edwards. But the film remains one of the darker Disneys, and is all the more memorable for it. Remember how terrifying it is when Pinocchio transforms into a donkey? 16. Waltz with Bashir (2008, buy/rent Apple TV) Think animation can’t tackle challenging subject matter? Just watch this haunting movie, which brings to life the dreams and traumatic memories of the Israeli soldiers who fought with Lebanese forces against the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Syria in the 1982 Lebanon war. The Israeli director Ari Folman uses his shattered recollections as a soldier during the conflict and interviews with others who were there to create a nightmarish vision, a vivid and brutal portrait of the horrors of war. Still as pertinent as ever, this is a stunning anti-war film. 15. The Wild Robot (2024, in cinemas now) Chris Sanders has crafted a joyous film — warm, wise and funny — about oddball parenting. It tells the story of a robot (Lupita Nyong’o) who is washed up on the shore and has to adapt to its new surroundings. The director has focused his movie on the emotions and experience of parenthood, particularly when those parents happen to be slightly different. Anybody who has found themselves thrust into parenthood without a user’s manual — which is to say, just about everybody — will feel understood. Knockouts don’t come much cleaner than this. 14. Watership Down (1978, buy/rent Apple TV) Martin Rosen’s labour-of-love adaptation of Richard Adams’s bestseller about a warren of Hampshire rabbits forced into exile, featuring the voices of John Hurt, Richard Briars and Nigel Hawthorne, is not for those craving Disney cuteness. It’s a bloody, tooth-and-claw survival epic, bristling with violent predators and lurking threats, aimed at old souls who can still hum the tune to Art Garfunkel’s melancholy theme song, Bright Eyes . 13. Up (2009, Disney+) Is there a more traumatic movie scene than the first ten minutes of this animation? It captures the life of Carl (voiced by Ed Asner), the 78-year-old widower, from first love to the death of his wife. Heartbreaking. Next up, an adventure to visit the mythical lost worlds of South America, courtesy of the thousands of balloons he ties to the roof of his house. His companion is a freckled eight-year-old named Russell (Jordan Nagai). The film, which opened at Cannes in 2009, has a simple message: you’re never too old for an adventure. Just wonderful. 12. The Incredibles (2004, Disney+) Brad Bird’s retro-futurist hymn to space-age architecture, Bond villain lairs, couturiers inspired by the costume designer Edith Head (“Dahlink!”) and jetpacks — what more could you want? The zippiest Pixar, as well as the funniest, The Incredibles is executed with more craft, invention and wit than most of the superhero movies it spoofs. 11. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, Disney+) This started life as a poem that Tim Burton wrote while working as a junior animator at Disney. It became a witty, dark, wonderfully inventive fable about a takeover of Christmas by a village of spindly Halloween ghouls. The film mixes dark barbs and twinkly charm. Burton’s Edward Gorey-style designs receive cantering accompaniment in Danny Elfman’s antic score so that the production at times seems possessed by some mischievous spirit. 10. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018, Neon) After a torrent of half-baked superhero films, this animation felt refreshing. Produced by The Lego Movie ’s Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, its innovative design, quick-witted humour and mind-bending storytelling took modern animation into a different universe. At the centre of the tale is Miles Morales, a Brooklyn schoolboy, who teams up with all sorts of spider heroes, including a jaded middle-aged Spider-Man and a radioactive pig. The Oscar winner for best animated feature is busy but never overwhelming. It’s zippy, entertaining — and proved there was life yet in caped crusaders. 9. Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers (1993) Before Nick Park’s work acquired the scale and spectacle of Hollywood features, The Wrong Trousers with its techno trousers and penguin arch-villain got the balance with the more humdrum, homespun elements of the series exactly right. The film may be just 30 minutes long, but it took eight months to make. And the climax, featuring a death-defying run round a train set is an unimprovable mixture of thrills and slapstick. Buster Keaton would be proud. 8. Beauty and the Beast (1991, Disney+) Howard Ashman was dying of Aids when he wrote the lyrics for this glorious film with the composer Alan Menken. The duo had resurrected Disney’s fortunes in the 1980s with The Little Mermaid , but this was their magnum opus, a tale of a headstrong bibliophile who is held captive by a beast. Steeped in enchanting moments and bursting with colourful characters, this film looks gorgeous and combines the traditions of the past with the spectacle of a Broadway musical. It earned the first best picture Oscar nomination for an animated movie, an impressive feat for a medium so often dismissed. 7. Wall-E (2008, Disney+) One small step for a robot, one giant leap for animation. Pixar’s epic space adventure, about the last robot left on Earth, was an impressive move forward in technology, proving that animation could make you forget what you’re watching isn’t real. Andrew Stanton, who started his career as a writer on Toy Story , directs the tale of a droid clearing up the mess that mankind left behind while they’re getting fat on space cruises. Much of it unfolds like a silent movie with the whirring bot’s only accompaniment, at the start, an old Betamax tape of Hello, Dolly! . The artistic risk pays off — it’s animation’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. 6. Snow White (1937, Disney+) The Citizen Kane of animated features, the one that proved that a full-length animated feature was even possible, swept along by the obsession and storytelling verve of Walt Disney. While making it, he could practically run the entire film — every cut, fade-out, line of dialogue — in his sleep. The big gamble to make this — Walt’s “folly” — paid off and more than just a film, a new form was born. Adriana Caselotti, who was the voice of Snow White, was not credited for her role. She went on to have small parts in The Wizard of Oz and It’s a Wonderful Life (singing in Martini’s bar). 5. The Lion King (1994, Disney+) Of all the more recent Disneys The Lion King is the one with the simplicity of old — it’s basically Bambi in Africa — but the desert landscapes, soaring songs and basso profundo of James Earl Jones all give Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers’s film an epic sweep worthy of that continent. So dedicated were the animators that lions were brought into the studio to study. The voice work is among Disney’s best and Jeremy Irons’s Scar the most seductive Disney bad guy since Shere Khan. 4. Spirited Away (2001, Netflix) This film, which won the director Hayao Miyazaki his first Oscar, centres on ten-year-old Chihiro, whose family’s move to a new town takes a fantastical turn. Her parents have turned into pigs and she’s soon on a journey with supernatural beings, including a six-legged man and a grotesque sludge creature in a psychedelic bath house. It knows that it’s weird, that it’s not very Disney — but that doesn’t stop us from admiring its beauty and brashness. This is animation as art and Miyazaki’s most outlandish and ambitious Studio Ghibli picture. 3. Bambi (1942, Disney+) Completed in the aftermath of the death of Walt Disney’s mother, Bambi ’s purity of line and emotion make it the most poetic of all the Disneys. The storytelling has the economy and enchantment of fable. The first Disney feature to do without humans, except as a threat, it’s a film children can just pour themselves into. They are Bambi and Thumper. Originally there was a shot in the scene where Bambi’s mother dies, but the screenwriter Larry Morey felt that it was more powerful to have it happen off screen. 2. The Iron Giant (1999, buy/rent Apple TV) The characters of Ted Hughes’s The Iron Man are transplanted from 1950s England to rural Maine with barely a scratch, unlike the crash-landed robot. Like Steven Spielberg’s ET: the Extra-Terrestrial , the film is the simplest of love stories — boy finds robot, boy loses robot, robot slowly reassembles himself screw by screw — told with such sweetness and charm you could forget there’s a cold war going on. It began as a musical with the Who guitarist Pete Townshend involved. 1. Toy Story 3 (2010, Disney+) The first Toy Story , the first computer-generated feature film, was a mix of groundbreaking tech, narrative ingenuity and heart — the space ranger Buzz proving he’s the real deal by soaring around the bedroom, or as he calls it “falling with style” — but it was Toy Story 3 that had us reaching for the tissues. There is an escape from Colditz, a great Barbie-Ken subplot (with voice work from Michael Keaton and Jodie Benson) and a backstory for Ned Beatty’s Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear that is a small masterpiece of storytelling and heart-tugging pathos. It became the second Pixar film (after Up ) to receive an Academy award nomination for best picture. Don’t bother with the mediocre fourth film — this goodbye is the equal of the one in Brief Encounter . Pixar has taken us on a journey with these toys, and this film was a flawless conclusion. Written by: Jonathan Dean, Tom Shone and Jake Helm © The Times of London Share this article Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read. Copy Link Email Facebook Twitter/X LinkedIn RedditFormer Appalachian State head coach Shawn Clark has been hired as UCF's offensive line coach, ESPN reported on Saturday morning. Clark, 49, was fired earlier this month after compiling a 40-24 record with the Mountaineers, including 5-6 in 2024 -- his first losing season. Clark had a 3-1 record in bowl games. A two-time All-American offensive lineman at Appalachian State, Clark served as an assistant coach at his alma mater before taking the helm in December 2019. Clark coached the offensive line for Kent State (2013-15), Purdue (2009-12) and Eastern Kentucky (2003-08). Scott Frost has returned as UCF's new head coach, replacing Gus Malzahn, who recently departed to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State. Frost went 19-7 in two seasons (2016-17) at the school -- including 13-0 in 2017 -- before departing for Nebraska, his alma mater. He went 16-31 in four-plus years at Nebraska, which fired him three games into the 2022 season. Frost is filling out his staff, announcing Friday the hiring of Mike Dawson as defensive run game coordinator and edge coach. Earlier this week, Alex Grinch was named defensive coordinator. Kenny Martin is remaining on staff as defensive tackles coach. --Field Level Media

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Wild Christmas forecast for B.C. as dozens of wind and rain warnings are issued VANCOUVER — Environment Canada has issued dozens of wind and heavy rain warnings for British Columbia's south coast on Christmas Day, as the region braces for the second in a series of festive week storms. Canadian Press Dec 24, 2024 2:42 PM Dec 24, 2024 2:50 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Waves pound Ogden Point breakwater as strong wind blows during the first major storm of the year in Victoria, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito VANCOUVER — Environment Canada has issued dozens of wind and heavy rain warnings for British Columbia's south coast on Christmas Day, as the region braces for the second in a series of festive week storms. The agency says up to 100 millimetres of rain could drench Metro Vancouver and other areas, while winds up to 100 km/h could hit Victoria and elsewhere on Vancouver Island. Environment Canada says the wild weather is expected to start around midday Wednesday on the south coast lasting through to Boxing Day, with heavy rain potentially bringing localized flooding, travel disruptions and power cuts. BC Ferries is warning that multiple routes may be affected by high winds forecast for the Strait of Georgia and north Vancouver Island. The 24 wind and rain warnings in British Columbia cover most of the south coast and Vancouver Island, stretching inland to parts of the southern Interior. The warnings come after the first of three storms moved inland on Tuesday, after bringing powerful winds that downed trees, cut power and blocked roads in some coastal areas. It arrived late Monday, with hurricane-force gusts up to 165 km/h recorded on the west coast of the island overnight, before the weather system moved out of the region later Tuesday morning. The strongest winds were recorded before dawn Tuesday at remote Sartine Island, but gusts above 100 km/h were also recorded at several other locations off Vancouver Island's west coast. BC Hydro said fallen trees caused outages on Vancouver Island, while Drive BC said the Sunshine Coast Highway was temporarily blocked by fallen power lines about 40 km west of Sechelt. Elsewhere on the Sunshine Coast, fallen trees and downed Hydro lines partially cut Hanbury Road near Roberts Creek. The third weather system is a low-pressure system that Environment Canada says will approach southern Vancouver Island early Thursday, although there's uncertainty about its path. The agency says an anticipated southern track would confine the strongest winds and heavy rain to the south coast. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024. The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National News Dismiss Trump taunts, expert says after 'churlish' social media posts about Canada Dec 24, 2024 2:49 PM Court hits pause on global streamers’ upcoming Canadian content payments Dec 24, 2024 1:59 PM Canadian activist accuses Hong Kong of meddling after reward for arrest Dec 24, 2024 1:57 PM Featured FlyerOne Bio Secures $27 Million in Series A Funding to Revolutionize Nutrition with Launch of Breakthrough Technology Making High-Dose, Anti-Inflammatory Plant Fiber Imperceptible in Food and Beverage for the First Time

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