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Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say

End of an Era

Bill Gates Expressed Skepticism Towards Bitcoin: 'I Would Short It' If PossibleChelsea’s surprise defeat by Fulham meant victory over the Foxes stretched their lead to seven points, with a match in hand, with the halfway point of the campaign fast approaching. But Slot is maintaining his level-headed approach despite the clamour growing around their chances of adding another title to the one won in 2020. Tonight's goalscorers 💪 pic.twitter.com/xn9sfZbVow — Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2024 “If you are in this game for a long time like the players and I am then 20 games before the end you don’t look at it as there are so many challenges ahead of you,” he said after Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah scored to turn around an early deficit following Jordan Ayew’s strike. “Injuries and and a bit of bad luck can happen to any team, it is far too early to be already celebrating – but it is nice for us to be where we are. “I don’t think there was any easy win for us in any of these games; it could have been an easy win against Tottenham but we conceded two and it was then 5-2 – that tells you how difficult it is to win even when you have all your players available. “That is why we have to take it one game at a time. The league table is something of course we are aware of but we always understand how many games there are to go.” Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy felt his side held their own until Salah scored in the 82nd minute. “I think we were in the contest for a result for a long time,” he said. “Three-one was the turning point in the sense the game was done there to get a result. “I think the 60th minute I remember a chanced for Daka to score the equaliser so we were in the game to get a surprising result. “We did well, we did what we could: a good start with the goal but if you speak of a turning point, 3-1 with Salah, the game was done.” Van Nistelrooy left goalkeeper Danny Ward out of the squad after he struggled in the defeat to Wolves and was jeered by his own fans. “The change in goal was one to make and the conversation with Wardy was impressive, the way he was thinking of the team and the club,” added the Dutchman. “I insisted on a conversation and of course it is a private conversation but what I want to share is the person and the professional he is. “I was impressed with that and his willingness for the team and the club to do well. “Really tough what happened for him. We are professionals but human beings as well, when frustration is being directed towards one person that is difficult.”

MGP and Golden, Democrats who won in Trump country, have a plan for reducing polarization in Congress

In line with the successful implementation of the faceless assessment by the Income Tax department, EEPC India has proposed to the government to roll out a faceless GST audit focusing on empowering the MSME sector . ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for "The faceless GST audit system, by using technology and ensuring anonymity, will reduce compliance costs . A faceless system will streamline procedures allowing MSMEs to focus on growth and innovation," said Pankaj Chadha , chairman, of EEPC India. EEPC India in its pre-budget recommendation has also proposed that Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) related liabilities should be eligible for the Amnesty scheme . Some RCM issues, such as foreign bank charges and foreign business services, pose challenges for exporters who may be unaware of the charges or services provided. Since these issues are not fraudulent, they should fall under Section 73, which addresses genuine compliance concerns . "Exporters should be granted relief under the amnesty scheme, even if Show Cause Notices (SCNs) are issued under Section 74," Chadha said. Many of the EEPC India members have informed that they have received Show Cause Notices related to RCM; hence, an amnesty scheme is urgently needed for such issues. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 31, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

NEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”

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Share Tweet Share Share Email The advent of smart technology has revolutionized various aspects of daily life, making tasks simpler and more efficient. One such development is the integration of rent payment systems with home automation, a combination that offers unparalleled convenience for tenants and landlords alike. This fusion not only streamlines living expenses but also enhances the overall living experience. Here, we explore how rent payment integration with home automation is shaping the future of housing and why it matters . The Rise of Smart Homes Smart homes have become increasingly popular in recent years. From automated lighting systems to voice-controlled devices, the convenience offered by these technologies is undeniable. Home automation systems, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit, have transformed traditional houses into interactive environments. These systems allow users to control various household functions with ease. But the scope of automation doesn’t stop at lights or security; it now extends to financial management, including rent payments. What Is Rent Payment Integration? Rent payment integration involves embedding financial transaction features into home automation platforms. This feature enables tenants to pay their rent directly through their smart home systems. By connecting bank accounts or payment methods to the home automation network, rent transactions become as simple as giving a voice command or tapping a screen. Landlords also benefit from this setup. Automated systems can generate payment reminders, confirm transactions, and even manage late fees. The result is a seamless and hassle-free process for both parties . Benefits of Rent Payment Integration with Home Automation Convenience and Simplicity One of the most significant advantages of this integration is its sheer convenience. Forgetting to pay rent can lead to stress and complications, but automated reminders and scheduled payments ensure tenants never miss a due date. Similarly, landlords can avoid the manual process of tracking payments. Enhanced Security Modern payment systems integrated into home automation platforms come with robust security features. Data encryption, biometric verification, and multi-factor authentication protect sensitive information and reduce the risk of fraud. Tenants and landlords can trust that their financial transactions are secure. Time Efficiency Paying rent through a home automation system saves time. Instead of logging into multiple platforms or visiting a payment center, tenants can complete transactions instantly. Landlords also benefit by receiving real-time updates on payments, allowing them to manage their finances more efficiently. Customization Options Home automation platforms often offer customization options to suit individual needs. For instance, tenants can set up recurring payments, while landlords can automate rent reminders and track payment histories. These features make financial management intuitive and tailored. Eco-Friendly Living By digitizing rent payments, paper waste from checks, receipts, and invoices is eliminated. This shift contributes to a greener, more sustainable lifestyle—a priority for environmentally conscious individuals. How It Works Rent payment integration with home automation operates through a series of interconnected technologies. Here’s how the process typically unfolds: Setting Up Payment Information: Tenants link their preferred payment methods—such as credit cards, bank accounts, or digital wallets—to the home automation system. This setup is secure and usually involves encrypted data. Automation Settings: Users configure automation preferences. For example, tenants can schedule monthly payments, and landlords can automate reminders or overdue notices. Real-Time Notifications: Both parties receive instant notifications regarding payment status. Tenants are alerted about upcoming due dates, while landlords are informed once payments are processed . Integration with Other Smart Features: The system may link with other home automation features. For instance, access to certain amenities or utilities could be synchronized with rent payment status, ensuring fair use of shared resources. Popular Platforms Supporting Integration Several platforms have started incorporating rent payment features into their home automation systems. Examples include: Yale and August Smart Locks: These smart locks integrate with payment systems to restrict or allow access based on rent payment status. Vivint Smart Home: Vivint offers a comprehensive platform that includes rent payment reminders and tenant-landlord communication tools. Custom APIs: Developers are creating custom APIs that landlords can integrate into existing automation systems, making rent payment even more seamless. Challenges and Solutions While the integration of rent payments with home automation is promising, it does come with challenges: Technical Complexity Some users may find it challenging to set up and use integrated systems. To address this, manufacturers are improving user interfaces and offering step-by-step guides. Cost Implementing advanced home automation systems can be expensive. However, as technology becomes more widespread, costs are expected to decrease, making it accessible to a broader audience. Privacy Concerns Tenants may worry about their financial data being compromised. Companies are investing in advanced encryption and privacy policies to ensure data protection. Compatibility Issues Not all home automation platforms support rent payment features. Open standards and partnerships between tech companies can improve compatibility. Future Prospects The future of rent payment integration with home automation looks bright. As artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to evolve, these systems will become more intelligent and adaptive. Potential developments include: Predictive Analytics: Systems that analyze payment trends to offer financial insights or suggest budget-friendly solutions. Voice-Activated Payments: Enhanced voice recognition will make rent payments as simple as speaking a command. Blockchain Technology: Blockchain could revolutionize rent payments by offering secure, transparent, and tamper-proof transactions. Conclusion Rent payment integration with home automation represents a significant step toward seamless living expenses. By combining convenience, security, and efficiency, these systems enhance the quality of life for tenants and landlords. While challenges exist, advancements in technology are rapidly addressing them, paving the way for widespread adoption. As smart homes continue to evolve, the integration of financial management tools promises to redefine the way we live and manage our expenses. Embracing this innovation is not just about keeping up with trends; it’s about creating a smarter, more connected lifestyle. Related Items: Home automation , Rent Payment Integration , Seamless Living Expenses Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Home Automation: The Best Smart Upgrades for Modern Living Unveiling the Future: Smart Home Automation and the IoT Evolution Unlocking the Advantages of Home Automation CommentsWarner Bros. Discovery: Reshuffling The Deck

Embiid scores 31 in triumphant NBA return for 76ersThe Gophers football program has added a second receiver commitment in two days via the NCAA transfer portal. Nebraska transfer Malachi Coleman pledged to Minnesota on Tuesday and will have three years of eligibility at the U. “Let’s rock,” he posted on social media. Coleman was a top 70 recruit in the nation out of Lincoln (Neb.) East in the class of 2023, but didn’t play much in 2024. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, Coleman played in only one game in 2024, using his redshirt season. As a true freshman in 2023, Coleman had eight receptions for 139 yards and one touchdown. In 2023, he received an average grade out 58.0 by Pro Football Focus and was primarily a split receiver for 332 out of 335 total offensive snaps. Coleman follows two other wideouts to Minnesota: Logan Loya (UCLA) on Monday and Jaovn Tracy (Miami of Ohio) on Dec. 15.

Billie Lourd pays glowing tribute to Carrie FisherPLAINS, Ga. — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at his home in Plains, Georgia. His death comes more than a year after the former president entered hospice care. He was 100 years old. Here are some significant events in Jimmy Carter's life: — Oct. 1, 1924: James Earl Carter Jr. is born in Plains, Georgia, son of James Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter. — June 1946: Carter graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy. — July 1946: Carter marries Rosalynn Smith, in Plains. They have four children, John William (“Jack”), born 1947; James Earl 3rd (“Chip”), 1950; Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff), 1952; and Amy Lynn, 1967. — 1946-1953: Carter serves in a Navy nuclear submarine program, attaining rank of lieutenant commander. — Summer 1953: Carter resigns from the Navy, returns to Plains after father’s death. — 1953-1971: Carter helps run the family peanut farm and warehouse business. — 1963-1966: Carter serves in the Georgia state Senate. — 1966: Carter tries unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. — November 1970: Carter is elected governor of Georgia. Serves 1971-75. — Dec. 12, 1974: Carter announces a presidential bid. Atlanta newspaper answers with headline: “Jimmy Who?” — January 1976: Carter leads the Democratic field in Iowa, a huge campaign boost that also helps to establish Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus. — July 1976: Carter accepts the Democratic nomination and announces Sen. Walter Mondale of Minnesota as running mate. — November 1976: Carter defeats President Gerald R. Ford, winning 51% of the vote and 297 electoral votes to Ford’s 240. — January 1977: Carter is sworn in as the 39th president of the United States. On his first full day in office, he pardons most Vietnam-era draft evaders. —September 1977: U.S. and Panama sign treaties to return the Panama Canal back to Panama in 1999. Senate narrowly ratifies them in 1978. — September 1978: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Carter sign Camp David accords, which lead to a peace deal between Egypt and Israel the following year. — June 15-18, 1979: Carter attends a summit with Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev in Vienna that leads to the signing of the SALT II treaty. — November 1979: Iranian militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 hostages. All survive and are freed minutes after Carter leaves office in January 1981. — April 1980: The Mariel boatlift begins, sending tens of thousands of Cubans to the U.S. Many are criminals and psychiatric patients set free by Cuban leader Fidel Castro, creating a major foreign policy crisis. — April 1980: An attempt by the U.S. to free hostages fails when a helicopter crashes into a transport plane in Iran, killing eight servicemen. — Nov. 4, 1980: Carter is denied a second term by Ronald Reagan, who wins 51.6% of the popular vote to 41.7% for Carter and 6.7% to independent John Anderson. — 1982: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter co-found The Carter Center in Atlanta, whose mission is to resolve conflicts, protect human rights and prevent disease around the world. — September 1984: The Carters spend a week building Habitat for Humanity houses, launching what becomes the annual Carter Work Project. — October 1986: A dedication is held for The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta. The center includes the Carter Presidential Library and Museum and Carter Center offices. — 1989: Carter leads the Carter Center’s first election monitoring mission, declaring Panamanian Gen. Manuel Noriega’s election fraudulent. — May 1992: Carter meets with Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev at the Carter Center to discuss forming the Gorbachev Foundation. — June 1994: Carter plays a key role in North Korea nuclear disarmament talks. — September 1994: Carter leads a delegation to Haiti, arranging terms to avoid a U.S. invasion and return President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. — December 1994: Carter negotiates tentative cease-fire in Bosnia. — March 1995: Carter mediates cease-fire in Sudan’s war with southern rebels. — September 1995: Carter travels to Africa to advance the peace process in more troubled areas. — December 1998: Carter receives U.N. Human Rights Prize on 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. — August 1999: President Bill Clinton awards Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter the Presidential Medal of Freedom. — September 2001: Carter joins former Presidents Ford, Bush and Clinton at a prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington after Sept. 11 attacks. — April 2002: Carter’s book “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” chosen as finalist for Pulitzer Prize in biography. — May 2002: Carter visits Cuba and addresses the communist nation on television. He is the highest-ranking American to visit in decades. — Dec. 10, 2002: Carter is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” — July 2007: Carter joins The Elders, a group of international leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela to focus on global issues. — Spring 2008: Carter remains officially neutral as Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton battle each other for the Democratic presidential nomination. — April 2008: Carter stirs controversy by meeting with the Islamic militant group Hamas. — August 2010: Carter travels to North Korea as the Carter Center negotiates the release of an imprisoned American teacher. — August 2013: Carter joins President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton at the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech and the March on Washington. — Oct. 1, 2014: Carter celebrates his 90th birthday. — December 2014: Carter is nominated for a Grammy in the best spoken word album category, for his book “A Call To Action.” — May 2015: Carter returns early from an election observation visit in Guyana — the Carter Center’s 100th — after feeling unwell. — August 2015: Carter has a small cancerous mass removed from his liver. He plans to receive treatment at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. — August 2015: Carter announces that his grandson Jason Carter will chair the Carter Center governing board. — March 6, 2016: Carter says an experimental drug has eliminated any sign of his cancer, and that he needs no further treatment. — May 25, 2016: Carter steps back from a “front-line” role with The Elders to become an emeritus member. — July 2016: Carter is treated for dehydration during a Habitat for Humanity build in Canada. — Spring 2018: Carter publishes “Faith: A Journey for All,” the last of 32 books. — March 22, 2019: Carter becomes the longest-lived U.S. president, surpassing President George H.W. Bush, who died in 2018. — September 18, 2019: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter deliver their final in-person annual report at the Carter Center. — October 2019: At 95, still recovering from a fall, Carter joins the Work Project with Habitat for Humanity in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s the last time he works personally on the annual project. — Fall 2019-early 2020: Democratic presidential hopefuls visit, publicly embracing Carter as a party elder, a first for his post-presidency. — November 2020:The Carter Center monitors an audit of presidential election results in the state of Georgia, marking a new era of democracy advocacy within the U.S. — Jan. 20, 2021: The Carters miss President Joe Biden’s swearing-in, the first presidential inauguration they don’t attend since Carter’s own ceremony in 1977. The Bidens later visit the Carters in Plains on April 29. — Feb. 19, 2023: Carter enters home hospice care after a series of short hospital stays. — July 7, 2023: The Carters celebrate their 77th and final wedding anniversary. — Nov. 19, 2023: Rosalynn Carter dies at home, two days after the family announced that she had joined the former president in receiving hospice care. — Oct. 1, 2024 — Carter becomes the first former U.S. president to reach 100 years of age , celebrating at home with extended family and close friends. — Oct. 16, 2024 — Carter casts a Georgia mail ballot for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, having told his family he wanted to live long enough to vote for her. It marks his 21st presidential election as a voter. — Dec. 29, 2024: Carter dies at home.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A hamstring injury managed to do the one thing to George Pickens that nobody else has during the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver's three eventful years in the NFL, Pickens included. It kept him quiet. Temporarily anyway. Pickens missed the first game of his career on Sunday, watching from the sideline in Pittsburgh's 27-14 win over Cleveland that showcased the team's receivers group runs deeper than the unit's talented if occasionally petulant star. Instead of a reunion with Browns defensive back Greg Newsome II just over two weeks after the two spent the final play of Cleveland's victory on Nov. 21 pushing and shoving into a restraining wall — which led to a war of words between the two in the aftermath and run-up to the rematch — Pickens watched from the sideline as the players who have taken a back seat stepped to the forefront. Van Jefferson caught one of Russell Wilson's two touchdown passes. Mike Williams made his first grab in a month. Scotty Miller saw his most extensive playing time since September. None of them have Pickens' ability. For an afternoon anyway, they made sure it didn't matter as the Steelers (10-3) won comfortably as Wilson spread his 15 completions to eight players, a democratic approach that is becoming the norm. “Just knowing that it can come to you at any moment is a fun feeling as a playmaker,” said Miller, who had three catches for 38 yards, including a leaping sideline grab in the fourth quarter. “And it also means the defense can't focus on one player. They’ve got to guard all of (us).” Even if Pickens' absence came as a bit of a surprise, even to his teammates. Tight end Pat Freiermuth found out when he checked his phone in the locker room. His father had sent him a text message that Pittsburgh's leading receiver was out with a hamstring issue that forced him to miss practice Friday. After a shaky start in which the offense looked out of sorts — the Steelers had four three-and-outs in their first five drives — Wilson settled in and the players who have found themselves on the fringes of the depth chart were on the field in important moments. “We have so much confidence in everybody,” Wilson said. “We're having fun, enjoying the process, working our tails off every day.” And they're winning, one of the major reasons that it has been easier for Williams to stomach the fact he has become a role player for the first time in his career. His first catch with Pittsburgh just days after being acquired from the New York Jets was an over-the-shoulder game-winning touchdown grab in Washington. Yet Williams has served as a spectator or a blocker for most of the last month. He has tried to stay ready, and it showed when he made a leaping one-handed snag in the third quarter for a 20-yard gain that set up Wilson's touchdown pass to Freiermuth. “They was (winning) before I got here,” Williams said. “So for me, I just got to show up and when I need to come out and make a play, make a play.” It's a selfless approach that has permeated the offense during a season in which the Steelers (10-3) have surprised everyone but themselves. “The strength of the pack is the pack," Tomlin said. “We've got a bunch of guys that want to be the reasons why we're successful.” The supremely confident Pickens is part of that pack, though he often stands apart for a variety of reasons, not all of them good. Pickens has found himself in the spotlight regularly since being taken in the second round in 2022, not always for the right reasons . Tomlin has grown weary recently of fielding questions about Pickens’ actions. Tomlin said after a victory over Cincinnati that Pickens needs to “grow up, and grow up in a hurry” after Pickens drew a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Bengals for post-catch celebrations, actions that earned him another set of fines from the league. Still, Pickens figured to be in the lineup on Sunday even after being listed as “questionable” on Friday's practice report. When the team made him inactive, it caught the Browns a little off guard. “I was a little surprised,” Newsome said. “I mean, especially when you do a lot of back-and-forth talking and things like that.” Pittsburgh's offense found a way anyway. And the Steelers did it drama-free for once. “We believe in our group,” Tomlin said. “I know I've said that to you guys repeatedly. Maybe you'll start believing me.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL The Associated PressMonument Town Council recently approved rules for healing centers that can administer psychedelics, largely banning them across town. Voters approved the new centers in a statewide ballot measure in 2022. The centers will allow those over 21 to use psychedelic mushrooms with supervision. Psilocybin in mushrooms has been used to treat depression and other mental health disorders. The ballot measure prohibited towns from banning the centers, but they can limit where they can open. In Monument, town staff drew on the same regulations in place for medical marijuana businesses to write the rules for psychedelic centers, explained town attorney Bob Cole. The town does not have any medical marijuana dispensaries. The zoning rules would limit the centers to four small areas. A town map shows the centers would be allowed at a site near Interstate 25 and Colorado 105, on land at the very northern edge of town, a site south of Eighth Street near I-25 and south of Monument Lake. The site south of Monument Lake is completely undeveloped. The council voted 6-0 in mid-December to approve rules governing the centers after hearing from only one person, a licensed professional counselor interested in the potential for psychedelics to treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. The council discussed the measure in early December and seemed to favor tight restrictions for the potential healing centers, floating short hours for the healing centers, such as requiring them to close at 3 p.m. The council decided to limit the hours of the centers from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vincent Bruno, the only interested person to speak at either meeting, highlighted the potential of psilocybin to treat PTSD in veterans, as well as hypervigilance and major depression. As a Monument resident, he said he was interested in potentially working in town. "If we don’t allow regulated practitioners to show that it can be done properly, what we are going to end up is unregulated folks who maybe aren’t as interested in harm reduction as I am," he said during the Dec. 16 meeting. Bruno referenced research from Johns Hopkins Medicine that has seen success. A recent study from the research hospital found that psilocybin reduced major depression in patients and kept its severity low. The Department of Veterans Affairs is also interested in investing in psilocybin research to treat PTSD and depression, it announced earlier this year . The National Institute on Drug Abuse outlines some risks of using psilocybin particularly in unsupervised settings, such as dangerous behavior and experiencing extreme fear and paranoia. It can also cause high heart rate, blood pressure and nausea. Councilman Steve King encouraged Bruno to return to the town council to give the board feedback on the new regulations. "We can certainly expand the areas it can go into, if we needed to at some point," he said. Mayor Mitch LaKind said the regulations needed to be in place ahead of the state allowing centers to open next year. The Colorado Natural Medicine Division expects the first centers to open early in the summer, Colorado Politics reported. The Colorado Springs City Council approved similar regulations for the centers, limiting them to areas around the Colorado Springs Airport and in the far northeast portion of the city.

"He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten," his wife, Marcy Gumbel, and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 because of what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. He signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts "A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time," said Berson. Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998. He hosted CBS' coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS' NFL studio show, "The NFL Today" from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004. He also called NFL games as the network's lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.