234win 18 Ruben Amorim has just had his Jose Mourinho moment to raise Man United hopes

As delays plague Puerto Rico election certification process, judge issues rulingAlmost every time Robert Zemeckis called cut on a scene in , Tom Hanks would run back to the playback monitors. The veteran actor had been on dozens of sets through his 40-year career but nothing like this. On , he plays a character whose arc is traced from high school to senior citizen with the help of a generative AI tool from VFX studio Metaphysic. For every shot he was going to be de-aged, there were two monitors. One showed what the cameras were capturing. The other showed him in the scenes at various ages in real time, as if he came straight from shoots on or . After seeing the takes, he would adjust his physicality to walk with a bit more spring in his step or appear stiffer getting up off the couch, depending on his age in the scene. Related Stories Rewind just a couple of years, and a movie like would not get greenlit. Without advancements in aging technology made possible AI, it would be forced to go the route of Brad Pitt-starrer , which likely earmarked twice ‘s entire budget just for VFX, killing any upside for potential buyers along the way. Instead, Miramax fully financed the movie on a tight $45 million budget. “This wouldn’t have been able to get done,” says virtual production supervisor Jim Geduldick, a VFX veteran with credits on , Robert Zemeckis’ live-action/CG and . “It would’ve been too cost prohibitive to do that amount of VFX.” Since the filming of last year, production of movies and TV shows of all sizes has approached historic lows. Gone is the era of so-called Peak TV, when studios were viciously competing for subscribers to grow their streaming endeavors with new content. Profitability and responsible spending matter now more than ever before. The rosiest outlook on AI deployment envisions an invigoration of the production landscape by bringing down costs in areas related to conceptualization, visual effects and animation, just to name a few. The trade-off? Chunks of the Hollywood workforce gone, mostly those in postproduction who are staring down the barrel of potential automation due to labor protections and legal and technological constraints surrounding AI use that protect actors, writers and directors from but not other crew. The dynamic has not gone unnoticed. In November, Ben Affleck set off a firestorm among the rank-and-file in Hollywood with his predictions on how AI will ripple across the industry. “I wouldn’t want to be in the VFX business,” said the Artists Equity chief executive. “They’re in trouble.” His comments weren’t all doom and gloom though. The A-lister was largely optimistic that the technology will help talent and revitalize production by slashing costs — as long as you’re not engaged in the “more laborious, less creative and more costly aspects of filmmaking.” He stressed, “That will make it easier for the people who want to make to go out and make it.” Like Affleck, other Hollywood execs are bullish that the technology will be a boon as the industry settles on a new paradigm on the economics of filmmaking and distribution. “We’re looking at how AI can save money in areas like special effects and landscapes,” says Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns. “If we can utilize those tools with filmmakers, that will allow movies that might not have otherwise been greenlit to be made.” In September, the studio announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Runway that will see the New York-based AI startup train a new generative AI model on Lionsgate content, which will be used to assist with behind-the-scenes production processes. Under the no-cash deal, Runway will have access to a portion of the studio’s titles to create a model designed exclusively for Lionsgate’s use, with the hope that it can plugged into different parts of the production pipeline, such as the storyboarding process and in helping with the design of VFX work, according to a person familiar with the deal. This was followed by Blumhouse partnering with Meta on a series of short films produced with the help of Movie Gen, which creates video and corresponding audio, as it tests the AI waters. The deals signal further mainstream adoption of the technology as studios look for proof of concept and tech companies look for a foothold into the industry. “They’re gaining legitimacy,” says Meeka Bondy, chair of Perkins Coie’s entertainment practice and HBO’s former senior vice president for legal affairs. “This is going to change how films and TV shows are produced. Just like when I draft a contract in the future, I might not start with a blank piece of paper. I might start with a first draft created by AI or ten drafts created by AI. The same thing will happen in film.” Like other industries reckoning with the technology, Hollywood is very much in the business of cost-cutting. However, labor deals struck by the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild nabbed some protections for their members. For writers, AI is not completely prohibited, but there are restrictions on how it can be credited and utilized such that it doesn’t affect pay and credit. This intersects with provisions in U.S. intellectual property law barring the copyrightability of AI-generated material, severely hampering the commercial viability of productions that utilize the technology since they would enter the public domain. Several studios forbid the use of AI in writers’ room and have some scribes sign certificates of authenticity attesting that they wrote scripts themselves. “Contracts say you need to ask permission of studios, and a lot of studios’ policies is that it’s simply not allowed,” said showrunner and writer Mark Goffman ( at AI on the Lot, a conference AI in the entertainment industry, in May. And for actors, their labor contract requires consent to create digital clones of them using AI. In two other films where Metaphysics’ handiwork appears, and , characters from the sequel’s predecessors are resurrected. In both cases, the productions had to get consent from and pay the estates of the dead actors. And if a studio that’s not a signatory to the labor agreements were to go around actors and use their appearance in a production without permission, they could sue for violating their rights to control the commercial use of their image (right of publicity), like Scarlett Johansson threatened to do when OpenAI allegedly copied her voice after she refused to license it to the company. Unlike writers and actors, certain industry workers don’t have the same protections. After the Animation Guild reached a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers last month, two negotiating committee members on Dec. 10 urged others to vote against ratifying the new contract due to a lack of protections around AI. Under the proposed agreement, AI usage can be required if there’s advance notice. Compared to deals struck by WGA and SAG-AFTRA, the guardrails on AI implementation are noticeably lower. “Studios can replace workers with AI,” wrote Mike Riana, director of , in a post on Instagram. “We didn’t get staffing minimums to protect crew sizes from AI job losses.” AI has found its way into several parts of the preproduction pipeline, including storyboarding, character design and concepts and background art. Their VFX counterparts aren’t positioned to fare any better. The majority of VFX houses aren’t unionized (though IATSE has leveraged the specter of AI to do so) and most work is already outsourced to third party shops, like Weta FX, DNEG and MPC, in part to take advantage of postproduction tax credits overseas. Among the reasons why Hollywood execs have pointed to VFX as an area AI can be adopted revolves around the laborious nature of the work. Quality VFX requires a long lead time and a lot of money. There are nearly 200,000 frames in a two-hour movie shot at 24 frames per second. Workers often treat every frame in a shot, not to mention manipulation to match motion, lighting and color. Like at the advent of CGI in the 1990s, when the technology entered the mainstream after the popularity of and , some VFX artists are leaning into AI. While there are legal constraints on how the technology can be used, they can get around them by training open source AI systems on their own works. Still, there has to be a person manipulating the tools. “You won’t need a 300 person VFX team; that may be true,” Geduldick says. “But you’ll need a dedicated set of artists to wield the AI.”

Fintech firm offers BNPL, flexible loan vs inflation woes

SIXTY workers were axed over WhatsApp without pay - before the bosses allegedly jetted off to Spain, it’s claimed. Marketing group 4iCG Ltd - who operate under the brands Pursuit Marketing and Your Shortlist - told workers their employment was terminated on Wednesday, December 11, over the messaging app. 8 Pursuit Marketing's offices are located in Finneston, Glasgow Credit: Les Gallagher 8 Co-founder and Director Robert Copeland Credit: Facebook 8 COO Lorraine Gray Credit: Linkedin 8 Robert and Lorraine drinking together in Spain, where the firm has offices Credit: Facebook And it is claimed devastated staff were told they would not receive any pay before Christmas . Yesterday it was confirmed the company had gone into liquidation the day before the bombshell announcement. A source told the Scottish Sun: “My relative worked for Pursuit Marketing and they told all their staff that they were laid off. “That’s over 60 members of staff. And they also said that they won’t be getting paid before Christmas. READ MORE SCOTTISH NEWS ARMED TAUNTS Boozed-up yobs wielding axes & machetes bringing terror to Scots council area 'TOXIC' Death probe at Scots maternity unit after report found mums & babies came to harm “And the owners are supposed to have left for Spain right after sacking everyone”. The Glasgow -based parent company also has a base in Torremolinos in Malaga. Absolute scumbags Pursuit Marketing. Leaving people with no pay or wages in December. How can you look at yourselves in the mirror! Messages from affected staff Messages from affected staff, seen by the Scottish Sun, said: “Looks like my employers have liquidated and are now in Spain . “Absolute scumbags Pursuit Marketing. Leaving people with no pay or wages in December. Most read in The Scottish Sun lew's new love Lewis Capaldi grows close to influencer as they party with Noel Gallagher STRIP SEARCH Gers ‘to ditch Castore for major kit brand' next season but there’s a catch CRYSTAL BALL Celtic vs Rangers score predictions as SunSport writers have their say CUP CROCK Rodgers issues major update on Johnston ahead of Rangers cup final showdown “How can you look at yourselves in the mirror! Absolutely no accountability whatsoever. “Do not trust any of these absolute charlatans in any future business incarnation”. Shocking moment McDonald's worker soaks homeless man with a mop & kicks sleeping bag - as bosses reveal he's been sacked Another message read: “I have 60-odd friends who have families who will not get their December salary this Christmas. Or any financial support. “I’m standing up for what is right... This behaviour has to be called out. Currently all of this was done via a WhatsApp Group. These people have no voice”. The firm, which has offices in the Finneston area of the city, is a marketing consulting company that specialises in “demand generation, telemarketing, digital marketing and creative design”. Pursuit Marketing is one of two brands that operate under The 4ICG Group, which described itself as being “the driving force behind the most talked-about B2B marketing brands” in over 32 countries. I have 60-odd friends who have families who will not get their December salary this Christmas... This behaviour has to be called out Messages from affected staff The other brand that is part of the group is called YourShortlist and it is said to offer “non-chargeable, expert, technology-buying advice.” Furious workers claim co-founder and director Robert Copeland and chief operating officer Lorraine Gray went to Spain after delivering the news . Workers have been trying to get in touch with HR since bosses delivered the news. Pursuit Marketing has since removed its Facebook page. Their website has also been wiped and the phone lines rang out before eventually going to voicemail with an automated message saying “all agents are busy”. ALL EXPENSES PAID TRIP THE mass layoffs come six years after bosses at Pursuit Marketing treated over 40 members of staff to an all-expenses paid luxury sunshine break to thank them for their hard work. Back in February 2018, the firm flew out their entire staff to Tenerife to celebrate for a long weekend as part of the company's seventh-anniversary celebrations. The team spent four days at the holiday resort as a reward for smashing sales targets the year before. At the time, COO Lorraine Gray said: "They are an outstanding team, and we wanted to say a very big 'thank you' for all their hard work. "Taking them away from winter conditions for a break in the sun seemed like the best way to let them know how much we appreciate their efforts." The agency, which was created in 2011, has also previously picked up gongs including SME Employer of the Year and Glasgow's Best Workplace. Connected brand YourShortlist, which has its offices in the same building as Pursuit Marketing, has also had its website taken down. It was unreachable over the phone with an automated message saying “Number not assigned, goodbye” when tried by the Scottish Sun. Alistair McAlinden, managing director at Interpath and joint provisional liquidator, added: “We understand news of the Companies’ closure will be distressing to their dedicated employees. "Our priority will be to support all those impacted by redundancy, including supporting them with applications to the Redundancy Payments Service.” Read more on the Scottish Sun BATTY WEATHER Record-breaking snow & temps on the way for Scotland as expert issues warning GER KIDDING Tottenham fans blast ex-Spurs star as he's spotted wildly celebrating Gers goal Geoff Jacobs, managing director at Interpath and joint provisional liquidator, said: “The Companies have an extensive database utilised by providers and buyers of IT solutions as an online marketplace, as well as white labels marketing campaigns for large global customers. "Parties interested in acquiring the business should contact us at the earliest opportunity.” 8 Pursuit Marketing is one of two brands that operate under The 4ICG Group Credit: Linkedin 8 Workers claim bosses laid off 60 members of staff two weeks before Christmas Credit: Facebook 8 It is claimed they sacked staff in a WhatsApp group chat Credit: Facebook 8 Staff have hit out at bosses Credit: Facebook

It's fair to say this one rises to the level of blockbuster. Anytime a genuine first-round Fantasy talent is on the move, that's the case. But what it means for Kyle Tucker's own Fantasy value is minimal. Sure, he's switching leagues, which matters to the vanishing number of AL- and NL-only players out there. Sure, he's going to a venue that rates worse statistically, but it likely won't make a difference to a hitter of Tucker's stature. Statcast estimates that he'd have 127 career home runs if he played every game at Wrigley Field vs. the 125 he actually has. Doesn't sound like a problem to me. So rather than the headliner, it's the downstream effects of this deal that matter most for Fantasy. For starters, you may wonder what happens to Pete Crow-Armstrong , a recently graduated prospect who really hit his stride over his final 34 games, batting .292 (35 for 120) with five home runs, four stolen bases, and an .801 OPS (and frankly, those numbers understate his base-stealing prowess). In theory, the Tucker acquisition squeezes him out of the outfield picture. I wouldn't worry about it, though. The Yankees were reportedly in the running for Tucker as well, with Cody Bellinger being floated as a fallback option, and seeing how perfect of a fit he'd be at Yankee Stadium, it's almost a fait accompli that he winds up there. Speaking of perfect fits, let's talk about the players the Astros are getting back in this deal, namely Isaac Paredes . You may remember us lamenting the Cubs' acquisition of him at the trade deadline, believing that the move from Tropicana Field to Wrigley Field would essentially tank his value, and indeed, he wound up hitting .223 with a .633 OPS for his new team. He had a home run rate of one every 71 plate appearances for the Cubs as compared to one every 21 plate appearances during his 2 1/2 years with the Rays . The reason for this dip is because Paredes' entire offensive approach is to pull the ball over the shallowest part of the left field fence. As you can see from the spray chart above, he has a real talent for it, allowing him to masquerade as a power hitter even though his exit velocity readings are among the worst in all of baseball. It works out well in a venue that's only 315 feet down the line, as Tropicana Field was, but the left field foul pole at Wrigley Field is 355 feet away from home plate. What about the place Paredes will soon be calling home, Minute Maid Park? That's right. It's also 315 feet down the left-field line. It's also 362 feet in the left-field gap as compared to 370 for Tropicana Field. You might even say, then, it's the best possible venue for a hitter with Paredes' profile, and indeed, Statcast suggests he'd have 75 home runs over the last three years if he played every game there vs. the 70 he actually hit. That section of left field is known as the Crawford Boxes, and Alex Bregman , another third baseman whose power has played beyond his exit velocities, is famous for wearing them out during his time in Houston. With Bregman expected to depart via free agency, Paredes gives the Astros a capable (and surprisingly analogous) replacement. So, who replaces Paredes for the Cubs? That's the other big winner in this deal: top prospect Matt Shaw , their first-round pick in 2023, who has made quick work of the minors. He started slowly last year but wound up hitting .318 with 18 homers, 21 steals, and a .959 OPS over his final 80 games, the last 35 of which came at Triple-A. He'll have to earn the job this spring, but I suspect that's the Cubs' plan for third base, making Shaw an early favorite for NL Rookie of the Year. The Astros are, of course, getting back more than Paredes in this deal, with the other pieces being right-hander Hayden Wesneski and third base prospect Cam Smith . Neither will be of immediate impact in Fantasy, but Smith, the Cubs' first-round pick this past season, has a particularly bright future, having hit .313 (36 for 115) with seven homers and a 1.004 OPS across three levels last season. He isn't particularly strikeout-prone for as much high-quality contact as he makes and projects to hit for both average and power. So, to sum up, stock even for Tucker, who remains my fourth-ranked outfielder. Stock down for Crow-Armstrong in the short term, but I suspect a Bellinger trade will remedy that. Stock way up for Paredes, who goes from 22 to 13 in my third base rankings, landing between Mark Vientos and Eugenio Suarez . Stock also way up for Shaw, who will likely be drafted in all leagues with a chance of providing five-category production as a rookie.

'We've just walked around it': Tourists unfazed by Seoul's impeachment protests Published: 14 Dec. 2024, 06:00 Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI Entrance to the Myeong-Dong shopping streets on a cold Thursday morning [HA YUN-JI] President Yoon Suk-Yeol’s martial law declaration threw Korea into a political crisis last week. Citizens, it was widely reported, fell into a nationwide panic, taking to the streets to protest, clearing daily necessities from convenience store shelves and flooding the country's social networks with a deluge of traffic that likely took their servers down. The won crashed, and the stock market has struggled to recover. On the streets of Seoul's most Instagram-able tourist districts, however, international visitors largely seem to be getting on with things. Related Article 'Travel advisory: Korea': Martial law scare threatens tourism with national warnings Railway workers' strike disrupts commutes as union fails to reach agreement Tourism minister aims to hit inbound traveler targets with foreigner friendly infrastructure boost Crowds were slightly below their usual levels in Seoul's famous Myeong-dong shopping center on a crisp Thursday winter morning. Dotted throughout the throng were several pairs of Walking Tourist Guides, dressed in bright red, who'd been sent to help overseas travelers find their way. A group of five Australian visitors in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, said that they were “stoked” to be in Korea, having experienced nothing so far that would prompt them to cut their trip short. “We haven’t experienced anything with regards to the martial law stuff,” one mid-20s tourist told the JoongAng Daily, seated in front of a large Christmas tree. Although the group had recently crossed paths with a protest in Busan, none of the five had viewed it as a concern. “It was fine,” the tourist said of the experience. Fewer visitors than usual enter and exit Lotte Young Plaza in Myeong-dong, central Seoul. [HA YUN-JI] Government officials, however, clearly don't feel the same way. Several countries have issued travel warnings: China told its citizens to “enhance security awareness and reduce unnecessary outings” while in Korea while the United States recommended avoiding large crowds. Domestically, stakeholders including businesses and tourism associations have expressed public fear that the political crisis could hurt future tourism, pushing officials to spring to damage control. In response, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced several countermeasures, to promote “Safe Seoul,” at a meeting of tourism stakeholders on Wednesday. “We will do our best to ensure that tourists who experience Seoul return home with the conviction that Seoul is a safe, enjoyable city that they would want to visit again,” the mayor said. Oh’s office promised to provide targeted incentives to small businesses, such as employment subsidies for skilled workers and support to develop travel packages and events. Alongside deploying more Walking Tourist Guides, the city is pushing out more promotional material with the message that Seoul is a “consistently safe and tourist-friendly city.” A group of students explore their surroundings. [HA YUN-JI] On Thursday, the government extended the K-ETA temporary exemption, which grants free entry to visitors from 67 countries, by one year to the end of 2025. How the aftermath of Yoon's declaration will impact international tourism numbers — which had recovered to 97 percent of pre-Covid levels as of October of this year — remains to be seen. The key demographic of concern is Chinese tourists, who represented more than 29 percent of Korea’s international visitors between January and October of 2024. That number represented an increase of 158.9 percent from the January-October 2023 period and grew 57.2 percent in October alone. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, there could be a reduction in Chinese visitor levels of as much as 19 percent early next year, as public safety concerns have a greater resonance among them. Japanese visitor levels were the second most populous group, making up 19.2 percent of Korea's total. The group grew 42.9 percent year-over-year in 2024. Shoppers frequent Myeong-dong stores. [HA YUN-JI] But the Australian tourists on the streets of Myeong-dong, for their part, remain undeterred by the occasional protest they encounter. “We've just sort of walked around it,” a member of the group said. BY KAYA SELBY [ [email protected] ] var admarutag = admarutag || {} admarutag.cmd = admarutag.cmd || [] admarutag.cmd.push(function () { admarutag.pageview('3bf9fc17-6e70-4776-9d65-ca3bb0c17cb7'); });Youth cricketers leave for Under 19 Asia Cup

I hid in govt house for 5 days to evade arrest – Kano Gov’s aide, TofaFirst of a series IF news reports from Cebu are accurate, the long-delayed and troubled Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project will be terminated as of today, Dec. 15. If that is indeed the case, it gives the World Bank a dubious record of 0-2 when it comes funding BRT projects in the Philippines, and will leave the country's second-largest city without its long-awaited public transit solution. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.

Arizona Cardinals can cement themselves as NFC hopefuls with Sunday win | Sporting NewsPregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes may produce breast milk with unique properties that could positively influence infant growth and development, according to a new study. The research, published in JAMA Network Open on Thursday, suggests that breast milk from mothers with gestational diabetes contains distinct metabolites found in higher concentrations that correlate with infant growth patterns, including potential effects on body composition and length. The mothers, aged between 21 and 45 years at the time of delivery, had a pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) ranging from 18.5 to 45. All participants had healthy pregnancies, delivered full-term infants, intended to breastfeed for three or more months, and had adequate social support. Among the participants, 53 mothers with an average age of 34 years were diagnosed with GD, while the non-GD group averaged 30.7 years. Milk samples were collected from the mothers one month after giving birth, and researchers measured various infant growth metrics, including the baby’s weight relative to length and overall body composition. The study found that mothers with GD experienced notable changes in nine out of 458 metabolites tested in their milk. Specifically, three metabolites—2-hydroxybutyric acid, stearoylcarnitine, and phenylacetic acid—were linked to growth in babies. 2-Hydroxybutyric acid, which is significantly more prevalent in the breast milk of women with GD, was linked with no change in body fat in babies within the first three months. Stearoylcarnitine, which is reduced in the breast milk of mothers with GD, was linked to rapid weight gain in babies. Furthermore, phenylacetic acid, which was also reduced in the breast milk of mothers with GD, was linked to a child’s change in length as they age. “A baby can die in utero due to uncontrolled gestational diabetes,” Davidov noted. Another risk is that the baby can become very large, a condition called fetal macrosomia, potentially leading to birth injuries during delivery, he added. Also, uncontrolled diabetes, especially earlier in pregnancy, can cause congenital anomalies, chiefly heart disease linked to heart defects, Davidov said. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is another risk to babies born to mothers with GD. It is unknown how an infant’s body processes these metabolites and whether metabolite levels are causally linked to the observed patterns of growth and body composition, the researchers wrote. They added that as this study only “identified candidate metabolites potentially involved in the relationship between GD and infant growth, further work is needed to better understand their role in infant health.”NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 13, 2024-- JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) (“JPMorganChase” or the “Firm”) has declared dividends on the outstanding shares of the Firm’s Series CC and HH preferred stock. Information can be found on the Firm’s Investor Relations website at https://www.jpmorganchase.com/ir/news . JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America (“U.S.”), with operations worldwide. JPMorganChase had $4.2 trillion in assets and $346 billion in stockholders’ equity as of September 30, 2024. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213856749/en/ CONTACT: Investor Contact: Mikael Grubb 212-270-2479 Media Contact: Joseph Evangelisti 212-270-7438 KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING ASSET MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: JPMorgan Chase & Co. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/13/2024 04:21 PM/DISC: 12/13/2024 04:22 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213856749/en

New Release Dethrones Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 From Top of SteamWATCH -- Islamic Influencer in Dearborn: Allah Sent Muslims to USA to ‘Civilize’ Primitive, ‘Backwards’ WestCLINTON, S.C. (AP) — Quante Jennings rushed for 190 yards and a tiebreaking touchdown as Presbyterian beat Butler 30-20 in a regular-season finale on Saturday. Collin Hurst threw for 172 yards and two scores and ran for another for the Blue Hose (6-6, 4-4 Pioneer League). Reagan Andrew threw for three touchdowns and was intercepted once for the Bulldogs (9-3, 5-3). Jennings' 50-yard rush led to Hurst's 17-yard touchdown pass to Worth Warner to tie the game at 20 midway through the third quarter. Presbyterian's next possession began on the Butler 30 after a short punt from deep in Bulldogs territory, and five plays later Jennings scored from 10 yards out. Peter Lipscombe made it a 10-point lead with a field goal with 2:15 to go after a 15-play, 89-yard drive that took over 10 minutes. About a minute later, Andrew threw a 42-yard score to Ethan Loss but the Blue Hose recovered the onside kick. The Blue Hose defeated a ranked FCS team — Butler (9-3, 5-3) is No. 23 in the coaches poll — for the first time in its Division I history that began in 2007. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

As the postmaster of Chicago for the 606-608 ZIP codes, I want to assure you the U.S. Postal Service is primed and ready to deliver exceptional service during the 2024 holiday rush. Thanks to substantial progress USPS has made under the Delivering for America plan — a $40 billion investment aimed at revitalizing the national postal network — our operational, transportation and delivery processes have never been more finely tuned. My dedicated team and I are fully prepared to once again handle the peak holiday season surge. As you and your family prepare for the holidays, it’s always a good idea to ship it early! We encourage everyone to send their holiday mail and packages well in advance to ensure they reach their destinations on time, but we understand sometimes cards or packages are sent last minute. This year, our recommended send-by dates for expected holiday delivery within the continental U.S. before Dec. 25 are: Dec. 18: USPS Ground Advantage service; first-class mail Dec. 19: Priority Mail service Dec. 21: Priority Mail Express service For a complete list of recommended holiday mailing and shipping dates, please visit usps.com/holidayshippingdates . And remember: The earlier you send it, the better — Ship it Early! We are honored and grateful for your trust in the U.S. Postal Service. Your postal team in the city of Chicago is proud to be the most affordable, reliable way to send cheer this holiday season, and we’re ready to deliver exceptional service during the holidays and beyond. Jewel Morrow, Chicago postmaster Merge public transit agencies Thanks for publishing Bruce Mainzer’s opinion essay about merging northern Illinois’ transportation agencies. Reducing redundant administration costs will save money and speed up services. Also important is the transparency that would ensue. Dorval Carter needs to show what’s really happening. And thanks for the editorial about getting extremist Oath Keepers out of the Chicago Police Department. Whatever the reason, white supremacists have no role in CPD. Beth Najberg, Gold Coast Raise ‘senior freeze’ income limit There are many sides to the “senior freeze” coin. I and other law-abiding seniors lost our freeze because of high inflation and accompanying Social Security increases pushing people over the $65,000 household income. It would have been nice if the senior freeze income limit was indexed to Social Security increases. Ed Rios, Berwyn Bear of a game I have one question for the ownership of the Chicago Bears. Would it kill you to hire a coaching staff that actually knows how to win games? Steve Herr, West RidgeAmit Shah says Maharashtra election results shut shops of ‘fake well-wishers': 'A victory for politics of performance'