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Mike Preston: Ravens nothing special in win over Bengals, but they can still have a special season | COMMENTARY

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:08 GMT

The Ravens won.That’s the best thing you can say about the team’s 34-20 win against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium.The Ravens (8-3) beat the Bengals (5-5) for the second time this season and expanded their lead in the AFC North over the Cleveland Browns (6-3) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3), who will face off Sunday.But there isn’t much more to learn from Thursday’s game when it comes to how far the Ravens might go in the postseason.The Ravens lost tight end Mark Andrews to a likely season-ending ankle injury after he was tackled near the goal line by linebacker Logan Wilson following a 9-yard reception with 11:05 left in the first quarter.That’s devastating news, almost as significant as the Browns announcing Wednesday that quarterback Deshaun Watson will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury he suffered last week in Baltimore.Regardless, the Ravens won, and that’s all that matters. Last Sunda...

Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 34-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:08 GMT

The Ravens survived an injury scare to quarterback Lamar Jackson and a bizarrely eventful first half to secure a vital 34-20 win against the defending AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals. But the loss of tight end Mark Andrews cast a pall over an otherwise satisfying evening.Here are five things we learned from the game.The Ravens came through an odd, unsettling night with a win they had to have.The Ravens’ highly promising season flashed before their eyes when Jackson went down hard along the sideline, rose unsteadily and spent several excruciating minutes obscured from view in the dreaded blue medical tent.Their heated turf war with the defending AFC North champion Bengals faded to a secondary concern.When Jackson emerged, he went to the bench instead of the locker room as 70,997 frazzled souls in M&T Bank Stadium breathed out. The business of football could recommence, and what an odd night of football we witnessed.There was a 68-yard touchdown undone by misguided off...

High school football preview: Div. 5 clash between Foxboro, Shawsheen should be a dandy

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:08 GMT

Foxboro has been here before, but the Warriors are looking for a little more.Standing in the way of Foxboro and a berth in the Div. 5 state championship game is a Shawsheen Tech team looking for some redemption of its own. These teams meet in a state semifinal contest Friday evening at Assabet Valley.Foxboro appeared in the Div. 4 semifinals in each of the last two seasons, losing to Duxbury in 2021 (38-21) and Grafton last season (21-12). The second-seeded Warriors (9-1) enter the contest on a roll, having allowed one touchdown in their last four games since a hard-fought 13-7 loss to undefeated King Philip.“I guess we’ve been the bridesmaids, but not the bride the last two years,” said Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli, who recently won his 300th game. “There is no better teacher than experience, so they know about playing in this game.”Shawsheen (9-0) was able to get to Gillette last year, losing 44-28 to North Reading. Many of those same players who were on the field a year ag...

Indian troops kill 5 suspected rebels in Kashmir fighting, police say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:08 GMT

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Government forces in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir killed five suspected militants in a gunbattle, police said Friday.Indian forces launched a joint operation on Thursday evening following a tip that rebels were hiding in a village in southern Kulgam district. The siege led to a gunbattle that continued until Friday, police said.Five militants were killed in the fighting, a police statement said. It said they had been involved in several attacks on government forces and civilian killings.There was no independent confirmation of the police claims.Residents said troops destroyed two civilian houses with explosives during the fighting, a common anti-militancy tactic employed by Indian troops in Kashmir. Another home was partially damaged.At least two of the people killed were in their teens and three had joined the rebel ranks last year, according to police.The counterinsurgency operation came two months after major fighting in nearby Anantnag killed t...

Rogers expands cell service to all TTC subway stations, including Vaughan extension tunnel

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:08 GMT

Rogers Communications has expanded 5G wireless services to all TTC subway stations, as well as along the tunnel in the Vaughan extension.In an update on Friday, the company said 5G service will be available to Rogers customers in the Vaughan extension tunnel between Sheppard West and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre stations.Rogers said it also added more reliable 911 access for all riders at these new locations.The next step will be to roll out cellphone service across all remaining tunnels.“I’m thrilled that our team has completed the upgrade of the legacy network well ahead of schedule,” said Ron McKenzie, Rogers Chief Technology and Information Officer. “We’re now transitioning to the next critical phase of the project, expanding 5G coverage to connect the remaining 36 kilometers of track.”Back in August, Rogers launched the first phase of its 5G wireless services in parts of the TTC subway system, bringing with it improved 911 access for riders.Pr...

Weekend need-to-know: Grey Cup fever, film festivals, and the holiday season gets into full swing

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:08 GMT

Movie buffs will have their pick of the litter as several film festivals are happening this weekend across the city and pet owners will have a chance to get a photo with Santa at the Toronto Christmas Pet Show as the holiday season gets into full swing.The jolly old elf will also arrive at the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto on Friday afternoon. The Distillery District Winter Village kicked off on Thursday and runs until Jan. 7, and WinterFest begins at Canada’s Wonderland.There is also a full weekend closure on the TTC to keep in mind as you travel through the city.Here’s what’s going on this weekend.EventsGrey Cup at Tim Hortons Field in HamiltonThe Grey Cup happens this weekend at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, featuring an electrifying performance from Green Day. The match-up will see the Winnipeg Bluebombers take on the Montreal Alouettes to find out who will hoist the Grey Cup. Sadly, the Toronto Argonauts did not have a chance to defend their 2022 title after their sem...

AI-generated TikToks, YouTube videos push websites that turn photos into AI nudes

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:08 GMT

(NewsNation) — Artificial intelligence tools that can be used to generate AI nudity are easy to find online and sometimes even boosted by accounts on social media sites like YouTube and TikTok.A TikTok search by NewsNation revealed dozens of videos pushing websites that allow users to "remove clothes from any picture," including those of their "crush.""Do you have any picture of your crush?" a man, who appears to be AI-generated, said in a TikTok dated Sept. 18. "I've discovered an incredible AI website that I'm sure you'll find interesting because no girl wants you to know about this tool. You can remove the clothes from any picture."NewsNation reviewed other similar videos that have been posted on TikTok in recent months, all of which appear to be AI-generated. Each follows a nearly identical script with the same robotic cadence.Last week, a TikTok search for AI nudity delivered several results but a day later the platform had blocked the search. Instead, a message read: "This phr...

Measles deaths around the world jumped 40% last year

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:08 GMT

ONDON (AP) — Measles deaths globally spiked by more than 40% last year and cases rose after vaccination levels dramatically dropped during the pandemic, leading health agencies said Thursday.The highly infectious disease triggered epidemics in 37 countries last year, versus 22 countries in 2021. It sickened 9 million children and killed 136,000, mostly in poorer countries, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new report.The number of measles cases also rose by nearly 20% after immunization levels dropped to their lowest in 15 years during the pandemic, the agencies said.A vial of a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is seen in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Friday, May 17, 2019. The World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 that measles deaths globally spiked by more than 40% last year. The number of cases also rose by nearly 20% after immunization levels dropped to t...

School voucher bill to reach Texas House floor Friday for potentially pivotal vote

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:08 GMT

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) – After years of work from advocates and months of arm-twisting in the state Capitol, the Texas House appears poised to vote on the creation of a school voucher program Friday.House Bill 1, authored by Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, is the lower chamber's $7 billion wide-ranging education proposal that would create education savings accounts, a voucher-like program that would allow parents access to taxpayer money to pay for private schools. The House is set to convene at 10 a.m. Friday and will take up the bill at some point. Time running short to approve TX school voucher plan The bill passed a House committee on Nov. 10 and its initial approval marked the furthest a school voucher program has reached in the Texas House in recent history. In fact, it’s possible a school voucher bill has never made it to a floor vote in the House, according to legislative records — though an exact determination is difficult given that the Legislature has considered differen...

Austin ISD posts superintendent position; signals possible inside choice

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:00:08 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – In a sign that it is ready to move forward with choosing a new leader for the district, the Board of Trustees for the Austin Independent School District unanimously voted Thursday night to post the job of superintendent. It also unanimously voted to add the following to the superintendent job profile: prioritization of special education, with specific references to inclusive practicesa focus placed on multilingual educationmore emphasis on staff morale an equality statement on gender identity and sexual orientationThe board voted to post the position from Friday, Nov. 17 until 5 p.m., Dec. 7.AISD Board President Arati Singh said the board faced two options: a months-long national search or an immediate posting if they felt that a search was not necessary. According to the district, school boards generally choose the latter option when they have a strong candidate in mind. The Board of Trustees paused the current superintendent search Mar. 30 and extended the contract...