NoneWhat US buyers (and investors) can expect from the auto industry in 2025

Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flightsENERGY SERVICES OF AMERICA COMPLETES ACQUISITIONWASHINGTON (AP) — Thomas Sorber's 22 points helped Georgetown defeat Coppin State 83-53 on Saturday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * WASHINGTON (AP) — Thomas Sorber's 22 points helped Georgetown defeat Coppin State 83-53 on Saturday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WASHINGTON (AP) — Thomas Sorber’s 22 points helped Georgetown defeat Coppin State 83-53 on Saturday. Sorber also had 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Hoyas (11-2). Drew Fielder scored 20 points while shooting 6 of 7 from the field and 8 for 8 from the line and added 13 rebounds. Malik Mack finished with 15 points. The Eagles (1-13) were led in scoring by Toby Nnadozie, who finished with 22 points. Julius Ellerbe added 12 points and six steals for Coppin State. Zahree Harrison finished with nine points and four steals. Georgetown took the lead with 19:44 left in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 37-30 at halftime, with Sorber racking up 13 points. Georgetown pulled away with a 21-2 run in the second half to extend a seven-point lead to 26 points. They outscored Coppin State by 23 points in the final half, as Mack led the way with a team-high nine second-half points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Advertisement

Ending the year strong and proud

NoneCaitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Wemby at The Garden. LeBron vs. Steph. The NBA's Christmas Day lineup, as always, has star power LeBron James made his Christmas debut in 2003. Victor Wembanyama was born 10 days later. That’s right: James has been featured on the NBA’s big day for longer than Wembanyama has been alive. And on Wednesday the league’s oldest player and brightest young star will be big parts of the holiday showcase. It’s another Christmas quintupleheader, with Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs visiting the New York Knicks, Minnesota going to Dallas for a Western Conference finals rematch, Philadelphia heading to Boston to renew a storied rivalry, James and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, and Denver playing at Phoenix. Pro Picks: Chiefs will beat the Steelers and Ravens will edge the Texans on Christmas Day Playoff berths, draft positioning and more are up for grabs in Week 17. There’s going to be plenty of football on television this holiday week with the NFL playing games on five out of six days, starting with a doubleheader on Christmas Day featuring four of the AFC’s top five teams. Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs visit Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Then, two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens take on C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. The Bears host the Seahawks on Thursday night and there are three games on Saturday, making Sunday’s schedule light at nine games. Falcons drafting Penix no longer a head-scratcher with rookie QB shining in place of benched Cousins It was the most surprising first-round pick in a long time when the Atlanta Falcons chose Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall selection in the NFL draft last April. That came just six weeks after the Falcons had signed free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million in guarantees. But that move is no longer a head-scratcher after Penix's solid starting debut in place of a benched and turnover-prone Cousins. Several teams have fared well with new quarterbacks this season including the Steelers, Broncos, Vikings and Commanders. Lindsey Vonn thinks her new titanium knee could start a trend in skiing. And pro sports in general ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — Lindsey Vonn thinks her new titanium knee could be the start of a trend in ski racing. The 40-year-old American standout had replacement surgery in April and returned to the World Cup circuit after nearly six years last weekend. She says her knee feels “amazing" and that "it’s something to seriously consider for athletes that have a lot of knee problems.” Her surgery was the first of its kind in World Cup skiing. Vonn had a robot-assisted surgery in April with part of the bone in her right knee cut off and replaced by two titanium pieces. She was planning her comeback a month later. Boise State's legacy includes winning coaches and championship moments No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for its third trip to the Fiesta Bowl. This time it's in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year’s Eve. Boise State's first appearance on the national stage was in a memorable victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2007. But former coach Chris Petersen said the victory in that bowl three years later over TCU was even more meaningful for the program. Players have mixed feelings about being on the road on Christmas as NFL adds more holiday games OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Games on Christmas aren’t new to the NFL. The Miami Dolphins famously beat the Kansas City Chiefs in a playoff game on Dec. 25, 1971 — a double-overtime classic that still holds the record for the NFL’s longest game. In 2020, New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record with six touchdowns in a game when the Saints beat Minnesota on Christmas. Lately the league has been much more aggressive about scheduling games on Christmas. That's been met with mixed feelings among the players. Baltimore tackle Ronnie Stanley says there is an offensive line Christmas party planned for Friday at center Tyler Linderbaum’s house. Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s plan is to celebrate on Thursday. Embiid ejected after drawing 2 technicals in game against Wembanyama and Spurs PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was ejected in the first half of Monday night’s game against San Antonio after drawing two technical fouls. Referee Jenna Schroeder ejected Embiid with 2 minutes, 59 seconds left in the second quarter. The seven-time All-Star received the first technical for arguing with Schroeder, and received another technical — and ejection — from Schroeder before any more game time elapsed. Embiid was close to Schroeder, but it wasn’t clear from replays whether he made contact with the official. An enraged Embiid charged toward the officials after the ejection and was restrained by teammate Kyle Lowry, head coach Nick Nurse and several assistants. Nikki Glaser uses Prime Video's NFL postgame show appearances to help prepare for Golden Globes INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Nikki Glaser has become a familiar face to football fans this season. Her breakthrough performance at the Tom Brady Roast on May 5 paved the way for five appearances on Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” postgame show. Glaser said before last Thursday’s game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers that doing her “Late Hits” segment was a no-brainer following her success at the Brady roast. Leaving Thunder, Bucks off the NBA's Christmas game list has those teams feeling snubbed Oklahoma City leads the Western Conference and has a MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Milwaukee has the NBA’s leading scorer in Giannis Antetokounmpo. They were the teams that made their way to the NBA Cup final. By any measure, they’re both very good teams. And neither will play on Christmas Day this year. Bah, humbug. The NBA faces the same challenge every summer, figuring out which 10 teams will get the honor of playing on Christmas Day. But the Bucks and Thunder are right to feel snubbed.

DALLAS -- The enormity of 's contract -- stretching 15 years and guaranteeing $765 million, not a penny of which is deferred -- brought an initial jolt to Major League Baseball's winter meetings on Sunday night. It was monumental and far-reaching, but it was also an outlier, given the uniqueness of landing one of history's greatest hitters in his mid-20s. As the days passed, subsequent transactions took place and the offseason began to round into form, a more revealing trend emerged at the sprawling Hilton hotel that hosted baseball's annual gathering earlier this week. A prominent agent expressed it succinctly on Tuesday night, in the middle of an emptying lobby after a dizzying round of transactions. "Man," he said, "starting pitchers are getting ." Hours earlier, signed an eight-year, $218 million deal with the , blowing away the most reputable projections. Later, secured a three-year, $75 million contract to return to the , more than doubling the guarantee of his prior deal in his mid-30s. And just a day prior, , a 37-year-old who made three starts while dealing with a litany of injuries last season, cost the $15 million on a one-year deal -- a sign that it wasn't just the top starters getting paid, but the innings-eaters and the reclamation projects, too, age be damned. Fried, Eovaldi and Cobb followed a path that had already been laid out by the likes of (five years, $182 million with the ), (three years, $67 million with the Athletics) and (two years, $29 million with the ). All of them did better than expected. All of them triggered a fundamental question: Why, at a time when starting pitchers have never been counted on less, are they more expensive than ever? Executives, agents and coaches surveyed in the 72 hours that encompassed baseball's winter meetings brought up an assortment of theories. One general manager noted that starting pitchers who can consistently tackle five to six innings and 160 or so over the course of a six-month season aren't any less important, even in an era of heavy bullpen usage -- they're simply more rare, triggering the type of demand that can escalate prices. Another pointed to the impact of big-market teams chasing top-tier free agents and how that has affected those below them. Another pointed specifically to the , who handed Soto a record-breaking contract but might have set a tone in a different way -- by signing earlier this month to a two-year, $34 million deal that was viewed in some circles as an overpay. But most of the conversations came back to the rapid rate of arm injuries that have plagued the industry and made teams hyper-paranoid about their starting pitching depth. These days, even more so than before, enough is never enough. "Teams used to feel good if they could go into a season with, I'd say, seven or eight guys they can count on to start games at the major league level, at least in some capacity," said one front office executive. "Now that number is like 11." The approach taken by two of the sport's most successful franchises illustrates that. The Yankees already boasted a solid fivesome of , , , and -- but Fried was their obvious pivot after missing out on Soto, enough to cross a $200 million threshold few foresaw for the soon-to-be-31-year-old left-hander. The Dodgers, who beat the Yankees in the World Series, were set to return a rotation composed of , , , and , while backed by a pitching pipeline that has become the envy of the sport -- and yet they zeroed in on Snell at the onset of the offseason. "I know that as a team, we've felt it more acutely," said Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes, whose club suffered through an array of pitching injuries in 2024. "You feel like you have depth coming in, and sometimes it maintains and sometimes it doesn't. It's a little scary of an unknown." The increase in pitcher injuries has been raising alarm bells for the better part of a decade, but a presentation at this week's winter meetings placed that in a new light. The sport's 30 managers gathered in a conference room on Wednesday morning as MLB officials guided them through key findings from a yearlong study of pitcher injuries that involved input from more than 200 experts in a variety of roles. One of the slides showed that surgeries to repair damaged ulnar collateral ligaments at the minor league level had basically doubled over the past 10 years. Not only are current major league pitchers breaking down, so is the foundation behind them. Said one manager in attendance: "It was stunning." The trade market hadn't reached full tilt by the time most of the industry's agents and executives boarded their flights back home on Wednesday afternoon. But the expectation was that it would soon pick up, particularly as it relates to starting pitchers. Teams seeking alternatives to the higher free agent prices have expressed interest in , , , and , names that should gain more traction after ace was dealt to the for an impressive haul of prospects. Two of the Red Sox's division rivals, the and the , are still searching for frontline starting pitching. So are the Mets and the , two of the offseason's busiest teams. So are many others. A dozen starting pitchers have signed for a combined $788.5 million through the first five weeks of this offseason, already about 63% of the spending in that department from last year -- with still expected to exceed $200 million and , , , , and among the roughly 75 other starters available. And though the player pool is widely considered to be better than it was a year ago, and many executives will caution that early deals tend to be inflated, setting up the possibility that those who remain don't do so well, one thing is clear: Starting pitching, famously out of vogue in the modern game, is still at a premium.

HOUSTON , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OptiSigns, a leader in digital signage software solutions, is thrilled to announce its participation as a Platinum Sponsor in this year's Digital Signage Experience (DSE) 2024, taking place this December in Las Vegas, Nevada . The highly anticipated event, a premier gathering for digital signage innovators, professionals, and enthusiasts, will provide the perfect stage for OptiSigns to unveil its latest advancements and engage with industry leaders. Visitors of DSE 2024 will have the opportunity to experience firsthand how OptiSigns' powerful and user-friendly platform is transforming how businesses communicate, engage, and inform their audiences. From dynamic content scheduling to seamless integrations and real-time updates, OptiSigns' solutions are designed to meet the needs of businesses across industries, including retail, hospitality, healthcare, and more. "At OptiSigns, we are passionate about empowering businesses with technology that engages audiences and drives results," said Head of Sales John Shelley. "We are excited to connect with industry professionals at DSE 2024, showcase our solutions, and demonstrate how digital signage can transform communication strategies." DSE 2024 will take place from December 9, 2024 , to December 10, 2024 , at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada , and promises to bring together key players and thought leaders in digital signage, offering a unique platform to explore the latest technologies and network with industry professionals. What to Expect from OptiSigns at DSE 2024: Live Demonstrations: Visitors of DSE can visit OptiSigns booth #3134 to explore the intuitive features of the OptiSigns platform and learn how it can simplify and enhance digital signage management. Using OptiSigns innovative technology like the Pro Player and Android Stick, visitors will be treated to LIVE Demos of unique OptiSigns features like Audience Intelligence, the OptiSync Data Management System, and the Lift and Learn Interactive Kiosk Experience. New Product Announcements: Stop by OptiSigns booth #3134 and be the first to see the newest innovative Pro Max technology designed by OptiSigns and learn more about unique updates that will redefine the digital signage landscape. Our newest Pro Max technology is our most powerful digital signage player that supports 8K or 4x4K video walls. With OptiSigns experts onsite, visitors will have the opportunity to discuss trends, best practices, and strategies for maximizing the impact of digital signage. Exclusive Giveaways and Promotions: Attendees visiting OptiSigns booth #3134 will have access to special offers, giveaways, and prizes. This year, OptiSigns will unleash their interactive Opti Claw Machine, tantalizing visitors with a chance to win OptiSigns Android Sticks, Pro Players, Optibot Keychains, and more. One lucky winner will win a brand new PS5 Pro via a LinkedIn competition, and the winner will be announced LIVE at DSE! For more information on the PS5 giveaway, check out OptiSigns' LinkedIn page. About OptiSigns OptiSigns is a leading digital signage software provider dedicated to helping businesses create engaging, impactful content experiences. Focusing on simplicity, scalability, and innovation, OptiSigns empowers organizations to communicate their message effectively and captivate their audience through digital displays. For more information on OptiSigns, visit www.optisigns.com or follow us on all social media @OptiSignsInc. Media Contact: Aisha Albritton Director of Trade Show Strategy and Event Marketing Aisha.Albritton@OptiSigns.com | (404) 641-0613 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/optisigns-to-showcase-cutting-edge-digital-signage-solutions-at-the-digital-signage-experience-2024-in-las-vegas-302320107.html SOURCE OptiSigns

NEW YORK — Same iconic statue, very different race. With two-way star Travis Hunter of Colorado and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty leading the field, these certainly aren't your typical Heisman Trophy contenders. Sure, veteran quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel from top-ranked Oregon and Cam Ward of No. 15 Miami are finalists for college football's most prestigious award as well, but the 90th annual ceremony coming up Saturday night at Lincoln Center in New York City offers a fresh flavor this year. To start with, none of the four are from the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, which has produced four of the past five Heisman winners — two each from Alabama and LSU. Jeanty, who played his home games for a Group of Five team on that peculiar blue turf in Idaho more than 2,100 miles from Manhattan, is the first running back even invited to the Heisman party since 2017. After leading the country with 2,497 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns, he joined quarterback Kellen Moore (2010) as the only Boise State players to be named a finalist. "The running back position has been overlooked for a while now," said Jeanty, who plans to enter the 2025 NFL draft. "There's been a lot of great running backs before me that should have been here in New York, so to kind of carry on the legacy of the running back position I think is great. ... I feel as if I'm representing the whole position." With the votes already in, all four finalists spent Friday conducting interviews and sightseeing in the Big Apple. They were given custom, commemorative watches to mark their achievement. "I'm not a watch guy, but I like it," said Hunter, flashing a smile. The players also took photos beneath the massive billboards in Times Square and later posed with the famous Heisman Trophy, handed out since 1935 to the nation's most outstanding performer. Hunter, the heavy favorite, made sure not to touch it yet. A dominant player on both offense and defense who rarely comes off the field, the wide receiver/cornerback is a throwback to generations gone by and the first full-time, true two-way star in decades. On offense, he had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns this season to help the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) earn their first bowl bid in four years. On defense, he made four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced a critical fumble that secured an overtime victory against Baylor. Hunter played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the only Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Call him college football's answer to baseball unicorn Shohei Ohtani. "I think I laid the ground for more people to come in and go two ways," Hunter said. "It starts with your mindset. If you believe you can do it, then you'll be able to do it. And also, I do a lot of treatment. I keep up with my body. I get a lot of recovery." Hunter is Colorado's first Heisman finalist in 30 years. The junior from Suwanee, Georgia, followed flashy coach Deion Sanders from Jackson State, an HBCU that plays in the lower level FCS, to the Rocky Mountains and has already racked up a staggering combination of accolades this week, including The Associated Press player of the year. Hunter also won the Walter Camp Award as national player of the year, along with the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for best wide receiver. "It just goes to show that I did what I had to do," Hunter said. Next, he'd like to polish off his impressive hardware collection by becoming the second Heisman Trophy recipient in Buffaloes history, after late running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994. "I worked so hard for this moment, so securing the Heisman definitely would set my legacy in college football," Hunter said. "Being here now is like a dream come true." Jeanty carried No. 8 Boise State (12-1) to a Mountain West Conference championship that landed the Broncos the third seed in this year's College Football Playoff. They have a first-round bye before facing the SMU-Penn State winner in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal on New Year's Eve. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound junior from Jacksonville, Florida, won the Maxwell Award as college football's top player and the Doak Walker Award for best running back. Jeanty has five touchdown runs of at least 70 yards and has rushed for the fourth-most yards in a season in FBS history — topping the total of 115 teams this year. He needs 132 yards to break the FBS record set by Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State in 1988. In a pass-happy era, however, Jeanty is trying to become the first running back to win the Heisman Trophy since Derrick Henry for Alabama nine years ago. In fact, quarterbacks have snagged the prize all but four times this century. Gabriel, an Oklahoma transfer, led Oregon (13-0) to a Big Ten title in its first season in the league and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The steady senior from Hawaii passed for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns with six interceptions. His 73.2% completion rate ranks second in the nation, and he's attempting to join quarterback Marcus Mariota (2014) as Ducks players to win the Heisman Trophy. "I think all the memories start to roll back in your mind," Gabriel said. Ward threw for 4,123 yards and led the nation with a school-record 36 touchdown passes for the high-scoring Hurricanes (10-2) after transferring from Washington State. The senior from West Columbia, Texas, won the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Year award and is looking to join QBs Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992) as Miami players to go home with the Heisman. "I just think there's a recklessness that you have to play with at the quarterback position," Ward said. 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