Day: January 6, 2025

The true cost of a security breach  TechRadar
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love left Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears with an elbow injury, with the playoffs just one week away. The Packers wide receiver Christian Watson also suffered a non-contact knee injury during Sunday’s game.
Love suffered the elbow injury with the Packers trailing 14-3 in the second quarter on a first-and-10 play. After facing pressure in the pocket, he dumped the ball to running back Josh Jacobs as he got hit. Love stood up after the hit shaking and flexing his right hand, with trainers immediately taking to the field to inspect the injury. Watson was replaced by backup Malik Willis, with the Packers listing Love as questionable to return. Trainers continued to evaluate Love on the sideline before the Packers announced that he had sustained the elbow injury.
Watson was injured prior to Love’s injury, after he fell to the turf untouched while running a route and immediately grabbed his right knee in pain. Trainers tended to Watson on the field, but he was eventually carted off and ruled out of the game at halftime. Watson entered Sunday having tallied 29 catches for 620 yards (21.4 yards per reception) and two touchdowns.
The Packers entered Sunday having already clinched a playoff berth, and will open the playoffs on the road next week.
Editorial credit: Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock.com
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A vision of the Gretna good life district proposed by businessman Rod Yates. Boundaries would include and surround Nebraska Crossing mall centered at Interstate 80 and Highway 31. In the background are residential towers that could rise at the site along with a billion-dollar youth sports complex. (Courtesy of Nebraska Crossing)
GRETNA, Nebraska — When State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan proposed legislation to create good life districts two years ago, she envisioned the result would be a Nebraska tourist magnet akin to Kansas City’s Legends retail complex or Minnesota’s Mall of America.
Inspiring her, she said, was businessman Rod Yates’ dream to build a sports-retail-entertainment mecca around the existing Nebraska Crossing outlet mall he co-owns in Gretna, between the state’s two largest cities, Omaha and Lincoln.
To enable such a quest, Linehan secured an unprecedented state incentive as part of the Good Life Transformational Projects Act: The legislation calls for the state sales tax in the target area to be cut from 5.5% to 2.75%, with the expectation that giving up millions in state revenue would help finance unique job- and tourism-creating development that pays off more over time.
But two key drivers of the Good Life Act say they are disappointed in how the law and a subsequent update are playing out. Yates’ plan appears deadlocked with the Gretna City Council, and Linehan now fears that she let language slip by that could allow Gretna and a handful of Nebraska cities to use the state incentive in ways she didn’t intend — boosting projects that are less spectacular than one-of-a-kind.
City officials in Gretna say they are simply protecting taxpayers by requiring financial accountability for developers, and that they still expect transformational feats in the district, but perhaps with a focus on multiple property owners instead of just one.
Linehan’s concerns come as Gretna is in the midst of a Jan. 14 special mail-in election that will affect the largest and highest-profile of the four good life districts so far approved by the state. The election won’t resolve the lawmaker’s qualms, nor is it a determination on any one developer or project, but an affirmative vote is needed to allow the city to fully tap into the state incentive.
“It’s a mess,’ said Linehan, the term-limited chair of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee who is officially out of office by mid-week. “I don’t know where it got off the tracks, but somebody needs to step in front of the train.”
Under the good life district law, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development was tasked with approving up to five good life districts statewide. So far the DED has approved four — in the cities of Gretna, Omaha, Bellevue and Grand Island.
The deadline to apply passed at the end of the year, with Kearney and Papillion the two contenders for the final designation.
Applicants must meet certain criteria, including providing a description of the proposed project, an estimate of total new development costs and jobs, financial documentation and potential impact on the state during the 30-year duration of the district.
The law allows most of the information in the applications to remain secret from the public, except for the project’s location and estimations of total cost and new jobs.
DED director K.C. Belitz said host cities have broad power to guide a good life district once his agency approves an application and geographic boundaries. He said the state steps in at 3-year, 7-year and 10-year marks to review progress and ensure that districts have met certain investment-related benchmarks. The state could move to terminate the district and incentive if benchmarks aren’t reached at those points, Belitz said.
Linehan told the Nebraska Examiner that she has questions about how all good life districts operate, but she is focused first on Gretna, which is in the midst of the mail-in election that would trigger the way for the city to re-channel the forfeited state revenue toward private development.
As it stands now, Yates, whose application created the Gretna good life district, is at odds with city officials over terms of his proposal.
The City Council in November rejected his set of demands to carry out his multibillion-dollar venture after city advisors said they presented financial, legal and market risks. Among the Yates’ team’s proposed terms: reduce the city’s portion of sales tax within the district and approve tax-increment financing and occupation taxes as requested. The city’s attorney said the terms also call for potential use of eminent domain on properties within the district Yates does not own if owners refuse to sell within 10% above appraised value.
Gretna officials have also said an advisory committee and the City Council will consider extending the good life benefit to other property owners within the district — beyond just Yates.
DED officials say that is allowed under the law, but Linehan is worried that such a scenario opens the door to the public incentive being used to help finance district development and public infrastructure projects that are less than “transformational.”
Yates has said success of his vision — and related financing — is predicated on him owning and controlling the entire district. He said he has secured retailers and partner developers that could grow the district beyond the 2,000 acres currently approved, and up to a $5 billion, 4,500 acre-campus. City officials have said he owns but a slice of the district currently, though Yates said he has talked to all property owners about the possibility of purchasing their land.
Yates told the Examiner he is so frustrated with Gretna leaders that he is considering ‘terminating” his district application with the state and seeking someone to introduce new legislation to help fulfill his “mega transformational sports and real estate ecosystem.”
“The process has been flawed from the beginning with the City of Gretna seeking to reimagine the bill to take control for its own financial gain,” Yates said.
Shame on me. But something is very wrong here.
– State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha
Linehan said she apparently was not paying enough attention to a “clean up” bill that the Legislature passed in 2024 which provided more city control in good life districts. Added was the requirement for a local election before the state benefits could be fully used. If Gretna voters say yes in the special election, the city would establish an “economic development program” that guides the good life district and steer the forfeited state sales tax toward development efforts.
“Shame on me,” Linehan said. “But something is very wrong here.”
Meanwhile, Gretna officials said they remain eager about the possibility of new tourist magnets rising. Mayor Mike Evans said multiple developers and property owners have shown interest in launching a venture, and he welcomes more voices and collaboration for such an important swath of mostly agricultural land near Interstate 80 and Highway 31 and between Omaha and Lincoln.
Drew Snyder, founder and owner of Woodsonia Real Estate, said his group would like to develop “destination retail” on land it owns in the district. He declined to provide details just yet. While Snyder would like to see a Yates project in the district, he wants autonomy and control of any future Woodsonia project site.
Woodsonia has led various housing and mixed-use projects in Omaha, including the Top Golf entertainment venue. Woodsonia also is the state-approved applicant for Grand Island’s 875-acre good life district near the former Veterans Home campus and encompassing the Conestoga Marketplace.
Mick Mulhall, whose family owns property in the Gretna good life district, said they are intrigued at the possibility of building something to add to the transformation. He said the Mulhalls prefer a more collective district guided by the city.
Craig Wolf said he and his wife, Tiffani, are Gretna residents who hope to close on about 34 acres of city-owned land near the good life district. He foresees it as a potential home for a new $107 million commercial campus focused on competitive cheer events and including a basketball facility, hotels and conventions. He hopes also to create a retail area with regional appeal.
While the property currently is outside the designated good life boundaries, Wolf’s lawyer said the city has the ability to expand the district and thereby extend the incentive.
“This will turn heads,” Wolf said of his expansion plan.
Gretna city officials have said they are prohibited from influencing the special election and have provided limited public responses.
But the consensus from all involved is that Gretna has a particularly complicated good life district — in part because of its size and that roughly 50 distinct property owners are within the designated boundaries.
“There are many property owners within Gretna’s good life district, and many possible development ideas in the area,” says a frequently-asked-questions piece on the City of Gretna’s website. “Neither the city nor any one property owner knows exactly how development in the good life district will proceed and what will be constructed.”
Voters in Omaha and Grand Island have already given approval to allow the host cities to create economic development programs to guide development in respective good life districts.
Omaha’s plan calls for developer Curt Hofer to use the state incentive to help build out the 200-acre Avenue One district, which anticipates luring $1.4 billion in investment and 4,083 jobs.
Woodsonia foresees more than $750 million in new investment within the Grand Island district and 300,000 out-of-state visitors a year.
In Bellevue, the applicant for a 575-acre good life district is the City of Bellevue, not a private developer. The biggest draws will be either city-owned or city-supported projects centered around a water park and resort-style recreation area near Highways 75 and 34.
Since the city won’t be remitting any tax revenue collection to a private developer, there is no need for a special election, Bellevue officials have said. They plan to use occupation taxes assessed in the district to capture the eliminated state sales tax and help the city pay for infrastructure and amenities.
Gretna officials said they seek a positive outcome under complex circumstances.
Exacerbating tension there is that since April, the state sales tax in the Gretna good life district has been reduced, as was called for in the law. But the money is not yet going to the district.
The “clean up” legislation to the original Good Life Transformational Projects Act required the local vote to create the local program to guide development. More specifically, cities could impose a replacement tax to essentially re-channel the portion of the reduced state sales tax to assist development efforts.
Evans and others said there has been much confusion over the Jan. 14 election. He and other city officials have said the vote is on an “economic tool” and doesn’t promote any one project or developer. If passed, the mayor has said, Gretna would create the mechanism to collect the portion of the state sales tax that was reduced and “put it in a bucket” for projects within the district that are approved.
Since April, shoppers at the Nebraska Crossing stores effectively have gotten a discount on transactions as the portion of the state sales tax that was reduced went uncollected.
A Gretna chamber official has said in public documents that about $300,000 to $500,000 is forfeited monthly in tax revenue. State records obtained by the Examiner showed that from April through August, the state had forgone about $1.3 million from transactions in the Gretna district.
Former State Sen. Burke Harr, Wolf’s attorney, said an affirmative Jan. 14 vote would trigger a way for the city to capture that revenue in the future. Otherwise, he said, “It evaporates. It just is not collected.”
Linehan said she won’t be in the Legislature this year and is uncertain of her next steps. She views the law she championed as “problematic.”
“I drove to the Legends in Kansas City — I wanted to look at it,” she said. “I was very excited and hopeful.”
(Source: City of Gretna)
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
 
by Cindy Gonzalez, Nebraska Examiner
January 6, 2025
by Cindy Gonzalez, Nebraska Examiner
January 6, 2025
GRETNA, Nebraska — When State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan proposed legislation to create good life districts two years ago, she envisioned the result would be a Nebraska tourist magnet akin to Kansas City’s Legends retail complex or Minnesota’s Mall of America.
Inspiring her, she said, was businessman Rod Yates’ dream to build a sports-retail-entertainment mecca around the existing Nebraska Crossing outlet mall he co-owns in Gretna, between the state’s two largest cities, Omaha and Lincoln.
To enable such a quest, Linehan secured an unprecedented state incentive as part of the Good Life Transformational Projects Act: The legislation calls for the state sales tax in the target area to be cut from 5.5% to 2.75%, with the expectation that giving up millions in state revenue would help finance unique job- and tourism-creating development that pays off more over time.
But two key drivers of the Good Life Act say they are disappointed in how the law and a subsequent update are playing out. Yates’ plan appears deadlocked with the Gretna City Council, and Linehan now fears that she let language slip by that could allow Gretna and a handful of Nebraska cities to use the state incentive in ways she didn’t intend — boosting projects that are less spectacular than one-of-a-kind.
City officials in Gretna say they are simply protecting taxpayers by requiring financial accountability for developers, and that they still expect transformational feats in the district, but perhaps with a focus on multiple property owners instead of just one.
Linehan’s concerns come as Gretna is in the midst of a Jan. 14 special mail-in election that will affect the largest and highest-profile of the four good life districts so far approved by the state. The election won’t resolve the lawmaker’s qualms, nor is it a determination on any one developer or project, but an affirmative vote is needed to allow the city to fully tap into the state incentive.
“It’s a mess,’ said Linehan, the term-limited chair of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee who is officially out of office by mid-week. “I don’t know where it got off the tracks, but somebody needs to step in front of the train.”
Under the good life district law, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development was tasked with approving up to five good life districts statewide. So far the DED has approved four — in the cities of Gretna, Omaha, Bellevue and Grand Island.
The deadline to apply passed at the end of the year, with Kearney and Papillion the two contenders for the final designation.
Applicants must meet certain criteria, including providing a description of the proposed project, an estimate of total new development costs and jobs, financial documentation and potential impact on the state during the 30-year duration of the district.
The law allows most of the information in the applications to remain secret from the public, except for the project’s location and estimations of total cost and new jobs.
DED director K.C. Belitz said host cities have broad power to guide a good life district once his agency approves an application and geographic boundaries. He said the state steps in at 3-year, 7-year and 10-year marks to review progress and ensure that districts have met certain investment-related benchmarks. The state could move to terminate the district and incentive if benchmarks aren’t reached at those points, Belitz said.
Linehan told the Nebraska Examiner that she has questions about how all good life districts operate, but she is focused first on Gretna, which is in the midst of the mail-in election that would trigger the way for the city to re-channel the forfeited state revenue toward private development.
As it stands now, Yates, whose application created the Gretna good life district, is at odds with city officials over terms of his proposal.
The City Council in November rejected his set of demands to carry out his multibillion-dollar venture after city advisors said they presented financial, legal and market risks. Among the Yates’ team’s proposed terms: reduce the city’s portion of sales tax within the district and approve tax-increment financing and occupation taxes as requested. The city’s attorney said the terms also call for potential use of eminent domain on properties within the district Yates does not own if owners refuse to sell within 10% above appraised value.
Gretna officials have also said an advisory committee and the City Council will consider extending the good life benefit to other property owners within the district — beyond just Yates.
DED officials say that is allowed under the law, but Linehan is worried that such a scenario opens the door to the public incentive being used to help finance district development and public infrastructure projects that are less than “transformational.”
Yates has said success of his vision — and related financing — is predicated on him owning and controlling the entire district. He said he has secured retailers and partner developers that could grow the district beyond the 2,000 acres currently approved, and up to a $5 billion, 4,500 acre-campus. City officials have said he owns but a slice of the district currently, though Yates said he has talked to all property owners about the possibility of purchasing their land.
Yates told the Examiner he is so frustrated with Gretna leaders that he is considering ‘terminating” his district application with the state and seeking someone to introduce new legislation to help fulfill his “mega transformational sports and real estate ecosystem.”
“The process has been flawed from the beginning with the City of Gretna seeking to reimagine the bill to take control for its own financial gain,” Yates said.
– State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha
Linehan said she apparently was not paying enough attention to a “clean up” bill that the Legislature passed in 2024 which provided more city control in good life districts. Added was the requirement for a local election before the state benefits could be fully used. If Gretna voters say yes in the special election, the city would establish an “economic development program” that guides the good life district and steer the forfeited state sales tax toward development efforts.
“Shame on me,” Linehan said. “But something is very wrong here.”
Meanwhile, Gretna officials said they remain eager about the possibility of new tourist magnets rising. Mayor Mike Evans said multiple developers and property owners have shown interest in launching a venture, and he welcomes more voices and collaboration for such an important swath of mostly agricultural land near Interstate 80 and Highway 31 and between Omaha and Lincoln.
Drew Snyder, founder and owner of Woodsonia Real Estate, said his group would like to develop “destination retail” on land it owns in the district. He declined to provide details just yet. While Snyder would like to see a Yates project in the district, he wants autonomy and control of any future Woodsonia project site.
Woodsonia has led various housing and mixed-use projects in Omaha, including the Top Golf entertainment venue. Woodsonia also is the state-approved applicant for Grand Island’s 875-acre good life district near the former Veterans Home campus and encompassing the Conestoga Marketplace.
Mick Mulhall, whose family owns property in the Gretna good life district, said they are intrigued at the possibility of building something to add to the transformation. He said the Mulhalls prefer a more collective district guided by the city.
Craig Wolf said he and his wife, Tiffani, are Gretna residents who hope to close on about 34 acres of city-owned land near the good life district. He foresees it as a potential home for a new $107 million commercial campus focused on competitive cheer events and including a basketball facility, hotels and conventions. He hopes also to create a retail area with regional appeal.
While the property currently is outside the designated good life boundaries, Wolf’s lawyer said the city has the ability to expand the district and thereby extend the incentive.
“This will turn heads,” Wolf said of his expansion plan.
Gretna city officials have said they are prohibited from influencing the special election and have provided limited public responses.
But the consensus from all involved is that Gretna has a particularly complicated good life district — in part because of its size and that roughly 50 distinct property owners are within the designated boundaries.
“There are many property owners within Gretna’s good life district, and many possible development ideas in the area,” says a frequently-asked-questions piece on the City of Gretna’s website. “Neither the city nor any one property owner knows exactly how development in the good life district will proceed and what will be constructed.”
Voters in Omaha and Grand Island have already given approval to allow the host cities to create economic development programs to guide development in respective good life districts.
Omaha’s plan calls for developer Curt Hofer to use the state incentive to help build out the 200-acre Avenue One district, which anticipates luring $1.4 billion in investment and 4,083 jobs.
Woodsonia foresees more than $750 million in new investment within the Grand Island district and 300,000 out-of-state visitors a year.
In Bellevue, the applicant for a 575-acre good life district is the City of Bellevue, not a private developer. The biggest draws will be either city-owned or city-supported projects centered around a water park and resort-style recreation area near Highways 75 and 34.
Since the city won’t be remitting any tax revenue collection to a private developer, there is no need for a special election, Bellevue officials have said. They plan to use occupation taxes assessed in the district to capture the eliminated state sales tax and help the city pay for infrastructure and amenities.
Gretna officials said they seek a positive outcome under complex circumstances.
Exacerbating tension there is that since April, the state sales tax in the Gretna good life district has been reduced, as was called for in the law. But the money is not yet going to the district.
The “clean up” legislation to the original Good Life Transformational Projects Act required the local vote to create the local program to guide development. More specifically, cities could impose a replacement tax to essentially re-channel the portion of the reduced state sales tax to assist development efforts.
Evans and others said there has been much confusion over the Jan. 14 election. He and other city officials have said the vote is on an “economic tool” and doesn’t promote any one project or developer. If passed, the mayor has said, Gretna would create the mechanism to collect the portion of the state sales tax that was reduced and “put it in a bucket” for projects within the district that are approved.
Since April, shoppers at the Nebraska Crossing stores effectively have gotten a discount on transactions as the portion of the state sales tax that was reduced went uncollected.
A Gretna chamber official has said in public documents that about $300,000 to $500,000 is forfeited monthly in tax revenue. State records obtained by the Examiner showed that from April through August, the state had forgone about $1.3 million from transactions in the Gretna district.
Former State Sen. Burke Harr, Wolf’s attorney, said an affirmative Jan. 14 vote would trigger a way for the city to capture that revenue in the future. Otherwise, he said, “It evaporates. It just is not collected.”
Linehan said she won’t be in the Legislature this year and is uncertain of her next steps. She views the law she championed as “problematic.”
“I drove to the Legends in Kansas City — I wanted to look at it,” she said. “I was very excited and hopeful.”
(Source: City of Gretna)
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
 
Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Aaron Sanderford for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com.
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Senior Reporter Cindy Gonzalez, an Omaha native, has more than 35 years of experience, largely at the Omaha World-Herald. Her coverage areas have included business and real estate development; regional reporting; immigration, demographics and diverse communities; and City Hall and local politics.
Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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6 January 2025
A new study explores the factors that influence wild animal hunting patterns in African tropical forests
A new study on wild animal hunting in African tropical forests is the first to explore the factors that influence wild animal hunting patterns – in detail, and on a regional scale.
Co-led by Professor Katharine Abernethy, the study was made possible by advances in data availability and accessibility.
Conducted in collaboration with many organisations including the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale (IRET), the research made extensive use of wildmeat.org – the largest and free-to-access compilation of African hunting data to date – to explore the socio-cultural, economic, and landscape variables associated with wild animal hunting across 115 settlements in African tropical forests.
Through synthesis of 83 studies published between 1991 and 2020, researchers found evidence that village hunters increasingly use guns instead of traditional tools such as spears and traps, which makes it easier to target commercially viable species. Such an increase may have a more significant impact on primate populations, given their high market value.
The study also found there is an increasing shift from subsistence hunting to commercial hunting of wild animals, which provide meat for growing urban populations; and there has been an increase in wild meat trade and gun hunting since 1991, with a potential decline in larger wildlife in easily accessible areas with degraded forests.
Studies like this one – that are made possible through access to large, topic-curated databases – serve as a vital resource for decision-makers, conservationists, and researchers. Through improved, big-picture clarity, these stakeholders are better equipped to design and implement strategies that conserve key ecosystems.
Professor Abernethy
Professor Katharine Abernethy, of the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Natural Sciences, said: “To reach the world’s goals of sustainable management of wildlife, particularly in places where wildlife underpins acute human food security issues, we desperately need to give policymakers better information on what is happening to the wildlife resource, why, and how to manage it better.
“We hope this research will make a major contribution to surmounting the challenges faced by the governments and land managers in the region who are aiming to secure both rural livelihoods and wildlife populations for the future.”
The study was led by Dr Daniel Ingram (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent), Professor Katharine Abernethy (University of Stirling), Professor Jörn Scharlemann (formerly University of Sussex), and Dr Lauren Coad (CIFOR-ICRAF).
Dr Daniel Ingram said: “Our study highlights how important it is for countries to develop robust monitoring and management frameworks for hunters and traders. Without monitoring hunted species populations and the numbers of animals hunted, the sustainability of hunting systems remains unknown.”
The study, Regional patterns of wild animal hunting in African tropical forests, published in Nature Sustainability, was funded by United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship awarded to DJI), and the UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund (TRADE Hub Project).
© University of Stirling

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With one team sent packing from the College Football Playoff in the opening round, another knocked out in the quarterfinals and a series of head-to-head losses to the Big Ten, this bowl season has left egg on the face of the SEC.
The conference can still claim the national championship should Texas beat Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl and then beat one of Notre Dame or Penn State in the championship game.
To this point, however, how the SEC has fared in both the playoff and the traditional bowl slate has put a huge dent into the league’s aura of invincibility. With two teams left in the playoff and wins in bowl matchups against the SEC, the Big Ten has made an unimpeachable case for being seen as the Bowl Subdivision’s most powerful conference.
While the postseason continues this week with the national semifinals, the non-playoff bowl slate wrapped up on Saturday with Buffalo beating Liberty in the Bahamas Bowl.
Here are the biggest winners and losers from this year’s postseason cycle:
No team has been more impressive than Ohio State, which ran all over Tennessee in the opening round of the playoff and then avenged a regular-season loss to Oregon by routing the Ducks 41-21 in the Rose Bowl. Heading into the semifinals, the Buckeyes are the obvious team to beat for the national championship. Texas was only lightly tested by Clemson but needed double overtime to escape Arizona State in the Peach Bowl with a 39-31 win. Penn State’s defense has gotten things done through two games, bottling up SMU in a 38-10 victory and then containing Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty in the Fiesta Bowl. Notre Dame’s defense has done the Nittany Lions one better, clamping down on Indiana’s high-powered offense to open the playoff and holding Georgia to just 62 rushing yards and 4.9 yards per play in the Sugar Bowl.
ROSE BOWL:Previewing of Ohio State-Texas matchup
ORANGE BOWL: Previewing of Penn State-Notre Dame matchup
If the Big Ten has been the class of the Power Four, the AAC has risen to the top of the postseason pecking order in the Group of Five. The conference finished 6-2 in bowl games, including 3-1 in games against the Power Four: Florida beat Tulane 33-8 in the Gasparilla Bowl, but Memphis beat West Virginia 42-37 in the Frisco Bowl, East Carolina topped North Carolina State 26-21 in the Military Bowl and Navy beat Oklahoma 21-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl.
It’s been quite a postseason for the SEC — more on that in a minute — but Florida’s win against Tulane caps a terrific second half and should inflate the Gators’ bandwagon heading into next season. Once on the brink of throwing in the towel on the Billy Napier era, the school’s decision to bring Napier back in 2025 sparked a major turnaround. One of the biggest reasons for optimism, rising sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway, threw for 305 yards as Florida pulled away from the Green Wave in the third and fourth quarters to win eight games for the first since 2020.
First the Cornhuskers snapped the Power Four’s longest bowl drought by beating Wisconsin in November and booking a spot opposite Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. Better yet, they actually beat the Eagles, 20-15, for the program’s first bowl victory since the 2015 season. The win included more issues on special teams and saw Nebraska barely cross the finish line and nearly hand the game to the Eagles, so there’s still plenty to work on heading into Matt Rhule’s third year.
The defending national champions limped through most of this season behind one of the worst offenses in modern program history but exploded late, beating Ohio State to end the regular season and then Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The 19-14 win saw Michigan rack up just 190 yards of total offense and 2.3 yards per carry. But credit the Wolverines for taking advantage of Alabama’s miserable performance out of the gate: The Crimson Tide got started with a turnover on downs, a fumble, an interception and another fumble, handing Michigan an insurmountable 16-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The league is 8-6 overall in the postseason, joining the Big Ten as the only Power Four leagues with a winning record in bowl play. The SEC can tout strong bowl wins by Florida, Arkansas (Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl), LSU (Baylor in the Texas Bowl) and Mississippi (Duke in the Gator Bowl), not to mention two playoff wins by Texas. But the head-to-head results against the Big Ten are embarrassing: Missouri beat Iowa, but South Carolina lost to Illinois, the Alabama lost to Michigan, Texas A&M lost to Southern California and Ohio State creamed Tennessee.
If under much less scrutiny than the SEC, this has been a nightmare run for the ACC, starting with both SMU and Clemson losing on the road in the opening round of the playoff. Overall, the league went 2-11 in bowl play, with wins from Syracuse (Washington State in the Holiday Bowl) and Louisville (Washington in the Sun Bowl). In addition to N.C. State, the worst losses have come from Pittsburgh, which fell 48-46 in six overtimes to Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl; Miami, which dropped a 42-41 decision to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl; and North Carolina, which turned the page to the Bill Belichick era by losing 27-14 to Connecticut in the Fenway Bowl.
They won’t throw a parade for this Alabama team — but maybe they should, to celebrate the fact that this miserable season is finally over. The year ended with that loss to Michigan, the latest letdown for a team that lost to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma during the regular season but was somehow still plugged as a worthy playoff participant. Yeah, right. Losing to the Wolverines ushers in the program’s most anxiety ridden offseason in over a generation, as the spotlight turns fully onto coach Kalen DeBoer and his efforts to bring the Tide back into the national mix.
In an era where most high-end NFL prospects opt out of the postseason and more and more transfers are heading into the portal before bowl games, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter should be applauded for playing in the Alamo Bowl against Brigham Young. Not that things went well from there: BYU was all over the Buffaloes in a 36-14 win that erases some — but only some — of the goodwill built up during a breakthrough 2024 season. Sanders threw for a season-low 208 yards and had multiple interceptions for only the second time in his two years in Boulder.

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The Fort Hayes school campus off Cleveland Avenue doesn’t just have a history as an academic complex for hundreds of Columbus City Schools students a year — it also has a military history going back to the Civil War and as recently as the war on terrorism.
Students at Fort Hayes take an active role in preserving their connection to the storied history of the campus, with over a dozen students involved in the Fort Hayes Historical Society, which recently completed a museum exhibit highlighting the campus’ history in a building adjacent to the Shot Tower.
The architectural centerpiece of the sprawling campus — known as the Shot Tower — literally towers over the other buildings. It was completed in 1864 as an arsenal for storing munitions in the Civil War, but today it holds art galleries to exhibit work done by students at the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center.
Jaden Lanier, a Fort Hayes senior, said it was important to her and other members of the historical society to preserve the past of their school. The group also offers tours of the campus to prospective Fort Hayes students. The Fort Hayes Campus hosts a career technical education school, an arts and academics high school and art-oriented middle school.
“The greatest thing is that we are experiencing this today, just to know who was here before us and who was serving and honoring those people,” Lanier said. “So that’s why we’re here, and we’re still telling their stories, and we’re still showing off their stuff and showing the past.”
Although the building complex was originally constructed for use in the Civil War, the Columbus Arsenal (later called the Columbus Barracks) saw use through all major U.S. wars until it was finally decommissioned in 2009. Up to its closure, it was the longest in-use military facility in the United States.
The Fort Hayes campus, located just north of Downtown, began its history as a U.S. arsenal for storing munitions and powder during the Civil War. In 1864, the Shot Tower was completed under the supervision of Captain T.C. Bradford and adjacent buildings were also completed. In all, the Columbus Arsenal stored enough weapons to arm 30,000 union soldiers during the war, according to information compiled by the Historical Society.
Ben Baughman, curator at the Ohio History Connection, said that when the federal arsenal was commissioned in 1861, there were only a dozen such facilities, most of which were located in the South at the outset of the Civil War. At the time, Columbus was just a small city of around 20,000 residents.
“The federal government wanted to start a new one that would be a little more away from the Mason-Dixon Line,” Baughman said.
Following the Civil War, the Columbus Arsenal transitioned to a training and housing site for recruits in World War 1. In 1922, the name was changed to Fort Hayes to honor Rutherford B. Hayes, former Ohio governor and 19th U.S. president.
In World War 2, it continued as a recruit depot and training facility, and housed up to 2,000 soldiers and officers. In 1946, the Ohio National Guard took over the facility and continued to have sole control of it through the Vietnam War.
In 1976, Columbus City Schools purchased 50 acres of the over 70-acre property for $1 and converted it to the Fort Hayes Career Center. Eventually, CCS also opened the Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School, Arts Impact Middle School and administrative offices on the site.
The Ohio National Guard continued to maintain a smaller presence on the campus until 2009.
Students participating in the Fort Hayes Historical Society are excited by the storied history of the campus. Jude McGonigle, a sophomore, is grateful that the school offers this opportunity to students.
“I love how we are trying to focus on the history of this place as a military base, as well as history as a place of education,” McGonigle said. “We all have a sense of community, we all are able to geek out — for lack of a better word — over all of this amazing history.”
The Historical Society was founded by Fort Hayes history teacher Eric East, a Navy veteran himself, in 2009 when the Ohio National Guard finally exited the campus. East said building “community history” is important for the students since Fort Hayes is a district lottery school, meaning the students come from all over the city.
“Having a sense of neighborhood or a sense of place is so important,” East said. “When their parents come pick them up … and they all go, they just go to the wind after this. So what connection do they have this? And I think that’s important.”
McGonigle pointed to a diorama model of Fort Hayes, made in the 1960s by a soldier who was stationed on the base when it was in full operation as a military site.
“Most of those buildings aren’t here anymore,” McGonigle said. “I love being able to like, imagine what it was like back then. I love that we are also focusing not just on the military past, but also the educational past.”
Cbehrens@dispatch.com
@Colebehr_report

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This year also saw a significant milestone for Khanna Gems, the world’s leading brand for astrological gemstones, as it acquired the distribution rights for Aura Scanning technology and launched its sub-brand, “The Spiritual Clinic.”
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The year 2024 has been spiritually transformative, marked by the influence of Saturn. This planetary alignment has brought about spiritual renewal, self-discovery, and introspection for many individuals. This year also saw a significant milestone for Khanna Gems, the world’s leading brand for astrological gemstones, as it acquired the distribution rights for Aura Scanning technology and launched its sub-brand, “The Spiritual Clinic.” To further its mission, Khanna Gems established a data analytics and R&D team to analyze aura scan data from people across demographics. Their report sheds light on the most commonly blocked chakras and their alignment with ongoing dashas, as well as effective remedies for spiritual and emotional well-being.

Chakras Blocked or Experiencing Negative Energy (in Descending Order):
 

1.      Root Chakra: The foundation of stability, security, and survival.

●       Possible reason for blockage/negative energy: Increased stress and financial instability.
 
2.   Heart Chakra: Represents love, compassion, and emotional balance.

●       Possible reason for blockage/negative energy: Emotional problems and instability.
 
3.  Naval Chakra:Associated with personal power and confidence.
●       Possible reason for blockage/negative energy: Feelings of instability and an insecure environment.
4.  Throat Chakra: Governs communication and self-expression.
●       Possible reason for blockage/negative energy: Fear of judgment leading to unexpressed emotions.
 
5.  Third Eye Chakra: Represents intuition and spiritual insight.
●       Possible  reason for blockage/negative energy: Persistent negative emotions clouding perception.
6.  Crown Chakra:Connects to spirituality and enlightenment.
●       Possible reason for blockage/negative energy:Experiences of betrayal or trauma.
7.   Solar Plexus Chakra: Linked to self-worth and self-esteem.
●       Possible reason for blockage/negative energy: Fear of rejection impacting self-confidence.
Most Effective Remedies for Chakra Healing (in Descending Order):
1.      Precious Gemstones:
Wearing unused, non-heated, and untreated gemstones is an easy and effective solution for chakra balancing. Khanna Gems  as the most trusted name in the industry, offers authentic gemstones to ensure optimal astrological benefits.
2.   Chanting of Mantras:
Data suggests that chanting mantras holds immense power in resolving chakra imbalances. Meditation
3.  Yoga
4.  Rudraksha
5.  Crystals
6.  Affirmations/Auto Suggestions
7. Essential Oils
 

Gemstones that provided the most benefits (in Descending Order):
1.  Ruby
2.  Emerald
3.  Yellow Sapphire
4.  Blue Sapphire
5.  Iolite
6.  Diamond
7.  Red Coral
Demographic Insights:
62% of participants were women, of which 83% fell within the age group of 30-45. Alignment of Blocked Chakras with Dashas: A notable 74.39% consistency was observed. However, inconsistencies were linked to what researchers termed the boiled egg and boiled potato theory.
Boiled water hardens an egg but softens a potato, showing that the same condition affects things differently. Likewise, Aura scanning reveals the chakra already affected, as life situations impact everyone differently. It’s ideal to choose gemstones based on both astrology and aura for balanced benefits.
Comments from Leadership at Khanna Gems:
Pankaj Khanna, Chairman, Khanna Gems, said: “The 2024 Spiritual Report emphasizes the growing importance of mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being in today’s world. At Khanna Gems, they are proud to lead this journey by offering scientifically-backed aura scanning technology and remedies. Our commitment is to help individuals unlock their potential and live balanced, fulfilling lives.”
Aaradhya Dev Khanna, Director & CEO, Khanna Gems, said: “This report not only highlights the spiritual challenges of our times but also offers practical solutions. With our sub-brand ‘The Spiritual Clinic,’ we aim to provide a holistic approach to spiritual health, blending ancient wisdom with modern technology. Khanna Gems remains dedicated to empowering individuals through trusted, high-quality gemstones and other remedies.”
About Khanna Gems:
Khanna Gems is the world’s biggest brand for astrological gemstones founded in 1987 by famous astrologer, Mr. Pankaj Khanna. The brand is known for transparency and quality and has 37 years of legacy in the field of astrological gemstones.
About The Spiritual Clinic: The Spiritual Clinic is Khanna Gems’ venture into spirituality. They are the pioneers of Aura Scanning in India. To know more, visit https://youtu.be/P-19e796wqU
 
 
(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lt’s consumer connect initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.)
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From performing at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall to conquering the Edinburgh Fringe, Indian stand-up comedians have made it big globally. Last year, Vir Das became the first Indian comedian to host the International Emmy Awards. But in India, where the government is led by Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, political satirists face online threats and bullying on a daily basis. FRANCE 24’s Khansa Juned, Martin Bathla and Lisa Gamonet report.
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Go Spiritual, a leading spiritual organization dedicated to spreading awareness of India’s rich spiritual heritage, has launched a worldwide campaign to promote the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Known as the largest spiritual gathering in the world, the Maha Kumbh Mela is set to take place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, drawing millions of devotees, spiritual seekers, and international visitors to the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.
With the aim of amplifying global awareness and participation, Go Spiritual’s campaign will transcend national boundaries, bringing the message of unity, spirituality, and cultural richness to the global stage. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Kumbh Mela embodies the essence of India’s spiritual and cultural identity, uniting people across the globe in a celebration of shared humanity and faith.

 
Sonu Tyagi, Founder of Go Spiritual & Approach Entertainment, highlighted the global vision of the campaign:
“The Maha Kumbh Mela is more than a festival; it is a spiritual phenomenon that reflects the timeless wisdom of India. At Go Spiritual, we are dedicated to showcasing its universal relevance to the world, inspiring people from all walks of life to experience this transformative event. Our campaign will connect ancient Indian traditions with a global audience, fostering spiritual exploration and unity on an unprecedented scale.”
To achieve this ambitious goal, Go Spiritual is leveraging the power of digital media and spiritual content to reach audiences worldwide. The campaign will feature a series of carefully curated Kumbh-centric content, including informative videos, cultural documentaries, and live-streamed events that showcase the essence of the Maha Kumbh Mela and the richness of Indian spirituality. Through its robust media outreach and strategic PR efforts, Go Spiritual aims to engage global audiences and draw attention to the spiritual, cultural, and environmental significance of the Kumbh Mela.
The campaign will also include comprehensive coverage through Go Spiritual’s flagship platforms, including Go Spiritual News Magazine and its upcoming Web TV and OTT platform. These platforms will provide in-depth insights into the Maha Kumbh Mela, exploring its historical roots, spiritual rituals, and its transformative impact on the millions who attend. The Go Spiritual app will further enhance accessibility by offering real-time updates, travel guides, and resources for international visitors planning to participate in the event.
A key element of Go Spiritual’s campaign is its commitment to promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices at the Maha Kumbh Mela. The organization will collaborate with environmental groups and local authorities to implement initiatives aimed at preserving the sacred rivers and surrounding environment. Efforts such as clean river projects, effective waste management systems, and the use of biodegradable materials will be prioritized to ensure the event’s ecological footprint is minimized. By intertwining spirituality with environmental responsibility, Go Spiritual seeks to inspire participants to embrace a sustainable and mindful approach to their spiritual journeys.
The campaign also seeks to foster meaningful cultural exchange, creating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between spiritual leaders, cultural ambassadors, and international participants. By encouraging these interactions, Go Spiritual aims to strengthen mutual understanding and respect, positioning the Maha Kumbh Mela as a platform for shared spiritual exploration and unity. This cultural exchange underscores the universality of India’s spiritual teachings and its relevance in a rapidly globalizing world.
As the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 approaches, Go Spiritual’s worldwide campaign is set to create an unprecedented impact, drawing attention to the grandeur and spiritual significance of this historic event. The campaign not only invites millions to participate but also aims to position India’s spiritual heritage as a beacon of hope, unity, and inspiration for the world.
Go Spiritual is a leading charitable and spiritual enterprise committed to fostering Spirituality, Philanthropy, Social Causes, Mental Health & Wellness, Spiritual Tourism, Events, Media, Publications, Ayurveda, Health, Organic Living, and Holistic Practices. The organization integrates ancient spiritual wisdom with modern solutions to address the complex challenges of today’s world, striving to make a meaningful impact across multiple sectors. As a social and spiritual initiative of the renowned Approach Entertainment Group, Go Spiritual is driven by its core values of service, compassion, and a deep commitment to positive societal change.
Approach Entertainment Group stands as a pioneer in the fields of Celebrity Management, Film Production, Advertising & Corporate Film Solutions, Film Marketing, and Events & Entertainment Marketing. Its portfolio also includes Approach Communications, a leading PR and Integrated Communications agency that serves diverse industries such as Corporate, Healthcare, Entertainment, Finance, Education, and Social sectors.
The group’s exceptional contributions have earned it numerous accolades, including the Biz India 2010 Award from the World Confederation of Business, the Service Excellence Award from the Worldwide Marketing Organization, the PR Agency of the Year Award, and the prestigious Yuva Ratn Award.
Sonu Tyagi, an award-winning writer, director, and producer, leads the group with visionary leadership. He recently co-produced the critically acclaimed spiritual web series Two Great Masters, based on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda and working on a Film and Web Series now.
Approach Entertainment is set to launch Approach Politics, a dedicated Political & Current Affairs Newswire, App, and Portal, alongside a new rural marketing and communications division, Approach Rural. Additionally, Approach Bollywood, a specialized platform for Bollywood news and content dissemination, will further extend the group’s reach within the entertainment industry.

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