Minnesota hunters registered 120,675 deer after the third weekend of the firearms deer season, up 6% from 2023, but down 4% from the five-year mean, or average, the Department of Natural Resources reported Tuesday, Nov. 26. Deer Season A opened Saturday, Nov. 9, and ended Nov. 17 in 200- and 300-series deer permit areas (DPAs) and continued through Nov. 24 in 100-series DPAs, which are mainly in the northern and northeastern part of the state. The Season B firearms deer season in 300-series DPAs opened Nov. 23 and continues through Sunday, Dec. 1. The firearms deer harvest by region after 16 days was as follows: According to Todd Froberg, big game program coordinator for the DNR at Whitewater Wildlife Management Area in Altura, Minnesota, the harvest really only increased in the Northwest, Northeast and Central regions during the rest of the 16-day season and then in the B season in the southeast part of the state. The 200-series DPAs only had the nine-day season, and there is only one DPA in the southwest region open during the ongoing B season, Froberg said. The cumulative harvest to date, which includes archery, firearm, early antlerless, youth and special hunts, was 153,390 deer, the DNR said. That’s up 3% from 2023, but down 6% from the five-year average and down 8% from the 10-year average. Cumulative tallies by region were as follows: In related deer hunting news, Minnesota archery hunters as of Tuesday had harvested 23,047 deer, Froberg said, up 12% from last year. Crossbows, which are legal for all archery hunters in Minnesota, are making up a greater percentage of the archery harvest, Froberg says. “Crossbows are making up 47% of (the) archery harvest,” he said. “For crossbow-specific harvest, we are up 24% compared to last year’s crossbow harvest. Vertical bow harvest is up 4% compared to last year’s vertical bow harvest.” Minnesota’s muzzleloader opens Saturday, Nov. 30, and continues through Sunday, Dec. 15. Archery season continues through Dec. 31. The DNR posts both statewide and by DPA, on its website at dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/deer/management/statistics.html.Bismarck State College president to leave post

BISMARCK — The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education and Bismarck State College President Doug Jensen are parting ways. Following a special meeting Friday, Dec. 20, in which the board that oversees the state's university system went into executive session for about an hour, board members voted unanimously to accept a separation agreement with Jensen. The board did not discuss the reasons for Jensen's departure or the details of the agreement that was reached. "We'll have some words for him (Jensen) to follow shortly," Board Chair Tim Mihalick said in the meeting. Jensen was hired as Bismarck State College president in March 2020 after the retirement of Larry Skogen. Jensen previously served as president of Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois, and as president of Alabama Technology Network. His contract with Bismarck State College was renewed at a meeting of the State Board of Higher Education on June 25 and was set to last until June 30, 2026. His base salary at the time was set at $258,952. While president of Bismarck State, Jensen oversaw growth in enrollment, a change in athletics from junior college status to NAIA and expansion of campus buildings. According to Jensen's contract, if he is fired without cause, he is entitled to a payout of his current contract or the option to "retreat" to a tenured faculty position. A replacement for Jensen was not immediately disclosed.Nepra reviews new distribution code to transform power grid Code applies to Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), power generators, and bulk power consumers ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) is reviewing the newly drafted Distribution Code 2024, a comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at enhancing the reliability, safety, and efficiency of Pakistan’s electricity distribution system. The code applies to Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), power generators, and bulk power consumers with connected loads exceeding 1 megawatt (MW). This reflects a broader shift toward market-based energy reforms. The updated code introduces detailed guidelines for system operations, focusing on improving communication protocols, ensuring system restoration after outages, and implementing enhanced safety measures. NEPRA has invited stakeholders and interested parties to provide their feedback on the draft within a month, emphasizing the importance of collaborative input to finalize the framework. This draft, submitted by ex-Wapda distribution companies (XW-Discos), aligns with Nepra Licensing (Distribution) Regulations 2022 and the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM) design. It reflects significant changes in the regulatory, structural, and technological landscape of Pakistan’s electricity sector. The draft outlines protocols for restoring power after system shutdowns, emphasizing the maintenance of black start capabilities. DNOs are required to notify the System Operator of any changes to their black start facilities, ensuring effective coordination during outages. The framework also mandates that operational incidents affecting the distribution system be reported initially through verbal communication, followed by written documentation. In cases involving multiple users or operators, joint investigations will be conducted to identify and resolve issues collaboratively. Safety is a central focus of the updated code, which requires DNOs to maintain approved Safety Management Systems to protect personnel working on high-voltage equipment. These protocols aim to reduce risks at connection points and ensure compliance with stringent safety standards. Additionally, the code introduces systematic testing and monitoring requirements to maintain the safety and performance of distribution systems. The guidelines also address load management during emergencies, establishing clear procedures for equitable load shedding and effective commercial load allocation. By improving system monitoring and coordination, the code seeks to reduce disruptions and provide a more reliable energy supply to consumers. Nepra has urged all stakeholders, including power producers, DNOs, and bulk power consumers, to thoroughly review the draft and provide their input. This participatory approach is designed to ensure that the regulatory framework is practical, effective, and aligned with the evolving demands of the electricity sector. Once approved, the Distribution Code 2024 will serve as a cornerstone for ongoing energy reforms, driving the transition to a safer, more efficient, and resilient power distribution system across Pakistan.The Big Central Conference coaches have made their picks for the 2024 all-star teams in all 12 divisions. Congratulations to all those players selected to either first or second team in their respective divisions. You all contributed greatly to another exciting season in New Jersey’s newest super conference. NOTE : The selections were made by coaches from the conference and not reporters from NJ.com . If an athlete’s name is misspelled, please let us know and we will make the correction. BCC ALL-DIVISION TEAMS American Gold Division American Silver Division Freedom Gold Division Freedom Silver Division Liberty Gold Division Liberty Silver Division National Gold Division National Silver Division Patriot Gold Division Patriot Silver Division United Gold Division United Silver Division RECOMMENDED • nj .com Super Football Conference All-Division teams, 2024 Nov. 22, 2024, 2:00 p.m. Super Football Conference: Freedom Red All-Division teams, 2024 Nov. 22, 2024, 1:23 p.m. Mike Kinney can be reached at mkinney@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitte

We’re heading into the early stretch of awards season where voters are about to embark on a long holiday weekend, give thanks and sift through a topsy-turvy world in which it’s the Dallas Cowboys and not the Detroit Lions who can be safely ignored on the Thanksgiving Day football schedule. And still ... no best picture front-runner. In fact, it’s easier to knock holes in the cases for the most prominent contenders than to argue why it’s plausible they might win. Still, some movie has to win the Oscar. I do wonder if we’ll look back on this time in a few weeks, slap our foreheads and think, “Of course, ‘Anora’ was always going to win,” because by that point it had swept through various precursors. Right now, though, that’s as hard to imagine as the Cowboys making the playoffs. Or Jerry Jones building a stadium where sunlight isn’t an enemy. Just for fun, let’s run down the five leading contenders, the movies that will head the field of 10 nominees. Maybe we can convince ourselves that we’re missing something. Or who knows, maybe we are missing something. “Anora”: It starts with the letter A, so it’s at the top of the list. Also: It’s arguably the best of the movies here, likely to win best picture from the Los Angeles or New York film critics’ groups, with writer-director Sean Baker taking some honors as well. It’s also an indie hit, topping $10 million, and, judging from the conversations I’ve had with academy voters, it has left most everyone who has seen it more than satisfied. Ostensibly, “Anora” is about a stripper who moonlights as a sex worker and ends up marrying one of her clients, the irresponsible son of a Russian oligarch. But it’s many movies in one — a screwball comedy, a tense reckoning with reality, a story of wealth and power, a tender love story. There’s humor and sadness and terror, sometimes in the same scene. It has a star turn from Mikey Madison, who might just win the lead actress Oscar. And there’s an utterly surprising, deeply soulful supporting performance from Yura Borisov, playing Igor, a hired goon who comes to love the title character almost as much as we do. He’s the movie’s secret weapon. Is there a precedent for a movie about a sex worker winning best picture? You remember Joe Buck, right? (Not the ubiquitous sports announcer.) “Midnight Cowboy” took the Oscar, and it had an X rating. And we’ve come a long way in the last 55 years. OK ... we’ve also regressed in some respects too. But “Anora” could very well be the movie to beat. “The Brutalist”: It’s 3 hours and 35 minutes long. It’s in 70mm. It has a built-in intermission, complete with a handy clock counting down the remaining time. Yes, Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist” is a lot — but in a good way. Not like, say, “Babylon.” This is a movie I anticipate seeing again. It’s a big swing that mostly connects, a film with much to say about the immigrant dream at a time when the immigrant experience is very much in the national conversation. “The Brutalist” is an event movie made for anyone who obsesses over their Letterboxd account. But it’s also an intimate story about a Holocaust survivor and brilliant architect who possesses a singular vision. So, though I wouldn’t recommend doing this, Oscar voters could watch it on the academy portal over the course of a couple of nights. It’d work. And they’d know exactly when to break up the viewing. Thanks, Brady Corbet! (No, seriously, thanks. “The Brutalist” is a stunning achievement.) “Conclave”: I enjoyed “Conclave” when I caught its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. We need more movies like “Conclave,” pulpy, impeccably made crowd-pleasers starring scene stealers like Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini. In fact, you may be old enough to remember when there’d be dozens of these sleek melodramas geared toward grown-ups. That it has found an audience makes me happy, even if its story of the schemes involved in electing a new pope feels a bit slight and silly to take it too seriously as a movie that could win best picture. And that ending? Hoo-boy. It did get people talking, but maybe not in the ways that the filmmakers would appreciate. “Emilia Pérez”: I wrote about “Emilia Pérez” last week, calling it a lock for international feature, owing to the fact that it’s likely to pull in several nominations and a lot of people genuinely like it. But also: Some people really hate it, and they’re not shy about making their feelings known. It seems like there isn’t a group of people not offended by Jacques Audiard’s musical soap opera about a Mexican cartel boss looking to transition to a woman. Trans activists feel the movie is dismissive, as do many people who care about Mexican culture. As do many people devoted to Selena Gomez, who plays the cartel boss’ wife and has to say some truly awful dialogue. To sum up: It’s polarizing. And divisive movies don’t often go on to win the best picture Oscar. “Wicked”: Here’s a movie that you may have heard a little something about. It’s the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, with Cynthia Erivo playing Elphaba, later known as the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande doing light comedy as Glinda. It’s a story of women coming into their own and bonding over magic. You’ve probably already bought tickets to it. The critics were kinder to “Wicked” than I thought they’d be, and guild audiences have greeted it with enthusiastic standing ovations. It figures to do well with fraudulent awards shows like the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, meaning, at least in the case of the Globes, it’ll get some good airtime. Its blunt, allegorical references to fascism figure to play well postelection, but kids will like it too! Its biggest hurdle is that it’s the first entry of a two-part movie, just half the story. It’s the best half, from what I gather. But many voters will resist jumping the gun.

Shares of communications platform Zoom Video Communications ( ZM -6.31% ) dropped on Tuesday after the technology company reported financial results for its fiscal third quarter of 2025. Everything in the quarter was actually fine. But going into the report, Zoom stock was at a two-year high and had risen over 50% in just a few months. It seems that financial results weren't quite inspiring enough to keep investors from taking recent profits off of the table. And that's why Zoom stock was down about 8% as of 2:45 p.m. ET. The beat and raise was modest for Zoom To reiterate, Zoom's financial results beat expectations on both the top and bottom lines. Moreover, management even raised its full-year guidance. Previously its guidance was for revenue of $4.630 billion to $4.640 billion, whereas now the revenue guidance is modestly higher at $4.656 billion to $4.661 billion. Similarly, Zoom's management expects full-year adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $5.41 to $5.43, whereas before it only expected adjusted EPS of $5.29 to $5.31. Beating and raising guidance is good. But consider that Zoom's Q3 revenue was only up 3.6% year over year and guidance is only modestly higher. That's why investors weren't more upbeat about the report. One thing to watch One thing is for sure: Zoom is a profitable business with tons of cash. The company has $7.7 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. And it's on pace to generate about $1.6 billion in full-year free cash flow . With this, it's looking to give back to shareholders with a total buyback plan of about $2 billion as of this writing. The problem is that Zoom already repurchased 4.4 million shares in Q3 and yet the outstanding share count still went up due to stock-based compensation . Buyback plans boost the share price when the number of shares go down. So investors should keep an eye on stock-based compensation from here because it is one of the issues that's preventing Zoom stock from performing better.

Stock market today: Wall Street hits records despite tariff talkUnique among ‘Person of the Year’ designees, Donald Trump gets a fact-check from Time magazine

New emergency declaration, huge contract hike on Atlantic City Housing Authority agendaNone

Things to watch this week in the Southeastern Conference. No. 7 Alabama (No. 7 CFP) at Oklahoma, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC) It's the first regular-season meeting since 2003 between traditional college football heavyweights who have combined for 25 national titles and usually face off in January bowl games with championship implications. Another fun fact: They've only played once each on the other's home field in six lifetime matchups, with the Sooners winning that showdown 20-13 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Alabama won the most recent postseason meeting, 45-34, at the Orange Bowl in the 2018 College Football Playoff semifinal before falling to Clemson in the championship. Another berth in the 12-team playoff is at stake for the visiting Crimson Tide (8-2, 4-2 SEC, No. 7 CFP), which trails No. 3 Texas and No. 15 Texas A&M by a game in the standings and is among four two-loss teams trying to stay within reach and possibly get to next month's championship in Atlanta. Alabama has won three in a row overall including last week's 52-7 rout of Mercer, rolling up 508 yards on offense. Heisman Trophy candidate Jalen Milroe passed for 186 of his 229 yards from scrimmage and two of his three touchdowns. Milroe's 32 total TDs lead the SEC and he's second with 17 rushing scores. Rather than contending as hoped, SEC newcomer Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5) is instead playing spoiler after four losses in five games, against ranked league foes Texas, No. 19 South Carolina and No. 9 Ole Miss. The Sooners scored two late fourth-quarter touchdown to lead Missouri 23-16 two weeks ago before the host Tigers scored two TDs in the final 1:07 seconds for a 30-23 victory. Alabama is a 14-point favorite according to BetMGM. No. 9 Ole Miss (8-4, 4-2, No. 9 CFP) at Florida (5-5, 3-4), Saturday, Noon ET (ABC) The Rebels have won three in a row since falling at LSU and four of five overall. They're coming off a bye after beating then-No. 3 Georgia 28-10 on Nov. 9 and look to stay within reach of first place and remain in the CFP discussion. Florida upended No. 21 LSU 27-16 on Saturday to earn a signature win for embattled coach Billy Napier and reach the cusp of bowl eligibility after finishing 5-7 last fall. Also worth a look: Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3) at LSU (6-4, 3-3). Both are bowl eligible, but the Commodores can clinch their first .500 SEC finish since going 4-4 in 2013 and help coach Clark Lea match his win total for the past two seasons combined. The Tigers look to regroup from the Florida loss. No. 15 Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed. Reed is 4-1 as a starter for an Aggies team that visits Auburn hoping to stay in the playoff hunt before the regular season finale against in-state rival Texas. Reed has passed for 1,129 yards and nine touchdowns against two interceptions. He has run for 375 yards and six scores. The Tigers have had some struggles against dual-threat quarterbacks like Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia and Arkansas' Taylen Green. Vanderbilt will play in LSU's Tiger Stadium for the first time since 2009, having played in Nashville three times since. The Commodores' last win over LSU came in 1990 and they haven't won in Baton Rouge since 1951. ... First-year Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is 34-2 in the month of November, including a 10-0 mark since 2022. ... Kentucky's 107th-ranked offense (340.5 yards per game) faces Texas's No. 1-ranked defense, which is giving up just 249 yards a game. ... Texas A&M has held opponents to 100 or fewer rushing yards in five of the last seven games, including holding LSU to 24 yards on 23 attempts. ... Auburn QB Payton Thorne has only three touchdown passes in his last four SEC games. ... Mississippi State's Isaac Smith leads the SEC and is tied for seventh nationally with 101 total tackles. ... Kentucky is 3-0 in nonconference games after shellacking in-state foe Murray State 48-3, which followed four SEC home losses. AP Sports Writer John Zenor contributed to this report. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — De'Vondre Campbell's decision to quit on his team in the middle of a game overshadowed the bigger issues for the San Francisco 49ers. An offense that was one of the most dynamic in the NFL during a run to the Super Bowl last season has been just ordinary for most of 2024 and was downright bad in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night that just about ended San Francisco's playoff hopes. San Francisco (6-8) was held to its fewest yards (191) in a regular-season game in eight seasons under coach Kyle Shanahan and its fewest points since Shanahan's debut in 2017 on a rainy night that will be remembered mostly for Campbell walking off the field in the middle of the game with a towel draped over his head. The game also featured San Francisco going three-and-out on four drives as Brock Purdy struggled to connect with his receivers. Deebo Samuel dropped a potential touchdown pass after complaining earlier in the week about a lack of touches. Purdy then missed Ricky Pearsall on an underthrown deep shot in the fourth quarter before throwing an interception into the end zone that ended the Niners' comeback attempt. “I just feel like I had a lot of plays left out there that I could have made for our team,” Purdy said. “I thought the defense and special teams played so good. That’s what’s hurting me is I just feel like I failed the team. I could have been better for our offense and we could have put up more points.” Scoring has been an issue this season for the 49ers, who have been missing key playmakers like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for much of the season. San Francisco is scoring 8.5 fewer points per game on offense than the Niners did through 14 games last season. What’s working Red-zone defense. After allowing touchdowns on 13 consecutive red-zone drives over the previous four games, the 49ers kept the Rams out of the end zone on all three drives that went inside the 20. What needs help Receivers. The 49ers failed to get much production from their wide receivers with Purdy going 6 for 20 for 63 yards with an INT and a 19.4 rating when targeting wideouts. Samuel had 16 yards on seven targets with the key drop. Jauan Jennings had two drops and was the target on the interception. Pearsall had one catch for 16 yards on four targets. Stock up LB Dre Greenlaw returned for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl. Greenlaw had eight tackles in the first half as he brought needed intensity and physical play that had been missing for much of the season. Stock down Campbell. The 49ers are deciding whether to waive or suspend Campbell, who lost his starting job when Greenlaw returned and then refused to play when he was needed. “His actions from the game just is not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still expect to be a part of our team,” Shanahan said. “We’re working through exactly the semantics of it right now, but we’ll handle the situation appropriately.” Injuries Greenlaw came out of the game feeling OK after leaving with soreness in his knee and Achilles tendon. He is day to day. ... S Ji’Ayir Brown (groin) and LB Dee Winters (neck) are also day to day. ... LT Trent Williams (ankle) is still trying to get back to play after missing the last four games. Shanahan said Williams' recovery has been "a lot slower than anticipated.” Key number 0 — The Niners didn't reach the red zone once all game, with their deepest penetration into Rams territory being when they reached the 27 on a third-quarter field goal drive. This marked the first time since Week 11 in 2010 that the 49ers didn't run a single play inside the opponent's 25. What’s next The 49ers visit Miami on Dec. 22. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Josh Dubow, The Associated Press

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