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This year’s Citizen of the West raised more than $100 million for charity (and trained the Broncos mascot)Chicago Bears President Kevin Warren sat alongside general manager Ryan Poles on Monday at Halas Hall and said they would work “in tandem” to find the team’s next head coach. Warren said Poles will remain the GM and will be the “point person” in identifying the replacement for Matt Eberflus, who on Friday became the first head coach fired midseason in Bears history. Citing the Bears’ salary cap space, young roster, upcoming draft capital and, of course, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams , Warren called the Bears opening “the most coveted job in the National Football League this year.” He promised an exhaustive, detailed and organized coaching search and expressed his faith in Poles, who hired Eberflus in 2022 and retained him into this season. Eberflus finished his Bears career with a 14-32 record. The Bears named offensive coordinator Thomas Brown the interim head coach for the final five games. “Ryan is young. He’s talented. He’s bright. He’s hard-working,” Warren said. “He has done everything in his power on a daily basis to bring a winner to Chicago. And I’m confident in Ryan. My faith remains strong in Ryan.” This will be the first Bears head coach search for Warren, the former Big Ten Commissioner and Minnesota Vikings executive who was named team president in January 2023. When Warren was asked initially who would have the final say on a coaching decision, he gave a 112-word answer about how he and Poles would work together, spending multiple hours a day identifying the right person for the Bears. Pressed on what would happen if they had dissenting opinions, he eventually said Poles would have the final voice. “We’ll work that out,” Warren said. “Ryan is the general manager. He’s the head of football operations, so he will have the final say if it ever got to that point, but I’m confident that we will work through it. ... So long as we keep the center of our decisions what’s in the best interest of the Chicago Bears, our players, as we go forward, it will become clear as far as who is the person to lead this franchise from a football standpoint, from a coaching standpoint.” In a 21-minute news conference that was nearly half opening statements, Warren and Poles touched on a few aspects of the upcoming search while Chairman George McCaskey watched from the side. Brothers, from left, Brian McCaskey, George McCaskey and Patrick McCaskey listen to Ryan Poles and Kevin Warren answer questions from the media on Dec. 2, 2024, at Halas Hall. (Stacey Wescott/ Chicago Tribune) Poles said they still are determining whether they will use an external or internal search committee. Poles said he didn’t know how much input Williams would have on the hiring but said having a plan for a young quarterback would be a major requirement for the next coach. Warren listed other qualities he will try to identify in candidates. “We need an individual who has extremely high standards, who is tough, who is demanding,” Warren said. “Who is bright, who has attention to detail, who seeks and will win championships, who creates an environment of accountability, who’s creative, who’s intelligent, who’s a decisive decision maker, and who will represent the city of Chicago, all of our fans, this franchise, in a manner that is well deserved.” Poles didn’t have a long process in the previous search that landed on Eberflus. In the wake of the Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy firings, a Bears search committee interviewed general manager and coach candidates simultaneously and then hired Poles on Jan. 25, 2022. Over the next two days, Poles interviewed previously vetted coaching finalists, including Eberflus, Dan Quinn and Jim Caldwell, and the Bears named Eberflus the coach on Jan. 27. This time, Poles said he plans to cast as wide a net and take as much time as he needs to find the right candidate. He said setting a foundation of identifying what they want in a coach will be key, and he thinks that knowing his roster well now will help him. “It was a really tough situation to walk into (last time),” Poles said. “So knowing exactly the core of our team and what traits are going to help get that team to be a championship-caliber roster (will help).” Poles is responsible for bringing Eberflus back for a third season and engaging in a process that resulted in Eberflus hiring offensive coordinator Shane Waldron in January 2024 to replace fired OC Luke Getsy. Waldron lasted just nine games this season before the Bears fired him. Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, left, and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron watch the offense struggle in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 3, 2024, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Poles said with Waldron there was “some communication that probably didn’t happen as clean as it needed to be” within the offense as the Bears tried to get Williams’ development on the right track. As for Eberflus, an “environment of accountability” and a “decisive decision-maker” were two of the phrases in Warren’s list of coveted coach qualities that stood out because they were areas of concern this season. The latter, of course, came up in the final seconds of Thursday’s 23-20 loss to the Lions , when Eberflus didn’t call a timeout to aid Williams in executing the game’s final plays before time ran out. Poles identified such late-game issues as one thing that led to the firing of Eberflus. “When you look at the end-of-the-game situations, just some of the detailing to finish in those moments,” Poles said. “We all know a lot of these games come down to those critical spots that we weren’t able to get over the hump.” Poles said he sensed the frustration from players in the locker room after the game in Detroit, and that was taken into account when making the decision. “It’s important always to have a pulse of the locker room and an understanding of what’s going on, because the one thing that I can say is our players, our team, played extremely hard through adverse situations,” Poles said. “You don’t want a situation where that starts to crack, and you don’t see the same effort and the same energy. We’re always being aware of the environment and taking that into consideration.” The Bears came under fire Friday after allowing Eberflus to go on his usual day-after-game Zoom news conference with reporters — where he said he was confident he would be coaching the Bears this week — and then firing him a few hours later. Related Articles Chicago Bears | Column: Thomas Brown’s top priority as Chicago Bears interim coach? ‘To unify this team’ amid chaos and division. Chicago Bears | Matt Eberflus’ Chicago Bears timeline: 32 losses, multiple coach firings and too many late-game missteps Chicago Bears | Column: Leave it to the Chicago Bears to botch a coach firing even your Aunt Martha could see coming Chicago Bears | Column: After Matt Eberflus’ firing, the onus is on Kevin Warren and Ryan Poles to put the Chicago Bears on the right path Warren said the Bears hadn’t yet made a decision on Eberflus’ fate when the 9 a.m. news conference was scheduled to begin. He, Poles and McCaskey decided to gather the morning after Thanksgiving with clearer heads than they had that night and were still meeting when Eberflus addressed reporters. “In retrospect, could we have done it better? Absolutely, and I’ll be the first one to raise my hand, yes,” Warren said. “But during his press conference and even a couple hours later, we had not reached a decision.” Warren said they had a thoughtful discussion that resulted in the firing. He called the next six weeks “critical” as the Bears align their search, though they are not allowed to begin requesting interviews with candidates employed by other teams until the end of the regular season. And he didn’t downplay the importance of the weeks and months ahead. “You hate saying that decisions are going to set the trajectory of the franchise over the next 10 to 15 to 20 years, (but) this is one that will,” Warren said. That Poles is leading the search after hiring the last failed coach injects skepticism into the Bears’ upcoming proceedings. But Warren said he believed that “this was the day that we start pointing in the right direction to build the franchise that all of us know that we want to build.” And he will continue to count on Poles to help him do that. “There are a couple different types of people. There are people who can find fault, and there are people who can find fault and come up with solutions,” Warren said. “One of the things I appreciate working with Ryan is that he’s one of the people that will raise his hand and say, ‘Hey, this is something that we could’ve done better, but here’s some solutions.’ And we’re committed to doing that.”By JOEL DABAO As we prepare for 2025, one question looms large: Are we ready to ride the next wave of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI)? While AI continues to evolve and promises transformational change, its true potential hinges on two critical factors: digital literacy and functional literacy. For the Philippines, where connectivity is expanding but stark disparities persist, these challenges represent both an opportunity and an urgent call to action. Granted, the "killer business application" of AI has yet to be invented. However, the initial wave of generative AI (GenAI) solutions is already boosting productivity across various industries. The eventual game-changing AI application will undoubtedly depend on two things that, surprisingly, remain significant challenges even in 2024: digital literacy and functional literacy. Digital literacy is crucial for unlocking the benefits of technology, yet it remains unevenly distributed. While technology adoption rates are at all-time highs, the further one ventures from city centers, the lower the levels of digital literacy. In rural areas, where internet access is often sparse, smartphones are primarily used as media players. People download content in areas with connectivity and consume it offline, limiting their appreciation of technology to tapping icons on user-friendly interfaces. While this current situation demonstrates the potential for technology to enrich rural communities, the reality falls short of the possibilities. A wealth of educational content is readily available online, but interventions are needed to help communities understand that the internet can offer much more than social media or entertainment. Furthermore, as cyber threats grow increasingly sophisticated, efforts must also focus on equipping users with the skills to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Even more alarming is the challenge of functional literacy. Many Filipino high school students are reading and writing at a fourth-grade level. This puts them at a tremendous disadvantage in pursuing higher education or entering the workforce, where literacy is a fundamental skill. As generative AI continues to influence nearly all industries, the ability to type coherent prompts and interpret AI-generated outputs will be essential. While voice-activated applications are being developed, the core interaction with these technologies still relies heavily on reading and writing proficiency. Without foundational literacy skills, a significant portion of the population risks being excluded from the opportunities that AI and digitalization can offer. What is touted as the next wave of technological development could inadvertently widen the gap between the digitally empowered and the digitally excluded. I have always believed that digitalization can be a great equalizer, enabling a developing nation to close the gap with its more developed counterparts. But this vision can only become reality if access to connectivity is widespread, devices are affordable, and the population is equipped to make the most of these tools. While various stakeholders—from government to private organizations and NGOs — are making strides to address these gaps, the pace of technological advancement demands more concerted efforts. Promoting both functional and digital literacy must become a national priority, ensuring that every Filipino has the skills to navigate, adapt to, and thrive in the age of AI. By working together, we can ensure that no one is left behind as we ride the next wave of technology. Let us move forward with a collective resolve to equip our population with the tools and skills they need to shape a brighter, more inclusive future. Mr. Joel Dabao is the President of Kabankalan Community Antenna Television (K-CAT Inc.) and the subcom Vice Chair of the FINEX Night of the FINEX Week Committee. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FINEX.

Drama surrounds final three F1 races of season

Sindh Cabinet abolishes deceased quota, approves education and rural reformsSmall businesses across Northwest Indiana hope to pull in a share of the $989 billion the National Retail Federation estimates projects consumers will spend this holiday season. They've been hosting events to lure shoppers, bringing in Santa for photos, running deals, opening pop-ups at malls and breaking out all the stops for the all-critical holiday shopping season. Many hope to turn the increased traffic of seasonal gift-buyers into regular customers. The Crown Antique Mall at 545 E 110th Ave in Crown Point is having its Christmas Open House from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. It will have snacks, drinks, discounts, raffles and giveaways throughout the shop. Santa will make an appearance to pose for photos from 12-2 p.m. "Vendors across the store will offer anywhere from 10% to 60% off," owner Mark Kratkoczki said. "People come to buy vintage items. Repurpose, recycle and reuse has meaning. It's better quality than what's at the big box stores. It has stood the test of time." The Crown Antique Mall tries to get gift buyers to return throughout the year by letting them know about its regular events such as car shows and celebrity meet-and-greets. Over the past year, it has hosted Butch Patrick, Bozo the Cown, Fred "The Hammer" Williams and Jimmy Hart. Smugglers Coffee at 237 Matteson St in Dyer has been hosting the Roaming Wedge Mobile Cheese Shop and BNZ Pop-Ups, which consists of the former chefs at Windmill Brewing, to lure holiday shoppers. It's also hosting events like Dungeons and Dragons games, board night and caffeine and create nights. "A lot of people have been buying barrel-aged coffee," owner Dave Fajman said. "People say they're buying it as a stocking stuffer or for a boss. Or they're buying it online and sending it as a gift." It will do a special release of its seasonal Elves with Murder Toys coffee, in a bag that depicts elves using candy canes as weapons, on Friday, Dec. 13. "We let the quality of the product speak for itself. There's not a lot of places to find barrel-aged coffee," he said. "We also have other items that make good gifts like hot sauces and Dungeons and Dragons stuff." Golden Afternoon at 2817 Highway Ave in downtown Highland got decked out for the holiday season. "There is a large wreath we were given by Nancy Brumm after she and Jerry retired and closed Brumm's Bloomin' Barn. We decorated it with modern-colored lights and hung it over the store under the sign. At night it's really majestic looking," Manager Aaron Shloss said. "The front of the store is composed of tall, wide plate glass windows that let passersby see inside. (Owner) Cameryn (Friederichs) has gone out of her way to decorate the sales floor in such a way as to inspire maximal wonder and excitement when people stumble out of Rodney's and Growlers at night and see all of the trees and holiday displays lit up from inside. She wants it to be very much like an old-time department store... faces pressed to the glass windows, eyes wide and replete with wonder, taking everything in." The gift shop and florist in downtown Highland tries to conjure up a traditional shopping experience. "During shopping hours when customers come in and browse they are never disappointed. But yeah, the anticipation is the key. The gifts and decor we carry speak to a whimsical aesthetic and we strive to offer goods that are as fun as they are unique," Shloss said. "It isn't just another collection of Yankee Candles and cheap Santa Claus screenprint hoodies. We are an old-fashioned gift shop that truly understands the magic of the season and the quality of merchandise and selection that modern shoppers require to pull them away from Amazon and HomeGoods." The Christmas season is huge for any retailer, but especially independent locally owned shops, Shloss said. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts "For an independent retailer of gifts and floral arrangements it's arguably the biggest sales opportunity of the year, bigger than Valentine's Day, bigger than Mother's Day, because people are not just buying flowers from us but also gifts... and lots of them," he said. "The floral end of things is huge for the holidays because people order table centerpieces for Thanksgiving and Christmas but they also have big gatherings that they accent with flowers... and not to mention that for many people spread across the country who cannot spend time with all of the loved ones on their list, floral deliveries are a great way to say, 'Hey, I miss you, I'm sorry I can't be there for the holidays but I am thinking of you.'" Customers just tend to spend more when out buying gifts for others during the holiday season, said Shloss, a former manager at Brumm's Bloomin' Barn. "As far as gifts go, I mean, this is the time of year when people splurge without guilt. All of the hype and hoopla about giving better than receiving really is true and people find that little spark in themselves to go all out. Jerry Brumm used to tell me that Brumm's Bloomin' Barn sold as much or more in the last two months of the year than in the rest of the year combined. And it was true," he said. "I saw it when I worked for him, learning the industry, year after year. It was nonstop. So yeah, the money aspect was great, but it really does speak to a deeper human truth that people love shopping and giving gifts to each other and decorating their homes with ornaments and holiday swag. It's just a massive season for any retailer but for independents like us, it really could make or break us." Whiting will host its Kris Kringle Market downtown from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and again on Saturday, Dec. 14 in a heated tent in an empty lot at 1515 119th Street. People can browse from vendors at the German-style holiday market, warm up with hot cocoa, get spiked hot cocoa with Irish Cream, sip mulled wine and hear music from the Whiting and Hammond high school choirs and the 119th Street Carolers. They also can sign up for horse-drawn Christmas wagon rides from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Many of the merchants along 119th Street will keep longer hours to capitalize off the increased traffic. "We're happy to get more exposure. We hope people come out to shop with us, the Junkyard, Nostalgic Treasures and other small shops," said Joel Bender, the owner of Mind Benders Puzzles & Games at 1442 119th Street. "Every dollar you spent at a small business in the community stays in the community. We eat at local restaurants. We sponsor local baseball. That spending is staying in town." Hammond is hosting a Holiday Stroll from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday in which 18 local businesses will take part, including the Eat restaurant at 5201 Hohman Avenue that's run by El Taco Real's Raymundo Garcia and is only open for special occasions. It will feature hot chocolate stops, face painting, contests, raffles and holiday activities. Karven Maravilla, the owner of It's Just Serendipity at 5630 Hohman Avenue, said events were planned throughout the holiday season to draw shoppers. It's Just Serendipity is hosting an ongoing open house through Dec. 24 honoring Hammond native Jean Shepherd, the author of "A Christmas Story." It's Just Serendipity is running sales between 20% and 75% off and gifts with purchases this December. Anyone who spends more than $25 is entered to win a door prize. It also has sweets and treats including "Ohhhhhh fudge" from OMG Pastries, Ovaltini chocolate martinis and a window scavenger hunt in which people can enter to win a "Major Award" by counting all the references to "A Christmas Story" in the front window." The "Bumpus Hound" Isabella will also be greeting customers to the vintage boutique. She encourages everyone to shop local when they can. "Please rethink your choice to shop online. Imagine the places that you like to shop. Imagine downtowns, cities, towns. Imagine what these places would look like if these small businesses were no longer there. It would be a ghost town," she said. "If you say that shopping online is more convenient or that it saves money, think again. It is robbing our communities of jobs, economic development, income, and much more. The impact of shopping online has a far-reaching effect and is hurting our local economies." Small businesses rely on holiday shopping, Maravilla said. "Supporting small businesses and brick and mortar businesses means that you're in the communities where you live, developing relationships with real people. These relationships develop into loyal customers, friends, and business referrals," she said. "Stores are closing at an alarming rate as a result of people choosing to shop online. Many stores that are open are being forced to carry less inventory because people are choosing to shop online. This is causing a detrimental domino effect to small businesses. Occasionally, one cannot find what one needs at a local store, so buying online is an alternative. However, on a day-to-day basis, please make the choice to support small and local businesses in Northwest Indiana." It offers bubble tea in a variety of flavors including green tea, oolong tea, black tea, matcha tea and fresh fruit tea. The menu also includes rolled ice cream, coffee, frappes, yogurt, fresh milk and milk tea. Ice cream flavors include Nutella, Banana, Oreo, Fruit Lover and Summer Tango. Teas include Strawberry Oolong Tea, Crush Peach Black Tea, Peach Orange Lemongrass Black Tea, Tropical Fruit Green Tea, Tropical Fruit Oolong Tea, Honeydew Green Apple Oolong Tea, Grapefruit Jasmine Green Tea, Navel Orange Jasmine Green Tea, Kiwi Jasmine Green Tea, Happy Tea, Lychee Black Tea and Pomegranate Black Tea. Owner Bach “Andy” Pham bought the 10,000-square-foot building and opened The Boba Tea Cafe, B Nail Lounge and Viet-Ship. The latter allows people to go into the Boba Tea Cafe and ship money or packages to Vietnam. For more information, call 219-999-7997.

AOC Monitors Announces 2024 Black Friday Cyber Monday Holiday Deals

M’rashtra polls: Mahayuti, MVA optimistic of victoryMANCHESTER, England (AP) — Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League was cut to seven points after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Newcastle on Wednesday. Chelsea moved up to second by thrashing last-place Southampton 5-1, while Arsenal is third after a 2-0 win over Manchester United. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week

GERMANTOWN, Tenn. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., or MAA (NYSE: MAA), today announced a full quarterly dividend of $1.0625 per outstanding share of its 8.50% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on December 31, 2024 , to shareholders of record on December 13, 2024 . About MAA MAA is a self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT) and member of the S&P 500. MAA owns or has ownership interest in apartment communities primarily throughout the Southeast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. focused on delivering strong, full-cycle investment performance. For further details, please refer to the "For Investors" page at www.maac.com or contact Investor Relations at investor.relations@maac.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain matters in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended with respect to our expectations for future periods. Such statements include statements made about the payment of preferred dividends. The ability to meet the payment of preferred dividends in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements could differ materially from the projection due to a number of factors, including a downturn in general economic conditions or the capital markets, changes in interest rates and other items that are difficult to control such as increases in real estate taxes in many of our markets, as well as the other general risks inherent in the apartment and real estate businesses. Reference is hereby made to the filings of Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, reports on Form 8-K, and its annual report on Form 10-K, particularly including the risk factors contained in the latter filing. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maa-announces-regular-quarterly-preferred-dividend-302319993.html SOURCE MAA