wolfeyvgc champion

Arsenal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich all advanced to the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals with with two games to spare on Thursday. Late substitute Lina Hurtig scored the winner in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Juventus in London. Khadija Shaw scored twice for City in a 2-1 win at Swedish club Hammarby. City stayed perfect in Group D with four victories and reached the last eight for the first time since 2021. Bayern Munich was held 1-1 at Vålerenga in Norway and still earned a quarterfinal berth after Juventus' loss. Arsenal, Bayern and City join Chelsea, Lyon and Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. Two-time defending champion Barcelona routed Austrian champion St. Pölten 4-1. The Catalan club trails City by three points in their group and is in a strong position to advance. Bayern tops Group C with 10 points, Arsenal has nine followed by Juventus (3) and Vålerenga (1). Man City responded to its first loss of the season, 2-0 at Chelsea in the Women's Super League on Saturday. Still without injured star Vivianne Miedema , Shaw took charge, proving her scoring instincts after half an hour. The forward scored from inside the penalty area with a deflected shot that flew over goalkeeper Anna Tamminen to frustrate more than 20,000 noisy fans at the Stockholm Arena in the Swedish capital. Ellen Wangerheim equalized soon after the interval from close range to rejuvenate the crowd but Shaw struck again to restore the lead just minutes later. This time, she delivered a powerful right-footed finish from the edge of the area. Bayern dominated possession but could not translate it into goals until the 75th minute. It had to rely on substitute Jovana Damnjanović, who gave the visitors a late lead after connecting on a pass from Giulia Gwinn. The Norwegians, who have retained their domestic title, equalized in the 88th on Elise Thorsnes' header following a corner. Pernille Harder, who found the back of the net five times for Bayern in the previous three games, could not do it again on Thursday and was substituted. Hurtig came on with 10 minutes remaining and made her presence immediately felt with several headers. She finally made the breakthrough with a minute remaining in regulation, tapping in from close range after Juventus’ poor clearance of a low cross by Stina Blackstenius. Hurtig won the Italian title with Juventus in 2021 and 2022 before joining the Gunners. Juventus seemed to learn a lesson from its 4-0 loss to Arsenal last week as its defense held firm till Hurtig’s arrival. In an 11-minute span in the first half, Francisca Nazareth netted twice and 18-year-old Vicky Lopez scored once to put Barcelona in control. Nazareth's double was followed by Lopez hitting the third with a shot high into the net for her first Champions League goal. Alexia Putellas made it 4-0 in the second half, finishing a fast attack that tore apart the defense in Vienna. It was her 200th goal for Barcelona and the 100th the club scored in the Champions League’s group stage. Valentina Mädl, an 18-year-old forward, netted a consolation goal for the hosts. Barcelona has scored 20 goals in its past three games and can still become the first club to win its group in all four years since the introduction of the format. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Rivers crisis made me stronger – FubaraNEW YORK, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The health of the U.S. consumer and the retail sector will be in focus in the coming week, as Black Friday kicks off a holiday shopping season that could shed light on how buyers are grappling with higher prices. The benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX) , opens new tab rose 1.7% in the past week and approached all-time highs as investors digested the end of a solid third-quarter corporate reporting season. Earnings are on pace to have climbed about 9% from a year earlier. But recent earnings from two high-profile retailers yielded sharply different prospects: Walmart (WMT.N) , opens new tab on Tuesday raised its annual sales and profit forecast for the third consecutive time, while Target (TGT.N) , opens new tab shares tumbled after it forecast holiday-quarter comparable sales and profit below estimates on Wednesday. The holiday shopping season could give further insight on consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. Even though inflation rates have moderated from 40-year peaks hit two years ago, higher prices are still challenging consumers, said Abby Roach, portfolio analyst at Allspring Global Investments. "It's easy to be excited about inflation coming down year over year, but...consumers are really still under pressure, and I think that's the biggest pain point," Roach said. "Consumers are continuing to feel like their dollars don't go as far as they did." Robust spending into year end could bolster a recent run of data that has shown a stronger-than-expected economy. While investors have welcomed signs of economic health, worries remain over a potential inflationary rebound, crimping expectations for how deeply the Federal Reserve will be able to cut interest rates in coming months. As it stands, Americans have a more upbeat outlook for holiday shopping than in the prior two years, according to a Morgan Stanley survey of about 2,000 consumers published earlier this month, with about 35% saying they expect to spend more this season than a year ago. "Companies could see a little more holiday cheer this year but spending isn't likely to increase across all categories as consumers remain selective," the Morgan Stanley analysts said in the report. The holiday shopping season will also be a test for shares of retailers, which have diverged in 2024. Among the industry's largest players by market value, Walmart is up over 70%, warehouse retailer Costco Wholesale (COST.O) , opens new tab has jumped 46%, while online giant Amazon (AMZN.O) , opens new tab , which has a diversified business that includes cloud computing, has climbed 30%. Other stocks have struggled. Discounters Dollar General (DG.N) , opens new tab and Dollar Tree (DLTR.O) , opens new tab are down over 40% and 50%, respectively, in 2024, as analysts point to inflation particularly hitting the companies' lower-income consumer base. Shares of Target, whose weak forecast came as value-conscious consumers shopped for low-priced essentials at rival retailers, are down 12% on the year. "Target is really struggling to find a unique identity in retail right now," said Chuck Carlson, chief executive officer at Horizon Investment Services. The two S&P 500 sectors that include most retailers, the consumer discretionary and consumer staples sectors, are up 23% and 16%, respectively, in 2024, against a 25% rise for the overall index. Another batch of retail earnings are due in the coming week, including reports from Best Buy (BBY.N) , opens new tab , Macy's (M.N) , opens new tab , Nordstrom (JWN.N) , opens new tab and Urban Outfitters (URBN.O) , opens new tab . Investors will also get a fresh view of inflation, with the Nov 27 release of the monthly Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, which is closely followed by the Fed. The inflation gauge is expected to have climbed 2.3% in October on an annual basis, according to Reuters data. "The economy is in a good spot. It's just more about trying to process several years of high inflation," said Michael O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading. "From a retailer perspective, a lot of it's about making sure they're protecting their margins while trying to provide that value that's going to attract the consumer." Sign up here. Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by David Gregorio Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

By DAVID A. LIEB Artificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges. Here’s a look at some of the most notable state laws taking effect: California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use. Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so. New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump looms large over Beacon Hill with new legislative session set to start National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone National Politics | Trump continues tradition of Christmas attacks, takes aim at ‘Radical Left Lunatics’ National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February. A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, has filed a challenge. Several new California measures aimed at combating political deepfakes are also being challenged, including one requiring large social media platforms to remove deceptive content related to elections and another allowing any individual to sue for damages over the use of AI to create fabricated images or videos in political ads . In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents if their children change their gender identification . The law was a priority for Democratic lawmakers who wanted to halt such policies passed by several districts. Many states have passed laws limiting or protecting abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to the procedure in 2022. One of the latest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A law there will require the state employee health plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cover abortions with no deductible , copayments or other cost-sharing requirements. A new Minnesota law prohibits guns with “binary triggers” that allow for more rapid fire, causing a weapon to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when it is released. In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. Kentucky is becoming the latest state to let people use marijuana for medical purposes . To apply for a state medical cannabis card, people must get written certification from a medical provider of a qualifying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Minimum wage workers in more than 20 states are due to receive raises in January. The highest minimum wages will be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which will top $16 an hour after modest increases. The largest increases are scheduled in Delaware, where the minimum wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, where a ballot measure approved by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the current minimum of $12 an hour. Twenty other states still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. In Oregon, using drugs on public transit will be considered a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. While the measure worked its way through the legislature, multiple transportation officials said drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers feel less safe. In Missouri, law enforcement officers have spent the past 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is illegal. Starting with the new year, penalties will kick in: a $150 fine for the first violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and up to 15 years imprisonment if a driver using a cellphone cause an injury or death. But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law. Montana is the only state that hasn’t banned texting while driving , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Tenants in Arizona will no longer have to pay tax on their monthly rent , thanks to the repeal of a law that had allowed cities and towns to impose such taxes. While a victory for renters, the new law is a financial loss for governments. An analysis by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated that $230 million would be lost in municipal tax revenue during the first full fiscal year of implementation. Meanwhile Alabama will offer tax credits to businesses that help employees with child care costs. Kansas is eliminating its 2% sales tax on groceries. It also is cutting individual income taxes by dropping the top tax rate, increasing a credit for child care expenses and exempting all Social Security income from taxes, among other things. Taxpayers are expected to save about $320 million a year going forward. An Oklahoma law expands voting privileges to people who have been convicted of felonies but had their sentences discharged or commuted, including commutations for crimes that have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Young, an Oklahoma City Democrat, carried the bill in the Senate. “I think it’s very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens,” Young said. Associated Press writers Trân Nguyễn in Sacramento, California; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky; Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri; Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed.Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes to Tee Higgins, including a game-winning scoring strike with 1:07 left in overtime, to give the host Cincinnati Bengals an electrifying 30-24 win over the Denver Broncos on Saturday. Cade York could have given Cincinnati (8-8) the win with 2:43 to go in the extra session, but his 33-yard field-goal attempt hit the left upright. The Bengals' defense buckled down, though, forcing Denver to go three-and-out to get Burrow, Higgins and the rest of the offense back out on the field. Cincinnati proceeded to go 63 yards in five plays, with Higgins' 3-yard TD catch giving the Bengals their fourth straight victory. Higgins finished with 11 catches for 131 yards. Marvin Mims Jr. forced overtime by hauling in a 25-yard score on fourth-and-1 to draw the Broncos (9-7) even at 24 with eight seconds left in regulation. Burrow had put Cincinnati in front by plunging into the end zone from 1 yard out just 1:21 earlier. Burrow completed 39 of 49 passes for 412 yards and the three touchdowns while Ja'Marr Chase had nine catches for 102 yards and set a single-season franchise record for receptions. He now has 117. Tight end Mike Gesicki played a key role in the Cincinnati passing game, grabbing a season-high 10 catches for 86 yards. Rams 13, Cardinals 9 Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon intercepted a pass in the end zone with 37 seconds left to preserve Los Angeles' win over Arizona in Inglewood, Calif. Witherspoon made a diving catch after the ball bounced high off the helmet of Arizona tight end Trey McBride on the pass attempt by Kyler Murray. The Rams (10-6), who lead the NFC West by one game, have won five straight, while the Cardinals (7-9) have lost five of their last six. Los Angeles could clinch a playoff berth on Sunday depending on the outcome of other games. Matthew Stafford threw for 189 yards while completing 17 of 32 pass attempts without a touchdown or interception. Puka Nacua finished with 10 receptions for 129 yards. Murray was 33 of 48 for 321 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. McBride made 12 catches for 123 yards to surpass 1,000 yards for the first time in his three NFL seasons. Chargers 40, Patriots 7 Justin Herbert passed for 281 yards and a season-high three touchdowns and Los Angeles clinched an AFC playoff berth with a dominating victory over New England in Foxborough, Mass. Ladd McConkey caught eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns and Derwin James had two sacks and a fumble recovery for the Chargers (10-6), who are playoff-bound in Jim Harbaugh's first season as coach. Derius Davis also had a scoring catch, J.K. Dobbins rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and Cameron Dicker booted four field goals.Herbert completed 26 of 38 passes as the Chargers improved to 3-12 all-time in Foxborough, including playoffs. Drake Maye completed 12 of 22 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown for New England (3-13), which lost its sixth consecutive game. DeMario Douglas caught a scoring pass for the Patriots. -Field Level MediaAnoto Announces Outcome Of Rights Issue

--Saturday Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) at New England Patriots (3-12), 1 p.m. ET, NFL Network No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense at 18.3 points per game, the Chargers have yet to give up more than 20 points in a road game this season. That's been accomplished only by five teams in league history, most recently the 2010 Chicago Bears and 2001 Philadelphia Eagles. Turnovers have been a challenge for New England. The Patriots have lost five straight games while breaking in rookie quarterback Drake Maye (14 touchdowns, 10 interceptions). Maye has thrown a touchdown pass in seven straight games to tie Jim Plunkett (1971) for the longest streak by a rookie in franchise history. He has completed 67.6 percent of his passes, just behind the rookie record set by Dak Prescott (67.8) of the Dallas Cowboys in 2016. He also has a pick in seven consecutive games. Chargers QB Justin Herbert has only three interceptions -- 18 touchdowns -- this season, but two of them came in the past two games. New England is 12-2 all-time as the home team in this matchup. Denver Broncos (9-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-8), 4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network Everything is at stake for the Broncos as the finish line to a surprising season approaches. Denver lost the inside track to the wild-card berth to the Chargers last week. But the franchise can still land a playoff berth and 10-win season for the first time since 2015, when Peyton Manning piloted the Super Bowl 50 champions. Denver leads the NFL with 51 sacks and rookie QB Bo Nix has six games with two or more TD passes and no interceptions this season. That's an impressive feat but Bengals QB Joe Burrow is setting the bar far higher. He leads the NFL with 4,229 passing yards and 39 touchdown passes. He's the fourth player with 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes in three of his first five seasons (Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Dan Marino). Burrow's consistency is to be commended. He's the first player ever to record 250 passing yards and three touchdown passes in seven consecutive games, a streak he can stretch to eight on Saturday. WR Ja'Marr Chase leads the NFL with 108 receptions for 1,510 yards and 16 touchdowns, giving him 45 in his career. Only Randy Moss (53) and Jerry Rice (49) had more in their first four NFL seasons. Arizona Cardinals (7-8) at Los Angeles Rams (9-6), 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network Beat the Cardinals and the Rams can celebrate a sixth season with double-digit wins under Sean McVay. But to reach the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons, Los Angeles has to wait for Week 18 and a matchup with the Seahawks. The Rams are cooking defensively, a credit to the production of their young front seven. WR Puka Nacua leads the NFL with 57 receptions since Week 10, with five-plus receptions and 50-plus receiving yards in each of his seven games during the span. The Cardinals lost in OT at Carolina last week to take themselves out of the mix for the postseason. It was Arizona's third loss in a row on the road, and the Rams beat the Cardinals 26-9 in Los Angeles last season. The Rams have won eight of 10 games since their bye week, when they were 1-4. Kyren Williams has provided support for quarterback Matthew Stafford during the Rams' 4-0 run in December. Williams, a Pro Bowl selection last season, has a career-high 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on 303 carries following his 122-yard game against the Jets last week. --Sunday New York Jets (4-11) at Buffalo Bills (12-3), 1 p.m. ET, CBS The Bills are hoping to get wide receiver Amari Cooper going. Acquired from the Cleveland Browns in October, Cooper has 17 receptions for 241 yards and one touchdown in seven games with Buffalo. He had just one catch for 10 yards last week against the Patriots. Buffalo needs a win to finish 8-0 at home -- the Chiefs are also undefeated at home -- for the third time in franchise history (1988, 1990). Bills QB Josh Allen has 75 career regular-season wins, tied with Russell Wilson for the most regular-season wins by a quarterback in his first seven seasons in NFL history. There are big numbers on the line for the Jets, but none of them relate to the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers has 499 regular-season TD passes. He's one away from joining the 500 Club of Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508). Manning (244 games) is the only player to reach 500 in fewer than 250 career games; Rodgers is playing No. 247 on Sunday. The Jets are 1-5 over their past six games and lost the first matchup between these teams 23-20 in Week 6. Carolina Panthers (4-11) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7), 1 p.m. ET, CBS Carolina put up 36 points and took down the Cardinals last week. The Panthers are playing inspired ball and would be thrilled to continue in the spoiler role by bumping Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers out of the top spot in the NFC South. Mayfield, who started for Carolina to open the 2022 season, found his Pro Bowl form under current Panthers coach Dave Canales, Tampa's offensive coordinator last season. Mayfield has five games with at least 300 passing yards and multiple TD passes this season. That's the bar Panthers QB Bryce Young aspires to, but he's content letting RB Chuba Hubbard carry the offense when necessary. Hubbard has career highs in yards from scrimmage (1,366), rushing yards (1,195) and rushing TDs (10) in 2024. The Buccaneers are trying to bounce back from a costly loss at Dallas. Down two late in the fourth quarter, Buccaneers RB Rachaad White lost a fumble that ended the potential game-winning drive. Mayfield is adamant he wants WR Mike Evans to get to 1,000 yards for the 11th consecutive season. Evans needs 182 yards and has owned Carolina with an average of 140.5 yards in his past four home games against the Panthers. Dallas Cowboys (7-8) at Philadelphia Eagles (12-3), 1 p.m. ET, FOX RB Saquon Barkley could carry the load this week with QB concerns for the Eagles. Jalen Hurts (concussion) and Kenny Pickett (ribs) were both hurt in the 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders last Sunday. That's only part of what's different since Dallas was whipped 34-6 by the Eagles on Nov. 10. Even with the Cowboys working their way back toward .500, Dallas subtracted another peak playmaker in WR CeeDee Lamb. Second in the NFL with 101 receptions, Lamb is on the shelf for the rest of the season right alongside QB Dak Prescott. The Eagles are primed to lean on their constant threat in Barkley, who leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,114) and rushing (1,838). With Lamb out, life becomes more difficult for QB Cooper Rush at the controls of the Cowboys' offense. Rush has guided Dallas to wins in four of the last five games, throwing nine touchdown passes and just one interception. The Eagles' defense had five takeaways at Washington last week but has a minus-10 turnover margin (28 turnovers, 18 takeaways) while the Cowboys are tied for fifth in the NFL at plus-10 (26 takeaways, 16 turnovers). Indianapolis Colts (7-8) at New York Giants (2-13), 1 p.m. ET, FOX Indianapolis is mathematically alive in the playoff hunt but trails the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos by two games with two contests left. The Chargers and Broncos both have games on Saturday. If both nine-win clubs win, the Colts will be eliminated and miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Colts QB Anthony Richardson might be held out if there's no spoils on the line for Indy, as he's battling foot and back injuries. A heavier workload suits Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for 218 yards and three scores on 29 carries during last weekend's 38-30 home win over the Tennessee Titans. New York is in danger of losing an 11th consecutive game behind an offense putting up only 14.3 points per game this season. The Giants are starting Drew Lock at quarterback for the fourth time in the past five games. Lock underwent an MRI on his passing shoulder Monday but no damage was found. He hurt it during Sunday's 34-7 road loss against the Atlanta Falcons. Lock is 0-3 as a starter this season and has completed just 52.7 percent of his passes. He has one touchdown and four interceptions in 129 attempts. Tennessee Titans (3-12) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12), 1 p.m. ET, CBS For the second time in 21 days, the Titans and Jaguars square off with a spot in the AFC South cellar -- and near the top of the NFL draft order -- hanging in the balance. It could be argued that the loser will come out ahead in the long run. After all, that team would enhance its chances to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Mason Rudolph, who threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns in last Sunday's 38-30 loss at Indianapolis, gets the start over Will Levis for the Titans this week. Rudolph also threw three interceptions, adding to the team's NFL-high total of 32 turnovers. The Titans' offensive line has permitted 47 sacks this season -- 40 with Levis at the helm. Levis also has thrown 12 interceptions and lost two fumbles, while Rudolph has thrown eight picks and lost a fumble. When the teams met on Dec. 8 in Nashville, Jacksonville notched a 10-6 win, holding Tennessee to 272 total yards and limiting Levis to 168 yards passing. It's the Jaguars' only road win of the season. Jacksonville is coming off a 19-14 loss last week in Las Vegas, another three-win team. The defeat moved Jacksonville up to the projected No. 3 overall pick, one spot ahead of the Titans. The Jaguars could be without as many as six usual starters on offense this week. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12) at New Orleans Saints (5-10), 1 p.m. ET, FOX Las Vegas hired Antonio Pierce as head coach after the team had an encouraging 5-4 record during his stint as interim head coach last season. Still, the disappointing 2024 season leaves Pierce's future in question. New Orleans is 3-3 under interim head coach Darren Rizzi, who was promoted when Dennis Allen was fired after a seven-game losing streak this season. The Raiders are expected to start second-year quarterback Aidan O'Connell, who has shared that role with Gardner Minshew and Desmond Ridder. Rizzi earned victories in his first two games in charge and three of the first four, but the team had by far its worst performance under him in a 34-0 road loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. Former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who is in his second season in New Orleans, is trying to return from an injury to his left (non-throwing) hand. Rookie fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler, who is 0-4 as a starter and played poorly against the Packers, is more likely to start Sunday. Las Vegas ended a 10-game losing streak by beating the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars 19-14 last week. Miami Dolphins (7-8) at Cleveland Browns (3-12), 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS Saturday's NFL slate could determine whether the Dolphins are playing for more than pride. Miami hopes to have a chance at the playoffs, while the only thing Cleveland can do is find a rare winning feeling in a disappointing season. Expected to contend for a second straight playoff berth, the Browns instead have an outside chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft. A third starting quarterback of the year, second-year pro Dorian Thompson-Robinson, gets the call with Jameis Winston (shoulder) ailing and Deshaun Watson (Achilles) out for the season. In a 24-6 road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, Thompson-Robinson finished 20 of 34 for 157 yards while tossing two interceptions and absorbing five sacks. Thompson-Robinson, who was limited in practice on Thursday because of a quad issue, wants to do a better job avoiding those outcomes. The Dolphins' defense could help in that matter as they entered the weekend 26th in sacks (31) and tied for 22nd in interceptions (eight). Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said he won't rest players even if the Chargers and Broncos push Miami out of the playoffs on Saturday. Green Bay (11-4) at Minnesota Vikings (13-2), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX There is still a lot on the line for the Vikings and Packers, who are behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC North but competing for playoff position. Free agent signee Sam Darnold is the first quarterback to win 13-plus games in his first season with a team since Dak Prescott with the Cowboys in 2016 and first non-rookie since Peyton Manning with the Broncos in 2012. He's had immense production from former Packers RB Aaron Jones and All-Pro WR Justin Jefferson (92 receptions for 1,387 yards, 10 TDs). Head coach Kevin O'Connell has 13 wins in two of his first three years with the Vikings -- only current Packers coach Matt LaFleur and former 49ers coach George Seifert have done that. Green Bay also has a playoff spot clinched for the fifth time in six seasons under LaFleur. Powered by Jones' replacement Josh Jacobs (career-high 13 rushing TDs) and QB Jordan Love, the Packers fell short of a furious comeback in the Week 4 meeting. Love had 389 yards and four TDs but was intercepted three times. He also had four total TDs in last season's win at Minnesota on New Year's Eve. Atlanta Falcons (8-7) at Washington Commanders (10-5), 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC A matchup of top-10 draft picks headlines the "Sunday Night Football" showdown in Week 17. With only one career start under his belt, Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, attempts to boost Atlanta's playoff chances against Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick. The Commanders are hunting their first playoff berth since 2020. Washington could have a playoff spot wrapped up if the Panthers beat the Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. If Tampa Bay wins, Washington can clinch with a win over Atlanta. Atlanta is searching for its third straight victory while Washington has won three in a row and could get to 11 wins for the first time since 1991. Penix won his debut start at home last week, completing 18 of 27 passes (66.7 percent) for 202 yards with an interception and led the Falcons to four scoring drives in a 34-7 home win against the Giants. Daniels is coming off a five-touchdown performance, including the game-winner with six seconds remaining, to lead Washington to an upset win over the visiting Eagles. He passed for 258 yards and ran for 81. Daniels has rushed for a team-high 737 yards along with six touchdowns. Washington entered Week 17 third in rushing (152.7 yards per game) and 16th in passing (220.9 yards per game). --Field Level MediaAshley Coleman has resigned as executive director of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Center, which will "temporarily pause" some programs.

SANTA CLARA — As the 49ers’ season comes to a close amid an avalanche of missed games, Dominick Puni remembers the one that got away. The one snap, that is. It happened with 9:28 to play in the first quarter of an eventual 30-13 win over the New England Patriots in Week 4. Puni took a blow to the stomach on a 1-yard run by Jordan Mason. “I had one snap where I got the wind knocked out of me and they told me to stay down so I missed one snap this year,” Puni said Saturday as the 49ers (6-9) concluded preparations to host the Detroit Lions (13-2). Puni, a rookie third-round draft pick out of Kansas, will be in his usual spot as the starting right guard Monday night as the 49ers close out their home schedule. Jake Brendel will be the center. The rest of the offensive line will be determined at some point before kickoff. Spencer Burford, the third 49ers’ left tackle, was declared out with a calf injury, along with left guard Aaron Banks (knee), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf) and defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (ankle). Right tackle Colton McKivitz is listed as questionable but didn’t practice all week with a knee injury. Also questionable were safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle), linebacker Tatum Bethune (knee) and cornerback Charvarius Ward (personal matter). Banks is expected to be the 14th player to go on injured reserve, although Bethune is eligible to be activated from I.R. If McKivitz doesn’t play, the 49ers starting line could consist, from left to right, of newcomer Charlie Heck at left tackle, Nick Zakelj at left guard, Brendel at center, Puni at right guard and Austen Pleasants, a recent practice squad promotion who signed on Dec. 17, at right tackle. Coach Kyle Shanahan characterized the challenge of playing mix-and-match this way: “You try to keep it simple for them, try to categorize stuff in groups, and the guys next to them just, they try to communicate as much as possible and you try to help him out,” Shanahan said. Puni, who has established himself as a foundation piece going forward, finds himself possibly being in the unusual position of dispensing advice and wisdom at age 24. “With these tackles, whoever is going to play next to you, you’ve got to tell them some things,” Puni said. “If you just get here you’re not going to know all the tricks of the offense. Other than that, I’m just going try and control my one-eleventh and do my job. It is exciting though.” Puni’s 938 snaps are the most on the team — two more than McKivitz and three more than Brendel. Remarkable when you consider Puni had to nearly avert his eyes during some recent film study of his own practices and game tape when he first arrived as the 86th overall pick of the draft. “I went back to rookie minicamp, the fall camp, the first three training camp practices, just to see how bad I was when I first got here compared to now,” Puni said. “It’s like a night and day difference. When you get here, you don’t know the offense, you don’t know the technique. Yet by the third training camp practice, Puni (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) was the starter. He’s never relinquished the position and health permitting isn’t likely to be out of the lineup for years. “I got a lot of reps with the (first team) and that’s the only reason I was able to do so well early in the year,” Puni said. Puni credits linemates such as McKivitz, Brendel, Banks, Burford and Trent Williams as well as line coach Chris Foerster for helping to bring him along, but it’s clear he’s been a quick learner who wears durability as a badge of honor. While the outside world fixates on who should and shouldn’t play regardless of injury on teams out of the playoffs, Puni’s outlook is appealingly old school. “You don’t ever want to miss a snap,” Puni said. “If you can be out there, you’ve got to play. The last thing I want to do is bring a backup guy in who has been sitting on the sidelines and now he’s got to go in and I don’t think that’s fair. If I can play, I’m going to play.” GUERENDO GOOD TO GO Running back Isaac Guerendo (foot, hamstring) was a full participant in practice and wasn’t given a status after missing the Miami game, meaning the 49ers should get another look at their fourth-round draft pick as a lead back. “It was good to have him back,” Shanahan said. “We had a full speed practice (Friday) and he looked good. So no holdbacks. He’s good to go.” Also good to go is fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who missed the two previous days with an illness. Ward, who lost his 23-month old daughter in October, is awaiting the birth of his son and currently away from the team. KITTLE ON CAMPBELL It’s not difficult to look at 49ers tight end George Kittle and hard-nosed Detroit coach Dan Campbell as kindred spirits. Kittle likes what he’s seen of Campbell from afar. “When you have a head coach who played, and the way he played was gritty and kind of nasty but beloved by all his teammates, it’s easy to play for a guy like that,” Kittle said. “He seems like a really easy guy to play for, makes them grind and earn every second, but you want people like that who hold you to a standard. It’s awesome to see the Lions have gotten to that. but it’s our job to take them down a little bit.” WATTERS, BOLDIN MISS HOF CUT Former 49ers running back Ricky Watters (1991-94) and wide receiver Anquan Boldin (2013-15) did not make the cut to the round of 15 to be considered for induction for the Class of 2025 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Shanahan spent a lot of time around the 49ers when his father was offensive coordinator and Watters turned into a game-changer in both the pass game and run game. “I was only in middle school, so I can’t act like I really knew strategically what was going on,” Shanahan said. “But he was a really cool player. I loved talking to him and hanging out with him up in Rocklin at training camp.” Mike Holmgren, a San Francisco native who was a 49ers assistant from 1986 to 1991 as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, is a coach finalist. — Staff writer Cam Inman contributed to this reportWahab remembers Benazir as champion of human rights

By DAVID A. LIEB Artificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges. Here’s a look at some of the most notable state laws taking effect: Hollywood stars and child influencers California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use. Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so. Social media limits New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges. Related Articles National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February. A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, has filed a challenge. Several new California measures aimed at combating political deepfakes are also being challenged, including one requiring large social media platforms to remove deceptive content related to elections and another allowing any individual to sue for damages over the use of AI to create fabricated images or videos in political ads . School rules on gender In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents if their children change their gender identification . The law was a priority for Democratic lawmakers who wanted to halt such policies passed by several districts. Abortion coverage Many states have passed laws limiting or protecting abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to the procedure in 2022. One of the latest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A law there will require the state employee health plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cover abortions with no deductible , copayments or other cost-sharing requirements. Gun control A new Minnesota law prohibits guns with “binary triggers” that allow for more rapid fire, causing a weapon to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when it is released. In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. Medical marijuana Kentucky is becoming the latest state to let people use marijuana for medical purposes . To apply for a state medical cannabis card, people must get written certification from a medical provider of a qualifying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Minimum wages Minimum wage workers in more than 20 states are due to receive raises in January. The highest minimum wages will be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which will top $16 an hour after modest increases. The largest increases are scheduled in Delaware, where the minimum wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, where a ballot measure approved by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the current minimum of $12 an hour. Twenty other states still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Safer traveling In Oregon, using drugs on public transit will be considered a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. While the measure worked its way through the legislature, multiple transportation officials said drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers feel less safe. In Missouri, law enforcement officers have spent the past 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is illegal. Starting with the new year, penalties will kick in: a $150 fine for the first violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and up to 15 years imprisonment if a driver using a cellphone cause an injury or death. But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law. Montana is the only state that hasn’t banned texting while driving , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Tax breaks Tenants in Arizona will no longer have to pay tax on their monthly rent , thanks to the repeal of a law that had allowed cities and towns to impose such taxes. While a victory for renters, the new law is a financial loss for governments. An analysis by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated that $230 million would be lost in municipal tax revenue during the first full fiscal year of implementation. Meanwhile Alabama will offer tax credits to businesses that help employees with child care costs. Kansas is eliminating its 2% sales tax on groceries. It also is cutting individual income taxes by dropping the top tax rate, increasing a credit for child care expenses and exempting all Social Security income from taxes, among other things. Taxpayers are expected to save about $320 million a year going forward. Voting rights An Oklahoma law expands voting privileges to people who have been convicted of felonies but had their sentences discharged or commuted, including commutations for crimes that have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Young, an Oklahoma City Democrat, carried the bill in the Senate. “I think it’s very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens,” Young said. Associated Press writers Trân Nguyễn in Sacramento, California; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky; Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri; Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed.

Jimmy Carter, a man of implacable faith, lived his values

New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns