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BLOOMINGTON — You don’t have to travel far from Bloomington-Normal to get a fresh Christmas tree. Yuletide evergreens are available at several locations around McLean County. In south Bloomington, Growing Grounds is stocked with a couple hundred trees. The plant nursery and lawn and garden center at 1610 S. Main St. is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. When asked what kinds of Christmas trees the shop carries, Dale Naffziger, the store’s owner, said they do all Fraser fir, sourced from Barr Evergreens in North Carolina. Pictured is a sapling tree that will one day grow into a Christmas tree at Panther Ridge Farms, owned by Ashley and Nathan Hodel, outside of El Paso. “That’s just the No. 1, best Christmas tree there is,” he said in a phone interview. “They have great needle retention. They’re straight as an arrow, every time.” Heights of his trees range from 5 to 10 feet tall. Naffziger said they have just a few 10-footers. He added they are “beautiful trees.” “My grower outdid himself,” he said. Digging roots Some 20 miles to the north, in Woodford County, a family farm in rural east El Paso is turning over a new leaf by entering the holiday décor and agritourism markets. Nathan and Ashley Hodel offer Angus beef, meat chickens, fresh-laid eggs and more for sale at their homesteading operation, named Panther Ridge Farms, at 2313 County Road 1200 North, El Paso. Ashley Hodel and her husband, Nathan, sell Christmas trees at their farm, Panther Ridge Farms, outside of El Paso, while waiting for their own crop of trees to grow to maturity. They also have 2.5 acres of a festive crop digging deeper roots into their farm, with its first Christmas tree harvest likely at least five years away. At 12 to 18 inches tall, the roughly 2,100 seedlings have some growing to do before their eventual destiny as the trees at the center of Central Illinois families' holiday celebrations. Nathan Hodel said they put the first 500 trees down three years ago, renting a tree planter from the National Resources Conservation Service. The seedlings that are growing now at the Hodels' farm arrived bare-rooted, Nathan Hodel said. They had to cut the roots to fit an 8- to 10-inch-deep trench, and space them about 7 feet apart from each other. Nathan Hodel sells Christmas trees at his farm, Panther Ridge Farms, outside El Paso. While the trees they currently have are shipped from Michigan, Hodel has a field of saplings that he will start selling in a few years. “The first year, we did not put any fence up," he said. "We had 500 trees there and they grew beautifully for the first six months. We had great rain." But in the winter, they learned, hungry deer tend to seek out the green in an otherwise brown landscape. “They’ll clip the tops right off and chew it down to basically a little stub,” he said. The Hodels replanted a few hundred trees and installed a fence to keep out the deer. What Christmas trees like The inspiration for the Hodels' farm came from a friend with a Christmas tree farm, which prompted Ashley Hodel to think it would be fun to have one herself. “Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year," she said. "I just love Christmas." Ashley Hodel and her husband, Nathan, own Panther Ridge Farms outside of El Paso, where they sell beef, pork and chicken as well as Christmas trees. Tree farms give people a place to visit when it’s cold outside and there’s not much else to do, she said. Since their three boys were born, the Hodels have traveled to visit other tree farms in the region, such as the Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul and Cinnamon Tree Farm in Brimfield. ”It’s just a lot of fun," she said, "but I feel like we can make it even more so." The Hodels aren't waiting on nature to get into the business. For this holiday season, they’ve ordered Christmas trees from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Nathan Hodel said the varieties include two popular tree species, Fraser fir and Canaan fir, and they range between 7 and 10 feet tall. Ashley Hodel, right, and her dog Roxie patrol Panther Ridge Farms near El Paso, where they sell beef, pork and chicken raised on the farm, as well as Christmas trees imported from Michigan. Hodel also noted that Fraser firs are among the top quality trees, as well as Canaan firs. The trees will stay alive for quite a while, he said. It's important to cut a fresh stump before placing the tree in water, because a layer of sap will have glazed over the bottom. Panther Ridge Farms will cut the tree so that it is “good to go for a month ... a couple months, potentially for longer,” he said. At Growing Grounds, Naffziger advised people to buy early, and then tuck away their trees in a garage before displaying them, to stretch out their lifespan. While the tree is being stored, he said to make sure the sun is not shining on it and that it’s out of the wind. He said customers are trending to keep their trees displayed inside for longer, sometimes several weeks at a time. “We used to put up the trees for 10 days,” he recalled. He said you should check the tree's water level every morning. The key is to never let the tree run out of water, Naffziger said, adding that warm water helps. He also said to keep trees well clear of fireplaces and heating vents. Nathan Hodel surveys his field of saplings at Panther Ridge Farms outside of El Paso. He and his wife, Ashley, are growing the trees to sell as Christmas trees. Naffziger said this year was a horribly dry year for Christmas tree farms in Central Illinois. He noted his neighbor at home usually cuts a Christmas tree from a farm in the area, but this year, the neighbor bought one from his shop. Fraser furs are hard to grow in Central Illinois, said Naffziger. He also said Scotch pines have had issues with insects and disease. At his nursery, he said, they keep trees under a shade cloth in their greenhouse and then wet them down at night. It’s humid and sticky inside there, he explained: “That’s what the trees like.” Elsewhere in McLean County. Dave Phillips, owner of Phillips Tree Farm at 14604 E. 450 North Road, Heyworth, said he has a few Douglas firs available, ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 feet tall. He said he is only running a “soft open” this season, and he asks people to make a reservation to visit the farm by calling 217-853-3793. Helmig's Tree Farm at 9361 N. 3850 East Road, Saybrook, is also open for the holiday season, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays only, through Dec. 15. Tree décor In addition to selling pre-cut trees and other greenery this year, Panther Ridge is also preparing tree toppers and nativity scenes. Part of her 10-year plan, Ashley Hodel said, is to build a holiday décor shop on site at the tree farm. She’s already opened a shop on her homestead, and held an open house there Nov. 23. “This became because of the tree farm,” Hodel said of her décor store. Hodel said she used the store's stock to decorate her home for the event, opening half of their house up for walk-throughs. She said they also prepare custom floral arrangements, which are huge sellers. Other popular items include Christmas pots, which are similar to a garden planter; lighted ornaments; trays arranged with holiday; and animal plushies you can hang on a tree. Of the last item type, Hodel said they have critters like polar bears, foxes, owls and raccoons. "The kids love them," she said. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Panther Ridge Farms WHERE: 2313 County Road 1200 North, El Paso HOURS: 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 10 a.m-4 p.m. Saturday ONLINE: facebook.com/PantherRidgeLLC CONTACT: 309-261-7438 or pantherridgefarms@yahoo.com Growing Grounds WHERE: 1610 S. Main St., Bloomington HOURS: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday ONLINE: growinggrounds.com and facebook.com/growinggrounds CONTACT: 309-827-4343 INSIDE: Where to buy your Christmas Tree in Central Illinois. A4 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Breaking News Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.winner 777 。

NFL Thanksgiving, Black Friday CapsulesNoneIn this article GAP Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT People walk past an Old Navy store on Fulton Street on April 11, 2024 in Downtown Brooklyn in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images Hurricanes and unseasonably warm weather hit sales at Gap during its fiscal third quarter, but the apparel company still posted better-than-expected results, leading it to raise its annual guidance for a third time this year. Gap, which runs Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta and its namesake banner, is now expecting fiscal 2024 sales to be up between 1.5% and 2%, compared with previous guidance of "up slightly." That's ahead of the 0.4% growth that LSEG analysts had expected, and bodes well for the all-important holiday shopping season, which is now underway. The company is also anticipating gross margins and operating income will grow more than it previously expected. Shares surged about 13% in extended trading. Here's how the nation's largest specialty apparel retailer performed compared with what Wall Street was anticipating, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG: Earnings per share: 72 cents vs. 58 cents expected Revenue: $3.83 billion vs. $3.81 billion expected Gap's reported net income for the three-month period that ended Nov. 2 was $274 million, or 72 cents per share, compared with $218 million, or 58 cents per share, a year earlier. Sales rose to $3.83 billion, up about 2% from $3.78 billion a year earlier. Across Gap's business, unseasonably warm weather affected sales by about 1 percentage point during the quarter, while storms and hurricanes led overall store sales to fall by 2%, CEO Richard Dickson told CNBC in an interview. "We had unusual circumstances, hurricanes, storms that led to almost 180 closures at the peak of the impact," said Dickson, adding the storms affected Old Navy, Gap's largest brand by revenue, the most. As soon as the weather turned around, sales "rebounded" and the holiday shopping season is off to a "strong start" so far, said Dickson. "We are energized about the holiday. Our teams are really focused on executing our plans. If we compare ourselves to where we were last year, our brands are in a much more pronounced place than they were last year," he said. "We've got stronger brand identities and we're more practiced in our playbook that we talk a lot about, driving better product, better pricing, more relevance, better consumer experience and excellence in execution." Since Dickson took the helm of Gap a little over a year ago, he's worked to turn around the business after years of declines. Under his direction, the company has leaned into nostalgic marketing and celebrity partnerships to reclaim cultural relevance. Sales have grown for the last four quarters in a row, but the company is still smaller than it once was, and critics say it needs to do more to fix its product assortment and drive full-price selling. Here's a closer look at each brand's performance: Old Navy: Gap said sales at its largest brand grew 1% to $2.2 billion, while comparable sales were flat, shy of the 0.9% growth that analysts had expected, according to StreetAccount. Old Navy's kids category was particularly affected by the warmer weather, said Dickson. Gap: Gap's eponymous banner grew 1% to $899 million during the quarter, while comparable sales were up 3% — better than the 2.3% growth Wall Street expected, according to StreetAccount. The brand has seen four straight quarters of positive comparable sales and is benefiting from better marketing and product, the company said. Banana Republic: The trendy workwear line grew sales 2% to $469 million while comparable sales fell 1%, a bit worse than the 0.8% drop that StreetAccount had expected. The brand has worked to turn around its men's business, which drove results during the quarter. Overall, it is still focused "on fixing the fundamentals," the company said. Athleta: The athleisure arm of Gap's empire grew sales by 4% to $290 million while comparable sales were up 5%. The results weren't comparable to estimates. In the year-ago period, comparable sales were down 19% at Athleta. Under its new CEO, former Alo Yoga boss Chris Blakeslee, the brand has managed to turn things around.

Texas Supreme Court overturns ruling that state Attorney General Ken Paxton testify in lawsuitPremier League leaders Liverpool ruthlessly exploited another slip by their title rivals to move seven points clear with a match in hand after a 3-1 win over Leicester. Chelsea’s surprise defeat at home to Fulham earlier in the day had been an unexpected gift for Arne Slot’s side and they drove home their advantage by outclassing the struggling Foxes. Having overcome the early setback of conceding to Jordan Ayew, with even the travelling fans expressing their surprise they were winning away after taking just five points on the road this season, the home team had too much quality. That was personified by the excellent Cody Gakpo, whose eighth goal in his last 14 appearances produced the equaliser in first-half added time with the Netherlands international unlucky to have a second ruled out for offside by VAR. Further goals from Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah, with his 19th of the season, stretched Liverpool’s unbeaten run to 22 matches. For Leicester, who had slipped into the bottom three after Wolves’ win over Manchester United, it is now one win from the last 10 in the league and Ruud van Nistelrooy has plenty of work to do, although he was not helped here by the absence of leading scorer Jamie Vardy through injury. It looked liked Liverpool meant business from the off with Salah’s volley from Gakpo’s far-post cross just being kept out by Jakub Stolarczyk, making his league debut after former Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward was omitted from the squad having struggled in the defeat to Wolves. But if the hosts thought that had set the tone they were badly mistaken after being opened up with such simplicity in only the sixth minute. Stephy Mavididi broke down the left and his low cross picked out Ayew, who turned Andy Robertson far too easily, with his shot deflecting off Virgil van Dijk to take it just out of Alisson Becker’s reach. With a surprise lead to cling to Leicester knew they had to quell the storm heading their way and they began by trying to take as much time out of the game as they could, much to Anfield’s frustration. It took a further 18 minutes for Liverpool to threaten with Gakpo cutting in from the left to fire over, a precursor for what was to follow just before half-time. That was the prompt for the attacks to rain down on the Foxes goal, with Salah’s shot looping up off Victor Kristiansen and landing on the roof of the net and Robertson heading against a post. Gakpo’s inclination to come in off the left was proving a problem for the visitors, doing their utmost to resist the pressure, but when Salah curled a shot onto the crossbar on the stroke of half-time it appeared they had survived. However, Gakpo once again drifted in off the flank to collect an Alexis Mac Allister pass before curling what is fast becoming his trademark effort over Stolarczyk and inside the far post. Early the second half Darwin Nunez fired over Ryan Gravenberch’s cross before Jones side-footed home Mac Allister’s cross after an intricate passing move inside the penalty area involving Nunez, Salah and the Argentina international. Leicester’s ambition remained limited but Patson Daka should have done better from a two-on-one counter attack with Mavididi but completely missed his kick with the goal looming. 🎯 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) Nunez forced a save out of the goalkeeper before Gakpo blasted home what he thought was his second only for VAR to rule Nunez was offside in the build-up. But Liverpool’s third was eventually delivered by the left foot of Salah, who curled the ball outside Kristiansen, inside Jannick Vestergaard and past Stolarczyk inside the far post.The 17th annual Aurora Holiday Food Drive is moving into its final days, and organizers said this year’s drive is slightly behind the pace from last year. “We are asking the community to give what they can to help those who are less fortunate, and we are grateful for every penny donated, and every can purchased from one of the stores,” said Katie Arko, executive director of the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry. The drive is designed to stock the shelves of the pantry, which serves 1,300 families in a given week. Hundreds of volunteers and staff hours have been poured into the campaign, Arko said, which takes place at three participating grocery stores: Prisco’s Family Market, 1108 Prairie St., Aurora; Cermak Fresh Market, 1250 N. Lake St., Aurora; and La Chiquita, 1525 Douglas Road, Montgomery. Arko added that smaller, local food drives organized by social clubs, neighborhoods, churches, school groups and others add to the donations during the overall Holiday Food Drive. Arko pointed to one volunteer, Dan Dolan, who is considered the godfather of the Holiday Food Drive. Dolan created the idea for the drive 17 years ago, and, along with his family, he “gives his heart, soul, time and energy into helping the pantry every year,” Arko said. “He spends time writing letters to raise money, goes to the grocery stores to pack bags, hands out flyers to customers at the stores, makes phone calls and utilizes his social media network to help with the cause,” she said. The drive began Nov. 1 and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 27. Depending on how each store does it, people can buy packaged bags of groceries of $5, $10, $15 and $20 as they go through the checkout line during normal shopping. They also can buy a $20 virtual bag online, a feature added two years ago. The pantry also takes monetary donations. The money is used to purchase food from the Geneva-based Northern Illinois Food Bank, and every $1 donated actually purchases $8 of food. Both the virtual bags and the monetary donations can be done at the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry website, https://www.aurorafoodpantry.org/. Monetary donations also still are taken the old-fashioned way, with checks mailed to the pantry at 1110 Jericho Road, Aurora, IL, 60506. Checks should be made out to Aurora Food Pantry. The food drive also depends on volunteers who help in a number of ways, including passing out flyers promoting the drive at the participating grocery stores. Ways to volunteer are also at the pantry’s website. Individuals and families often volunteer, but so do many businesses, churches, Scouting and student groups and other organizations. From to 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, one of those organizations, a fifth-grade Girl Scout troop from Freeman Elementary School, was scheduled to be at Prisco’s Family Market in Aurora, handing out flyers, bringing holiday cheer and encouraging people to buy a bag of groceries to donate to the pantry. “This is the third year in a row that this troop has volunteered to help the pantry,” Arko said. Sponsors of the Aurora Holiday Food Drive are Dolan and Murphy, Inc. real estate; Konen Insurance; Gerald Subaru of North Aurora; AuraLight Dispensary; Douglas Carpet One; Aurora Bank & Trust; Bob’s Discount Furniture; Oak St. Health; AC’s Pub; Ald. Patty Smith, 8th Ward; The Beacon-News; Aurora Fastprint; Prisco’s Family Market; Cermak Fresh Market; La Chiquita; and 95.9 The River. slord@tribpub.com

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been a cornerstone of the franchise since arriving in 2021. His leadership and arm strength were pivotal in delivering the team a Super Bowl LVI title during his first season. However, as Stafford nears his 37th birthday in February, questions about his future with the team have begun to surface. The Rams (5-5) are fighting for playoff contention, but Stafford’s age and recurring injuries have led to growing speculation about the team’s plans for a long-term replacement. Stafford has been productive this season, throwing for 2,557 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions across 10 games. However, ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller suggests that the Rams should be proactive in securing their quarterback of the future in the 2025 NFL Draft. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Miller linked the Rams to Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, projecting him as a potential successor to Stafford. Beck has showcased promise during his collegiate career but has also struggled with consistency. Through 10 games in the 2024 season, Beck has thrown for 2,835 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Carson Beck in the 1H vs. Massachusetts: 🐶 11/14 🐶 191 Pass Yds 🐶 4 TDs pic.twitter.com/bExaB7VXhu “Los Angeles could be the beneficiary of Beck’s stock dropping,” Miller added. “Beck has thrown 12 interceptions, and his accuracy has suffered without Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, but he has a strong arm, the ability to make full-field reads and upside.” The Rams were reportedly linked to quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix in the 2024 NFL draft, according to Miller, but both players were drafted before the Rams had a chance to select them. As Stafford’s career approaches its twilight, the Rams face a crucial decision in identifying and grooming their next franchise quarterback. Related: Peter Schrager Announces Super Bowl 59 Pick After Correctly Predicting Last Five Winners

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2025 could be a busy year for young people in Burk’s Falls. Several Burk’s Falls residents, including parents, have created a youth centre proposal designed for 12- to 18-year-olds. Barry Burton of nearby Ryerson Township proposed the concept at the Burk’s Falls Dec. 17 meeting and received positive responses. According to the 2021 census, 20 per cent of Burk’s Falls population was made up of people under 20, and Burton says that the youth population has increased since that time. Burton adds that according to a Government of Canada State of Youth Report from 2021, many young people face issues like cyber bullying, social exclusion and mental health challenges. He adds the “numbers are staggering” because we have 53 per cent of young people aged 15 to 18 who struggle with depression and mental health. “And suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in Canada,” Burton told town council. The proposed Burk’s Falls Youth Centre would be drug-free and bully-free and provide a safe environment. Burton says with the help from guest speakers and instructors, the centre would provide guidance and mentorship and leadership skills and explain the dangers of substance abuse. At the same time, the young people would be exposed to various programs, including the arts, music and technology, and learn the value of cooking one’s own meals. Burton is no stranger to helping to start a youth centre. In 2014, he was the deputy mayor of Clearview Township near Barrie, which includes the rural community of Stayner. Burton told Almaguin News Stayner “is very similar to Burk’s Falls” and there wasn’t much for young people to do. During an all-candidates debate in 2014, the people running for town council were asked by young people what their plan was for the youth of the township. Once elected, Burton and council set out to create the Stayner Youth Centre and raised $100,000 in three months, including $20,000 from the United Way, in addition to corporate grants and money from all three government levels. “We started with 12 young people coming in on a regular basis five days a week and now there are more than 200 youth who are part of the centre,” Burton said. Burton left Clearview Township two years ago for Ryerson Township in the Almaguin Highlands. He was at a local historical society meeting in 2023 when people began talking about the lack of things for young people to do. Burton told the group he could help thanks to his recent experience in Stayner. During 2023 and into 2024, parents and adults interested in ensuring young people have things to do began meeting, and the ad hoc group was formed. One of those parents who is part of the group is Mary Thomson, who has 10- and 12-year-old boys and also lives in Ryerson. “They’re excited,” Thomson said about her boys’ reaction upon learning there might soon be a youth centre in Burk’s Falls. “There are no hubs for them. They can just go to their friends’ homes.” Thomson understands what her sons experience because she grew up in Burk’s Falls and also faced the age-old question of what to do in a small, rural community. “It could be boring and you would get into trouble,” Thomson said, adding she wasn’t one of the trouble makers. Corinne Penstone is a Burk’s Falls mother with twin 12-year-old boys and a seven-year-old daughter. Penstone says one thing the group wants to do is go into the schools and ask the students themselves what they need. “We want to involve them in this,” Penstone said. “My boys are pumped that we care about what they want.” Penstone adds that assuming the youth centre becomes reality, the committee would like to see some of the students become volunteers and act as the bridge between the committee and the young people at the centre. Burton says the local group has created a $93,030 budget, with $18,000 of that paying for rent and a further $43,680 covering the salary of a youth engagement co-ordinator. Volunteers would help the co-ordinator. The group has looked at three sites in downtown Burk’s Falls, but has made no commitments. Burton doesn’t find the task of raising close to $100,000 daunting. “I have experience getting this kind of thing off the ground,” he said. “It’s a lot of work, but we have a great committee that is ready to go.” Burton says $3,200 is already in place “and we haven’t even started yet.” Burton says there are federal, provincial and corporate grants available, and one simply has to know how to go about accessing those funds. What he and the committee are requesting of the council is that the youth centre group become a committee of council. “This opens the doors to municipal resources for us,” he said. Burton said the committee could apply to become a non-profit organization, but the paperwork to launch and maintain that status eats up money that could be applied to the youth centre. As a committee of council, Burton explained, the mechanism already exists for the municipality to provide donation receipts to people and businesses who contribute to the centre. During the school year, the centre would operate weekdays from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Burton says a different format would be needed if the facility is also open on weekends and during the summers. Burton says the group has been asked to draw up terms of reference for council’s consideration and formally elect officers as council members discuss his request for the group to become a committee of council. Burton says he’s optimistic that council will agree to the request, and that word of that agreement could come early in the new year. Rocco Frangione is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Almaguin News. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

Wall Street stocks powered to fresh records on Tuesday, shrugging off a threat from President-elect Donald Trump to enact new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. The Dow Jones finished up 0.3 percent at 44,860, its third straight closing record. The S&P 500 rose 0.6 percent to 6,021, also a record, while the Nasdaq gained 0.6 percent to 19,174. Trump, who doesn't take office until January 20, made his threat in social media posts on Monday night, announcing huge import tariffs against neighbours Canada and Mexico and also China, if they do not stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the United States. Investors view Trump's inclination towards trade protectionism as a headwind to economic growth and higher equity prices. But Tuesday's response suggests the market views the warning as a bargaining chip. "In theory, higher tariffs should not be good news for stocks. But, you know, I think the market's chosen to think of (it) as a negotiating tactic," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. "You have bullish sentiment," said LBBW's Karl Haeling. "People are tending to look at things as positively as possible." In other economic news, the Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose to 111.7 this month, up from 109.6 in October, boosted by greater optimism surrounding the labour market. Among individual companies, Best Buy tumbled 4.9 percent as it cut its full-year sales outlook after a big slowdown in sales leading into the presidential election. The electronics retailer said sales have rebounded since the election. Other retailers also fell, including Burlington Stores, down 1.6 percent; Dick's Sporting Goods, down 1.4 percent; and Kohl's, down 17 percent. Amgen dropped 4.8 percent after reporting that trials of its MariTide drug led to weight loss of up to 20 percent after 52 weeks. The drop in shares appeared to show disappointment that the impact was not even greater. (AFP)Did You Earn Money on PayPal, Cash App or Venmo This Year? Watch Out for This Tax ChangeRivalry Closes Non-Brokered Private Placement Of Approximately $2.0 Million

Middle East latest: Israeli ministers approve a ceasefire deal with HezbollahNEW YORK (AP) — Gerard O'Keefe's 25 points helped Columbia defeat Merchant Marine 98-49 on Saturday. O'Keefe added five rebounds for the Lions (9-1). Blair Thompson scored 11 points while going 5 of 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and added six rebounds. Josiah Cunningham had nine points and went 3 of 6 from the field (1 for 4 from 3-point range). Drew Zalescik led the Mariners in scoring, finishing with 21 points and six rebounds. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .No. 13 Duke 73, No. 9 Kansas St. 62