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Mayor Adams defends response to mental health crises following Torres’ letter of criticism: ‘We can’t be revisionist’

Family members, friends and peers are uttering words of praise for the Sault’s Ray Stortini. A retired Ontario Superior Court Justice with a long history of community involvement, Stortini died on Sunday, Dec. 1. He was 95. “As a lawyer in his courtroom you always felt comfortable. He made everybody feel comfortable," veteran Sault lawyer Don Orazietti told SooToday . "He heard both sides of the case. He wasn’t there to intimidate or challenge anybody. You always felt that in his court you always received a fair hearing whether you won or not. And that is important.” As a lawyer in Sault Ste. Marie before becoming a judge, Stortini established a pro bono legal aid committee with other local lawyers in the 1960s. When the legal aid plan was introduced in Ontario, Stortini was the first legal aid area director. “He was fearless. He had a great moral compass. After the Mike Harris government came along in 1995, the Attorney General Charles Harnick cut off all legal aid certificates," Orazietti said. "The Attorney General’s office said legal aid lawyers might not get paid. Judge Stortini looked at the Crown Attorney and said ‘are you getting paid?’ He went around the courtroom and asked everybody if they were getting paid. "He said ‘I’m getting paid and the lawyers have to get paid.’ He stayed the case and that started an avalanche of cases being stayed. Within two days the Attorney General threw in the towel and said he would negotiate with the Law Society for legal aid lawyers to be paid,” Orazietti said. Stortini was also a pioneer of the community service program that required non-violent offenders to work for charitable institutions through community service hours as an alternative to jail. “As a judge he was a very compassionate man and always looking to do something beneficial, encouraging and positive for an individual. He was always a complete gentleman,” Orazietti said. Stortini grew up on Rome Street where the James Street Mall is located now. He was generous, honourable and selfless. "He took pride in doing the best that he could," said his son, Mike Stortini, in a phone interview on Tuesday. "When he committed to a cause, he would spearhead a cause. His motto was ‘leave the wood pile higher than when you found it’ and that’s very true of him. He was very well respected and he’s going to be missed,” Stortini wrote three books, the first two being memoirs of growing up in the Sault’s ‘Little Italy’ in the west end of the city, the third a collection of poems. “As a judge he would sentence non-violent criminals to do community service work so that they would give back to the community instead of rotting in jail,” Mike said. The judge who sentenced Keith Richards to perform fundraiser concerts with the Rolling Stones as a result of the rock star’s drug offences in Toronto in the 1970s sought out Stortini’s advice before handing down that sentence, Mike said. After graduating from high school, Stortini worked at Algoma Steel, on a Great Lakes freighter and in the insurance industry before pursuing a post-secondary education. He enrolled in University of Western Ontario’s physical education teacher program then switched to studying law. He earned a BA from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Laws degree from York University in 1960. After running a general law practice in the Sault, Stortini was appointed a judge of York County (Toronto) in 1971, to the Algoma District Court in 1976 and then appointed as a justice of the Superior Court of Justice in 1990. He held that post until he retired in 2004. Politically, he was elected to city council for two terms - from 1964 to 1968 - but lost a bid to become the Liberal Party’s candidate for the Sault Ste. Marie riding in the 1968 federal election. His long list of community involvement includes work with Algoma Public Health, Children's Aid Society, the Soup Kitchen Community Centre, Sault YMCA, Ken Brown Alcohol Recovery Home, Algoma University Board of Governors, and the St. Joseph Island Lions Club. He continued to volunteer at the Soup Kitchen in his senior years. He won the Judge I. A. Vannini Award in 2007 for his cultural contributions and the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration granted him the Order of Ontario in 2012. Stortini was awarded the Sault Ste. Marie Medal of Merit in 2021. Moving to St. Joseph Island once he retired, Stortini enjoyed many hobbies including sailing, gardening, running in marathons and playing pickleball. He remained involved in pickleball until recently. “We saw him at the St. Joseph Island pickleball courts quite a bit," said pickleball player and friend Mike Prpich. "He was a very fun person with a great personality. "Ray played right up until this year. He loved the camaraderie and meeting people. That was his personality. He was a gentle giant." Stortini played an important role in growing the sport of pickleball on St. Joseph Island. “He was playing right up to September of this year," said fellow pickleballer Terry Archambeault, adding that Stortini was a sweetheart who was always the last one off the court. "We’re all going to miss him.” Predeceased by his wife Mary-Kay, Stortini was a father of four sons, a grandfather and great-grandfather. Stortini’s obituary, visitation and funeral arrangements can be read here .Galaxy holds on to claim 6th MLS Cup

Lil Wayne, GloRilla, Camila Cabello to perform at College Football National Championship

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The very close election for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat heads next to a hand recount even as election officials announced a machine recount of over 5.5 million ballots resulted in no margin change between the candidates. — in which ballots were run again through tabulators — that wrapped up this week showed Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs with a 734-vote lead over Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin, who is a Court of Appeals judge. Most county election boards reported minor vote changes from the machine recount requested by Griffin. But State Board of Elections data showed the post-recount lead as what Riggs held after all 100 counties fully completed their ballot canvass in November. Griffin led Riggs by about 10,000 votes on election night, and flipped to Riggs as tens of thousands of qualifying provisional and absentee ballots were added to the totals through the canvass. Griffin, who already has pending election protests challenging the validity of more than 60,000 ballots counted statewide, has asked for a partial hand-to-eye recount, which county boards will start Wednesday or Thursday. The partial hand recount applies to ballots in 3% of the voting sites in all 100 counties, chosen at random Tuesday by the state board. Once the partial recount is complete, a statewide hand recount would be ordered if the sample results differ enough from the machine recount that the result would be reversed if the difference were extrapolated to all ballots. Riggs, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2023 and now seeks an eight-year term, again claimed victory Tuesday. In a campaign news release, spokesperson Embry Owen said Griffin “needs to immediately concede – losing candidates must respect the will of voters and not needlessly waste state resources.” Riggs is one of two Democrats on the seven-member court. Through attorneys, Griffin has challenged ballots that he says may not qualify for several reasons and cast doubt on the election result. Among them: voter registration records of some voters casting ballots lack driver’s license or partial Social Security numbers, and overseas voters never living in North Carolina may run afoul of state residency requirements. State and county boards are considering the protests. Griffin’s attorneys on Monday asked the state board to accelerate the matters before it and make a final ruling early next week. “Our priority remains ensuring that every legal vote is counted and that the public can trust the integrity of this election,” state Republican Party spokesperson Matt Mercer said in a news release. Final rulings by the state board can be appealed to state court. Joining Griffin in protests are three Republican legislative candidates who still trailed narrowly in their respective races after the machine recounts. The Supreme Court race and two of these three legislative races have not been called by The Associated Press. The key pending legislative race is for a House seat covering Granville County and parts of Vance County. Republican Rep. Frank Sossamon trails Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn by 228 votes, down from 233 votes before the recount. Sossamon also asked for a partial hard recount in his race, which was to begin Tuesday. Should Cohn win, Republicans will fall one seat short of the 72 needed in the 120-member House to retain its veto-proof majority — giving more Senate Republicans already have won 30 of the 50 seats needed to retain its supermajority in their chamber. The AP on Tuesday did call another legislative race not subject to a protest, as Mecklenburg County GOP Rep. Tricia Cotham won her reelection bid over Democrat Nicole Sidman. A machine recount showed Cotham ahead of Sidman by 213 votes, compared to 216 after the county canvass. Cotham’s to the Republicans in April 2023 secured the Republicans’ 72-seat veto-proof majority so that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes could be overridden by relying solely on GOP lawmakers. Gary D. Robertson, The Associated PressHOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. What happened at Enron? Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives, including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling, were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Key Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. Is Enron coming back? On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. What do former Enron employees think of the company’s return? Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70 Advertisement Advertisement

French political turmoil a boost for London as government in Paris teeters on brink

AP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. EST'Has to be done': Wellington mayor stands firm on Golden Mile

Musk and Ramaswamy Aim to Use DOGE to Slash Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Giant

The Vancouver Canucks will be missing a top-pairing defenceman for the next two months. On Tuesday, the Canucks announced that Filip Hronek will be out for "approximately eight weeks." That timeline makes sense for a significant shoulder separation, which is the leading theory for the injury suffered by Hronek at the end of the Canucks' game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 27. Hronek was shoved into the boards by Penguins defenceman Jack St. Ivany with less than a minute remaining in the game. Hronek fell awkwardly into the boards and immediately went to the bench and down the tunnel to the Canucks' room. Thankfully, Hronek's assumed shoulder injury won't require surgery. But Hronek evidently had more going on than just that upper-body injury. The Canucks' statement from general manager Patrik Allvin said that Hronek "underwent a successful lower-body procedure." That suggests Hronek was already dealing with a lower-body injury when he suffered his upper-body injury. Since the latter injury was already going to keep Hronek out of the Canucks' lineup for a significant amount of time, Hronek and the Canucks decided to deal with the lower-body injury at the same time because the surgery had a shorter recovery time. The upside of this is that Hronek can mend both injuries simultaneously and should be fully healthy when he returns. The downside is that recuperating from a procedure on his lower body means that Hronek might not be able to keep exercising in the same way if he was only dealing with an upper-body injury. Frequently, players who are dealing with an upper-body injury will be able to keep skating and exercising to keep up their conditioning as they recover. Dealing with a lower-body injury at the same time means that Hronek will have to ramp up his conditioning later on in his recovery period. Knowing the timeline for Hronek gives the Canucks some clarity moving forward. The big question is whether they will look to make a trade for a defenceman in the near future or if they will try to work with the defence corps they already have in place. Quinn Hughes' ice time has spiked in recent games to a level that might not be sustainable, while the team has struggled to find second and third defence pairs that can help keep Hughes' ice time at a more reasonable level.Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders

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Mixed day for global stocks as market hopes for 'Santa Claus rally'

Livewire CEO Donnez Karim sells $4,398 in stockShohei Ohtani wins 3rd AP Male Athlete of the Year award, tying Michael Jordan for 1 shy of record LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has been named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time. That ties the two-way superstar with Michael Jordan, an athlete Ohtani followed while growing up in Japan. He trails only Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James, who each won the award four times. Ohtani received 48 votes in balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members. He earned his third National League Most Valuable Player award after helping the Dodgers win their eighth World Series title. Ohtani hit 54 home runs and stole 59 bases as the first player with a 50-50 season. His dog, Decoy, became a celebrity, too, helping Ohtani deliver a ceremonial first pitch at a game. Tennessee and Auburn remain 1-2 in AP Top 25 poll featuring 10 SEC teams Tennessee and Auburn remained Nos. 1-2 atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. They were the headliners among the Southeastern Conference's haul of 10 ranked teams. Iowa State, Duke and Alabama rounded out the top five. Kentucky had the week's biggest fall, sliding six spots to No. 10 after a loss to Ohio State. Mississippi State, Arkansas, Illinois and Baylor rejoined the poll after stints in the rankings earlier this season. They replaced Memphis, Dayton, Michigan and Clemson. The Big 12 and Big Ten were tied for second with five teams each in the AP Top 25. USC up to No. 4 in women's AP Top 25 after win over UConn. UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame stay 1-3 Southern California jumped to No. 4 in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll on Monday after edging UConn. The Trojans moved up three spots after beating the then-No. 4 Huskies 72-70 in a rematch of last season’s Elite Eight game that UConn won. UCLA, South Carolina and Notre Dame remained the top three teams. The Bruins received 30 of the 32 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Gamecocks and the Fighting Irish each got one first-place vote. UConn fell to seventh behind Texas and LSU. Maryland, Oklahoma and Ohio State rounded out the top 10 teams. Former NFL great Michael Vick introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Michael Vick has been introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach, a homecoming for the former NFL star and a splashy, attention-grabbing hire for a program that has struggled in recent years. Vick donned a Norfolk State letterman’s jacket and cap in front of a crowd of supporters that included fellow Hampton Roads, Virginia, sports greats Allen Iverson and Bruce Smith. Vick led Virginia Tech to the national championship game as a redshirt freshman and was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. His career was derailed by his conviction in 2007 for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. On Football: Falcons and Buccaneers flip spots atop the NFC South and playoff races tighten up The 49ers, Cowboys and Cardinals are out of the playoff race. The Falcons took control of their hopes and the Colts, Dolphins and Bengals kept slim chances alive. The NFL’s playoff picture became clearer Sunday. With two weeks remaining, three of eight division titles are secured, eight teams have wrapped up playoff berths and 11 more are competing for the six remaining spots. The biggest change in the standings occurred in the NFC South with Atlanta reclaiming the top spot from Tampa Bay. The Chiefs have the inside track for the AFC's No. 1 seed and the NFC's top spot could likely come down to the Vikings-Lions matchup in Week 18. No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State gear up for rematch of thriller won by Ducks Oregon and Ohio State have already produced one heck of a game this season. Now, the top-seeded Ducks and eighth-seeded Buckeyes are gearing up for a rematch more than 10 weeks later in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. Of course, both teams have had ample time for evolution since that 32-31 Oregon win on Oct. 12. But they also have that game and players’ familiarity with each other, not to mention common opponents in the Big Ten. Texas, Arizona State to meet in CFP clash of old vs. new Big 12 champs AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas won the Big 12 title in 2023 on its way out the door to the Southeastern Conference. It was still swinging open when Arizona State waltzed in and won the league title in its debut season. And now last season’s Big 12 champs meet the new Big 12 champs on the path toward a potential national title. The fifth-seeded Longhorns and fourth-seeded Sun Devils play News Years Day in the Peach Bowl in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. Penn State preparing for hard-charging Jeanty and Boise State in CFP quarterfinals STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State players have watched Ashton Jeanty make opponents look silly all season. They don’t want to be the next defenders Boise State’s star posterizes with jukes, spin moves, stiff arms and heavy shoulders. But they also know that slowing down Jeanty, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, will be their toughest task yet when the two teams meet in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. NCAA appealing Pavia injunction as D-I board grants waiver to former JUCO players The NCAA on Monday appealed the preliminary injunction granted by a U.S. federal judge giving Diego Pavia another year of eligibility even as the organization’s Division I board of directors granted a waiver allowing athletes in a similar situation as the Vanderbilt quarterback to play in 2025-26. The injunction Dec. 18 was limited to Pavia arguing he was likely to win on his argument that NCAA Division I eligibility rules discriminated against his junior college seasons. The NCAA waiver announced Monday should limit the lawsuits from other athletes who started at a junior college seeking another season to access name, image and likeness opportunities. Texas sues NCAA in latest push to block transgender athletes in women's sports AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the NCAA to block the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, arguing that it tricks and misleads fans. The lawsuit filed in state district court argues the NCAA violates the Texas Trade Practices Act. The law is designed to protect consumers from deceptive business practices. The lawsuit is the latest attempt by conservative politicians to target transgender athletes and push the NCAA into banning them from competition. NCAA President Charlie Baker recently told Congress he was aware of fewer than 10 active transgender athletes.“Lev it on the Field” is back for Game 11. It’s the Star’s unique look at Arizona’s upcoming football matchup and other happenings around the Big 12 through the eyes of UA beat reporter-turned-columnist Michael Lev. Away we go ... Ten games into Brent Brennan’s tenure, we just might be there. Michael Lev is a senior writer/columnist for the Arizona Daily Star , Tucson.com and The Wildcaster . The Arizona Wildcats finally appear to have an identity. Brennan wanted to see something against Houston that he hadn’t seen often enough. He wants to see it this week against TCU, the following week against Arizona State and, he hopes, for many weeks and years to come. Arizona has to play harder than whomever it’s playing against. “You're always trying to elevate how hard you play,” Brennan said this week. “That's one of those things that can be an equalizer ... if you're playing a team that's better than you or somebody on the road. Always demanding great effort from our team is going to be an absolute staple of what we do.” Arizona defensive back Owen Goss, right, scoops up a Cougar fumble near the 1-yard line, ending a Houston scoring threat late in the fourth quarter on Nov. 15, 2024, at Arizona Stadium. All-out effort helped the Wildcats force three UH fumbles. Brennan saw the signs against the Cougars. Defenders hustled downfield to force fumbles. Superstar receiver Tetairoa McMillan sprinted downfield to ensure teammate Quali Conley reached the end zone. “You always want to have as many Arizona jerseys in the picture on the film at the end of the play as possible,” Brennan said. “We'll continue to push that and drive that,” he added. “And (if) the players will hold each other accountable to that high standard, then we will continue to get better.” That effort needs to be readily evident in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday. The Wildcats — and Brennan — cannot afford a repeat of their last road trip. They ventured to Orlando, Florida, to play UCF, but they basically didn’t show up. That can’t happen again. Even as the program was sputtering in Jedd Fisch’s first season (which he dubbed “Year Zero”), the team played with unrelenting effort — which inspired hope of the turnaround that eventually came. The Cats need to make it hard on the Horned Frogs by playing as hard as they possibly can. Anything less doesn’t bode well. Take that for data! Former UA offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes has been TCU’s head coach for three seasons. During that time, the Horned Frogs have authored three comebacks from deficits of at least 17 points. It happened twice during Dykes’ magical first season of 2022, when TCU improbably reached the national championship game. The latest such rally occurred on Oct. 26. TCU trailed Texas Tech 31-14 midway through the third quarter before storming back for a 35-34 victory. What’s remarkable about this TCU team — and emblematic of this Big 12 season — is that the Horned Frogs also squandered a lead of 17-plus points. TCU led UCF 31-13 with 5:03 left in the third quarter on Sept. 14. The Knights rallied to win 35-34, scoring the winning touchdown with 36 seconds remaining. (Rincon) Market report Going up: Spoilers You don’t want to face Lance Leipold and the Kansas Jayhawks right now. After a five-game losing streak — four decided by six or fewer points — Kansas has won three of its past four. That includes upsetting then-No. 17 Iowa State and handing then-No. 6 BYU its first defeat. Next up: Deion Sanders and No. 16 Colorado on Senior Day at Arrowhead Stadium. The Buffaloes will reach the Big 12 Championship Game if they win out. The Jayhawks are standing in their way and won’t give an inch of ground. Kansas safety Marvin Grant and linebacker Cornell Wheeler prevent BYU wide receiver Chase Roberts, left, from getting a first down on the final play of the game in the Jayhawks' upset of the Cougars on Nov. 16, 2024, in Provo, Utah. Going down: Multiple bids It was always a long shot. Now it’s all but impossible: The Big 12 won’t place more than one team in the College Football Playoff. The extremely narrow path to being a two-bid league went like this: BYU and Colorado win out; Buffs defeat Cougars in Big 12 title game; both advance to expanded CFP. BYU’s loss to Kansas killed that dream. For proof, look no further than how the CFP Selection Committee disrespected the Cougars , dropping them to 14th — one spot behind SMU, whom they defeated in Dallas. A question from my X “Wouldn’t it be more prudent to take the money they want to give Brennan for his buyout and put it into an NIL so that they can get better players to support him?” — @zona7378 via X/Twitter This question refers to the possibility of UA athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois deciding to move on from Brennan — whom she didn’t hire — after one season and raising the $11 million-plus necessary to satisfy his buyout. Regardless of whether that happens — the next two weeks will be telling — the question also leads to another one: What is the best way to allocate your money in the new era of college athletics? We know that revenue-sharing is coming . That could mitigate the impact of NIL — but it won’t eliminate it. The top players in football, men’s and women’s basketball and a handful of other sports still will be compensated above and beyond their rev-share pacts. Whether the money is coming from the institutions or private donations, does it still make sense to spend top dollar on coaches? Are you better off acquiring the best roster you can get in the transfer portal? Will facilities again become a differentiator? Interesting times ahead for Arizona and the college sports world at large. Threads Utah will don hand-painted 'Malama Lahaina' helmets for its final home game vs. Iowa State on Saturday. It’s been a rough year for Utah. But the Utes proudly will play their final home game in the most magnificent and meaningful helmets you’ve ever seen. This year’s hand-painted beauties have been dubbed “Malama Lahaina.” They pay tribute to the program’s Polynesian tradition while also honoring “the resilience and spirit of Maui in the wake of the devastating Lahaina fires of 2023,” per UNISWAG . The red helmets feature black Hawaiian tattoo art and an outline of Lahaina’s Front Street. They’re being paired with Utah’s black uniforms with red accents. The overall look is as good as it gets. What he said ... “TCU, I think, is the sixth- or seventh-best passing offense in the country. So that's kind of the biggest thing. ... Houston, I don't know if they were that great statistically. TCU is more explosive.” — UA safety Owen Goss on the differences between TCU’s offense and Houston’s What he meant ... “This is a completely different ballgame. We knew Houston was one-dimensional; if we could get the Cougars into third-and-long, they were cooked. This isn’t that. The Horned Frogs throw the ball all over the yard. They have a real quarterback. They have multiple receivers who can hurt you. We gotta rally and tackle these guys in space. If we don’t, it’s gonna be a long afternoon.” The other side Steven Johnson, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram : It’s not often you face a receiver as gifted as Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. When the Horned Frogs face the Wildcats ... priority No. 1 for TCU will be finding a way to slow down a receiver that many think could change the outlook of one NFL franchise in the upcoming NFL Draft. Mock drafts project that McMillan will be at the top of the board with the likes of Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward. McMillan leads all Power Four receivers with 1,136 yards, and he also has seven touchdowns. Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, left, steps through a trio of Houston defenders after snaring a catch over the middle in the third quarter of their Big 12 game on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at Arizona Stadium. McMillan stands at 6-foot-5 and has more than enough speed to run away from defenders. TCU coach Sonny Dykes doesn’t see many flaws in his game. “He’s what you would get if you were going to design a receiver ... he’s long, he can run, he’s got a huge catch radius,” Dykes said Tuesday. “I really think that’s the strongest characteristic that he’s got. His ability to make competitive plays on the ball, adjust to the ball. Somebody with his size doesn’t typically have that type of body control.” Pick to click (aka #fadelev) Lots of home underdogs to choose from on this week’s Big 12 slate. Houston’s getting the most points (eight), but I can’t pick the Cougars no matter how sweet their “Houston Blue” uniforms are; they were just too inept last week. So the choice here is Utah, which is a seven-point ’dog against Iowa State. Do we really think a Kyle Whittingham-coached team is going to lose every conference home game it plays? As bad as their offense has been, the Utes’ defense is still one of the best in the league. I’m calling for an outright upset in Salt Lake City. (season record: 5-4-1) One last thing We’re in for a treat Saturday. The matchup in Fort Worth features two semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award honoring the nation’s best receiver: Arizona’s McMillan and TCU’s Jack Bech. They are two of three semifinalists from the Big 12, along with Colorado’s Travis Hunter. No other conference has more than two. I have no idea who’s going to win it. San Jose State’s Nick Nash has the most prolific numbers, but will the electorate vote for someone on a middling Mountain West team? Two-way phenom Hunter is the best player in college football and the favorite for the Heisman, but is he the best receiver? No one’s more talented or has more “wow” plays than McMillan, but is anyone outside of Tucson paying attention to Arizona football these days? It’s a really tough call this year. But we don’t have to worry about that Saturday. We can just sit back and enjoy the show. Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com . On X(Twitter): @michaeljlev Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sports Reporter/Columnist

The archbishop of Paris reopened Notre-Dame cathedral yesterday by symbolically knocking on the doors and entering the 12th-century landmark which has been restored after a devastating fire in 2019. Wearing new designer vestments and carrying a staff cut from one of the roof beams that survived the inferno, Laurent Ulrich joined hundreds of VIPs inside the Gothic masterpiece for a two-hour ceremony. Ulrich commanded the cathedral to “open your doors” and he entered the magnificently-restored edifice. US President-elect Donald Trump sat on the front row as guest of honour next to French President Emmanuel Macron, with invitees marvelling at the freshly cleaned walls, new furniture and state-of-the-art lightening installed as part of the cathedral’s overhaul. Outside, small crowds of Parisians and tourists braved wet weather and high winds to witness the renaissance of a beloved monument which came close to being totally destroyed by the inferno that toppled its roof and spire. “I find it really beautiful, even more so now that the spire has been restored,” Marie Jean, a 27-year-old dentist from southwest France, told AFP outside. The reconstruction effort has cost around €700mn ($750mn), financed from donations, with the reopening achieved within a five-year deadline set by Macron despite predictions it could take decades. Workers had to overcome problems with lead pollution, the Covid-19 epidemic, and the army general overseeing the project falling to his death while hiking in the Pyrenees last year. It is “a cathedral like we have never seen before,” Philippe Jost, who took over as project manager last year, told Franceinfo radio, adding that he was proud to “show the whole world” a “great collective success and a source of pride for all of France”. Yesterday’s service was to feature prayer, organ music and hymns from the cathedral’s choir. A public concert planned in front of the cathedral featuring Chinese piano virtuoso Lang Lang and possibly US singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams had to be pre-recorded on Friday night because of the stormy weather. Held up as an example of French creativity and resilience by Macron, Notre-Dame’s renaissance so soon after the fire comes at a difficult time for the country. The sense of national accomplishment in restoring a symbol of Paris has been undercut by political turmoil that has left France without a proper government since last week when prime minister Michel Barnier lost a confidence vote. Macron is hoping the reopening might provide a fleeting sense of national pride and unity — as the Paris Olympics did in July and August. The scale of the immense security operation also recalls the Olympics — with some 6,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilised. The reopening “is the proof that we know how to do grand things, we know how to do the impossible” Macron said Thursday in a televised address to the country. He addressed the congregation during yesterday’s ceremony. Macron has scored a major coup by attracting incoming US president Donald Trump for his first foreign trip since his re-election. Another 40 heads of state and government were also present, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who was given a round of applause as he entered Notre-Dame, as well as British heir to the throne, Prince William. Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the presidential palace shortly before the ceremony, with future US military support for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia’s invasion expected to have been discussed. Trump has vowed to force an end to the nearly three-year Ukraine war when he takes office, sparking fears in Kyiv that he will force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia which Zelensky is resisting. “It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that,” Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for talks with Macron. One surprising absentee yesterday was Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church. He sent a message addressed to the French people which was read out. The exact cause of the 2019 blaze has never been identified despite a forensic investigation by prosecutors, who believe an accident such as an electrical fault was the most likely reason. Today, the first mass with 170 bishops and more than 100 Paris priests will take place at 10:30am (0930 GMT), followed by a second service in the evening at 6:30pm which will be open to the public.