A majority of the Texas State Board of Education gave final approval Friday to a state-authored curriculum under intense scrutiny in recent months for its heavy inclusion of biblical teachings. Eight of the 15 board members voted to approve Bluebonnet Learning, the elementary school curriculum proposed by the Texas Education Agency earlier this year. The curriculum will become available in the spring, with schools that choose to adopt the materials expected to begin using them at the start of the 2025-26 school year. The curriculum was designed with a cross-disciplinary approach that uses reading and language arts lessons to advance or cement concepts in other disciplines, such as history and social studies. Critics, which included religious studies scholars, say the curriculum’s lessons allude to Christianity more than any other religion, which they say could lead to the bullying and isolation of non-Christian students, undermine church-state separation and grant the state far-reaching control over how children learn about religion. They also questioned the accuracy of some lessons. The curriculum’s defenders say that references to Christianity will provide students with a better understanding of the country’s history. Texas school districts have the freedom to choose their own lesson plans, so the choice to adopt the materials will remain with them. But the state will offer an incentive of $60 per student to districts that adopt the lessons, which could appeal to some as schools struggle financially after several years without a significant raise in state funding. Three Republicans — Evelyn Brooks, Patricia Hardy and Pam Little — joined the board’s four Democrats in opposition to the materials. Leslie Recine — a Republican whom Gov. Greg Abbott appointed to temporarily fill the State Board of Education’s District 13 seat vacated by former member Aicha Davis, a Democrat who ran successfully for a Texas House seat earlier this year — voted for the curriculum. Abbott handpicked Recine, who was the deciding vote on the materials, to fill the seat through the end of the year days before the general election, bypassing Democrat Tiffany Clark. A majority of District 13 residents voted this election for Clark to represent them on the board next year. She ran unopposed. Board members who expressed support for the curriculum said during the week they believed the materials would help students improve their reading and understanding of the world. Members also said politics in no way influenced their vote and that they supported the materials because they believed it would best serve Texas children. “In my view, these stories are on the education side and are establishing cultural literacy,” Houston Republican Will Hickman said. “And there's religious concepts like the Good Samaritan and the Golden Rule and Moses that all students should be exposed to.” The proposed curriculum prompts teachers to relay the story of The Good Samaritan — a parable about loving everyone, including your enemies — to kindergarteners as an example of what it means to follow the Golden Rule. The story comes from the Bible, the lesson explains, and “was told by a man named Jesus” as part of his Sermon on the Mount, which included the phrase, “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” Many other religions have their own version of the Golden Rule. Brooks, one of the Republicans who opposed the materials, noted this week that the Texas Education Agency is not a textbook publishing company and said treating it like such has created an uneven playing field for companies in the textbook industry. Brooks also said she has yet to see evidence showing the curriculum would improve student learning and that she was opposed to the state using Texas schoolchildren as “experiments.” Hardy, a Fort Worth Republican who also opposed the materials, said she did so without regard for the religious references. She expressed concern about the curriculum’s age appropriateness and her belief that it does not align with state standards on reading and other subjects. Little, a Fairview Republican, expressed concern on Friday that the state would have no way to see its “return on investment” with the materials, considering schools have wide latitude to adopt lessons as they see fit — meaning districts could pair Bluebonnet Learning with other learning materials, making the effectiveness of Bluebonnet as a standalone curriculum unclear. Little said on social media earlier in the week that she supports “the teaching of biblical values in education” but criticized the curriculum for some of its teaching methods, which she said leave “little time for students to practice reading and develop critical skills like fluency and comprehension.” Meanwhile, some of the Democrats who voted against the curriculum said they worried the materials would inappropriately force Christianity on public school children. Others cited concerns about Texas violating the Establishment Clause, which prohibits states from endorsing a particular religion. “If this is the standard for students in Texas, then it needs to be exactly that,” said Staci Childs, a Houston Democrat. “It needs to be high quality, and it needs to be the standard, free of any establishment clause issues, free of any lies, and it needs to be accurate.” The state had until late Wednesday to submit revisions in response to concerns raised by board members and the general public before the official vote took place Friday. Democratic members said Friday, however, that their concerns still remained. Childs, who is also an attorney, said she believes if someone were to sue the state for a violation of the Establishment Clause, they would likely succeed. San Antonio Democrat Marisa B. Pérez-Diaz said she found value in the materials but that the Christian bias kept her from supporting it. Rebecca Bell-Metereau, a San Marcos Democrat, said that although the curriculum attempts to reference faith traditions other than Christianity, she doesn't feel the state did so in a meaningful way. “It seems to me like it is trying to place a Band-Aid on a gaping wound,” Bell-Metereau said. In a statement Friday, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath said the approval of Bluebonnet Learning “means that an important, optional new resource will be available for students, teachers and schools.” “These materials were developed using the best evidence on how to teach reading and math with extensive feedback from teachers and parents to construct a product that is effective, engaging and grade-level appropriate,” Morath said. “Bluebonnet Learning provides Texas teachers with textbooks and instructional materials that are of the highest quality, aligned to our state’s standards and foundational for student success.” Abbott called the State Board of Education’s approval of the materials “a critical step forward to bring students back to the basics of education and provide the best education in the nation.” In contrast, the approval drew immediate criticism from both national and local organizations. Americans United for Separation of Church and State said in a statement that “Texas’ new Bible-infused elementary curriculum is part of the nationwide effort by Christian Nationalists to impose their religious beliefs on public school students.” The Texas American Federation of Teachers blasted the state for infusing school lessons with “Bible-based references more appropriate for Sunday Schools than public schools.” “We can anticipate what will come next, whether that’s the erasure of contributions of marginalized populations in social studies or the minimization of climate change in science,” the union said. Meanwhile, conservative organizations like the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which helped develop the materials, applauded education officials for taking “the next big step toward dramatically improving the quality of education in Texas.” “Teachers will be able to spend more of their time doing the critical job of teaching and evaluating students, rather than spending their nights and weekends searching for lesson plans,” said Greg Sindelar, the organization’s CEO. “And parents will get to follow along as their children learn thanks to the online resources that come with the lessons.” More than 100 Texans signed up Monday to speak for and against the state-authored curriculum. Courtnie Bagley, education director for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, told board members that the Texas Education Agency has made every effort to respond to concerns from the public. She said rejecting the lessons would give other materials not owned by the state an unfair advantage. “It would create a double standard, as Bluebonnet Learning has been held to a different and more stringent review process than other materials under consideration,” Bagley said. Opponents argued that revisions did not go far enough, and some questioned whether the state’s intentions with crafting a curriculum that leans heavily on Christianity are political. “I am a Christian, and I do believe that religion is a part of our culture, but our nation does not have a religion. We're unique in that,” said Mary Lowe, co-founder of Families Engaged for an Effective Education. “So I do not think that our school districts should imply or try to overtly impress to young impressionable children that the state does have a state religion.” Education officials say references to Christianity will provide students with a better understanding of the country’s history, while other supporters have stated their belief that the use of religious references does not violate the U.S. Constitution’s Establishment Clause. Legal experts note that recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority have eroded decades of precedent and made it unclear what state actions constitute a violation of the Establishment Clause. State leaders also say the materials cover a broad range of faiths and only make references to religion when appropriate. Education Commissioner Mike Morath has said the materials are based on extensive cognitive science research and will help improve student outcomes. Of 10 people appointed to an advisory panel by the Texas Education Agency to ensure the materials are accurate, age-appropriate and free from bias, at least half of the members have a history of faith-based advocacy. The Texas Tribune recently reported how parents, historians and educators have criticized the ways the materials address America’s history of racism, slavery and civil rights. In public input submitted in response to the curriculum and in interviews with the Tribune, they have said the materials strip key historical figures of their complexities and flaws while omitting certain context they say would offer children a more accurate understanding of the country’s past and present. Bell-Metereau and other Texans referenced the Tribune’s reporting during public testimony on Monday. In response to those concerns, the Texas Education Agency has said the lessons will provide students with “a strong foundation” to understand more complex concepts as they reach later grades. State officials have also said those materials are written in an age-appropriate manner. Disclosure: Texas Public Policy Foundation has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.Report: Chargers expect WR Ladd McConkey, LB Khalil Mack to play vs. Ravens

President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday nominated Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as the US ambassador to France, in the latest of several controversial picks. Kushner "is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests," Trump said on his Truth Social website, adding that Jared "worked closely with me in the White House." The choice is in keeping with Trump's pattern, so far, of selecting people, often wealthy, who are close to his family or of proven loyalty. Kushner is a multimillionaire real estate executive and former attorney; his son was a senior adviser during Trump's first term. Trump did not mention, however, that the elder Kushner once served jail time -- a two-year sentence, most of it served in a federal prison. Kushner, who is now 70, pleaded guilty in 2004 to 18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign contributions. The case, which was prosecuted by then US attorney Chris Christie, included sordid details, to which Kushner admitted: that he had hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, a man cooperating in a campaign finance inquiry, and then videotaped the encounter and sent it to the man's wife, Kushner's sister, to dissuade her from testifying against him. Christie, who worked on Trump's first presidential transition team and then opposed him in this year's Republican primary contests, later said Kushner had committed a "loathsome" and "disgusting crime." In 2020, Trump issued a pardon to Kushner, whose conviction had resulted in him being disbarred in three states. Nominees for key ambassadorships are often business associates of a president-elect, or major political donors. But it is rare, if not unprecedented, to name a convicted felon. The first two men to fill the prestigious Paris post were famed inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin and a future president, Thomas Jefferson. If confirmed, Kushner would succeed Denise Bauer, a former ambassador to Belgium who was a major Democratic fundraiser and donor. md/bbk/mdThe Syrian army says dozens of its soldiers have been killed in a major attack by rebels who swept into the city of Aleppo, forcing the military to redeploy in the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years. or signup to continue reading The surprise attack, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, was the boldest rebel assault for years in a civil war where frontlines had largely been frozen since 2020. The war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced many millions, has ground on since 2011 with no formal end, although most major fighting halted years ago after Iran and Russia helped Assad's government win control of most land and all major cities. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, once known as al-Nusra Front, is designated a terrorist group by the United States, Russia, Turkey and other countries. Aleppo had been firmly held by the government since a 2016 victory there, one of the war's major turning points, when Russian-backed Syrian forces besieged and lay waste to rebel-held eastern areas of what had been the country's largest city. "I am a son of Aleppo, and was displaced from it eight years ago, in 2016. Thank God we just returned. It is an indescribable feeling," said Ali Jumaa, a rebel fighter, in television footage filmed inside the city. Acknowledging the rebel advance, the Syrian army command said insurgents had entered large parts of Aleppo. After the army said it was preparing a counterattack, air strikes targeted rebel gatherings and convoys in the city, the pro-government newspaper al-Watan reported. One strike caused casualties in Aleppo's Basel square, a resident told Reuters. Overnight, images from Aleppo showed a group of rebel fighters gathered in the city's Saadallah al-Jabiri Square, a billboard of Assad looming behind them. Images filmed on Saturday showed people posing for photos on a toppled statue of Bassil al-Assad, late brother of the president. Fighters zipped around the city in flatback trucks and milled around in the streets. A man waved a Syrian opposition flag as he stood near Aleppo's historical citadel. The Syrian military command said militants had attacked in large numbers and from multiple directions, prompting "our armed forces to carry out a redeployment operation aimed at strengthening the defence lines in order to absorb the attack, preserve the lives of civilians and soldiers". The rebels also took control of Aleppo airport, according to a statement by their operations room and a security source. Two rebel sources also said the insurgents had captured the city of Maraat al Numan in Idlib province, bringing all of that area under their control. The fighting revives the long-simmering Syrian conflict as the wider region is roiled by wars in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, where a truce between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday. With Assad backed by Russia and Iran, and Turkey supporting some of the rebels in the northwest where it maintains troops, the offensive has brought into focus the conflict's knotted geopolitics. Fighting in the northwest had largely abated since Turkey and Russia reached a de-escalation agreement in 2020. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, discussing the situation in Syria, the Russian foreign ministry said on Saturday. "Both sides expressed serious concerns at the dangerous development of the situation," the ministry said. They agreed that it was necessary to co-ordinate joint actions to stabilise the situation in the country. Turkish security officials had said on Thursday that the country had prevented operations which opposition groups wanted to organise, in order to avoid further tensions in the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Lavrov in a phone call that the rebel attacks were part of an Israeli-US plan to destabilise the region, Iranian state media said. The Syrian Civil Defence, a rescue service operating in opposition-held parts of Syria, said in a post on X that Syrian government and Russian aircraft carried out air strikes on residential neighbourhoods in rebel-held Idlib, killing four civilians and wounding six others. Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza rebel brigade, said the rebels' speedy advance had been helped by a lack of Iran-backed manpower to support the government in the broader Aleppo province. Iran's allies in the region have suffered a series of blows at the hands of Israel as the Gaza war has expanded through the Middle East. 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ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Sydney Shaw scored 20 points and made four 3-pointers, JJ Quinerly added 14 points and No. 12 West Virginia handed Boise State its first loss, 82-47 on Saturday in the Gulf Coast Showcase. West Virginia advances to the championship game on Sunday, while Boise State plays for third place. The Mountaineers have started 8-0 in back-to-back seasons after last year's 11-0 beginning. Quinerly also had three steals to help West Virginia reach double figures in that category in every game this season. The Mountaineers also forced 20-plus turnovers for the eighth straight game. Boise State was held to just six points in the first and third quarters. West Virginia went on two 10-0 runs in the first quarter to build a 16-point lead. The Mountaineers led by double figures the rest of the way. It was 45-23 at halftime then Quinerly scored four straight points to begin a 9-0 run that ended in a 32-point lead. Freshman Jordan Thomas, coming off her first career double-double, had 10 points and six rebounds for West Virginia. Elodie Lalotte scored 11 points for Boise State (7-1). Teryn Gardner addd 10. West Virginia was coming off an 89-54 victory over High Point on Friday to begin the tournament. The Mountaineers led by as many as 39 points and forced 22 turnovers in that one. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballSouth Africa vs England: Danni Wyatt-Hodge stars as tourists wrap up T20 series whitewash

Ohio State, Michigan players involved in postgame scuffle

The TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of journalists, working tirelessly to bring the pulse of the entertainment world straight to the readers of The Times of India. No red carpet goes unrolled, no stage goes dark - our team spans the globe, bringing you the latest scoops and insider insights from Bollywood to Hollywood, and every entertainment hotspot in between. We don't just report; we tell tales of stardom and stories untold. Whether it's the rise of a new sensation or the seasoned journey of an industry veteran, the TOI Entertainment Desk is your front-row seat to the fascinating narratives that shape the entertainment landscape. Beyond the breaking news, we present a celebration of culture. We explore the intersections of entertainment with society, politics, and everyday life. Read More ​10 street foods to enjoy in Jaipur​ Charming pictures of Daisy Shah Weekend Special: How to make Multigrain Thaalipeeth 10 signs your best friend is drifting apart Keerthy Suresh’s ethnic wear styles are perfectly tailored for wedding season 10 quotes about love and loss from famous books and classics Mark Twain's timeless quotes on love and life Uttarakhand: 8 most iconic temples in Devbhoomi How to grow Kiwi from seeds in the balcony gardenRetailers like Best Buy, Target offer last-minute shoppers a Santa’s little helper: AI1 - 'Otterly' magical: Sea otter hitches ride on Sooke paddleboard , Aug. 17 A lazy sea otter caused a scene in the summer when it took a Sooke paddle boarder by surprise, climbing onboard for a lift to shore. “At first I thought it was escaping from some predators, but it showed no sign of stress, distress or injury,” said Joanie Paquin, who was exploring the waters off a Sooke beach with her sister. “It was happily just being cute and catching a ride. “It is an encounter I will remember and cherish." Whilst the experience was an unforgettable one, she and her sister were nervous being so close to a wild animal. Keeping as much of a safe distance as they could from the otter, Paquin steered the paddle board back to shore allowing her and sister to disembark and give the animal space to return to the water. “Otters can be vicious and it is important to remember that they are wild animals,” Paquin said. A warning many in Central Saanich had reason to take heed of ... (see No. 10). 2 - 'No one has given up': Search continues for 3 orphaned bear cubs in Sooke , Nov. 25 Greater Victoria’s wild 'neigh-bears' caused a stir in 2024 with multiple sightings and encounters across the region. In Colwood, a stubborn sow, her three cubs and their refusal to leave an area of Royal Bay kept locals entertained. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service made two attempts to relocate the bears – with the last in late November proving successful so far as they have not (yet) returned. In a more recent incident, a Sooke man's close encounter left him with a mouthful of bear spray when he tried to help a bruin trapped inside a fenced garbage area. But it was the plight of three orphaned bear cubs in Sooke which tugged at the heartstrings of most readers. The trio was left without a mother on Nov. 14, when the sow was hit by a vehicle and killed. Wild Wise blamed easy access to garbage as the cause of the accident. In the days following, the cubs took refuge in a tree overhanging the ocean, which made retrieval impossible. When the bears descended from the tree under the cover of darkness, they disappeared. To help locate the cubs, the public was asked to report all real-time sightings to the Conservation Officer Service. ”Experts have advised us that these cubs are approximately 10 months old and appear healthy," said Wild Wise in a statement on Nov. 24. "[They are] at an age where they would likely be weaning. "Many have advised us that there is a possibility they may hibernate together and survive on their own." As of Dec. 19, there have been no further updates about the triplets on the lam – hopefully, we'll see them alive and well in the spring. 3 - Elephant seal can stay in Oak Bay if he doesn’t ‘go rogue’: DFO, April 29 The catastrophic moult of a juvenile elephant seal in Greater Victoria spurred an epic game of Where’s Emerson this spring. Moulting elephant seals aren’t uncommon on Greater Victoria shores, but one in particular has a penchant for playing in traffic. It’s just one reason the juvenile male seal, dubbed Emerson by fans (and he has many), was relocated several times this spring. Emerson returned April 1, landing on the shores of the Gorge Waterway's Saanich section . Due to his popularity and fondness for roadways, he was relocated and quickly reappeared on the other side of the region. “He’s been all over different beaches in Oak Bay and Victoria the past week and a half, two weeks. It’s kind of like, it’s not Where’s Waldo it’s Where’s Emerson. So that’s been a challenge,” Paul Cottrell, marine mammal coordinator with Fisheries and Oceans Canada said at the end of April. 4 - PHOTOS: 2-foot long deep sea creature spotted off Victoria shores , March 21 Anything abnormal under the Salish Sea garners attention in Greater Victoria so it’s not surprise readers loved the unusual deep-sea creature captured in photos by a snorkeller on the first day of spring. Avid weekend diver and longtime Greater Victoria resident Steph Brulot-Sawchyn headed into the waves near Clover Point on March 19 alongside his brother, who quickly spotted something unusual – a two-foot-long transparent creature with a jellyfish look that neither of them recognized. He snapped a photo and shared it on the Field Naturalists of Vancouver Island Facebook page where the popular item was identified as a siphonophore – a deep sea organism. They were right about it being unusual: giant siphonophore generally live in the mesopelagic zone, 300 to 700 metres under the sea, In their usual mesopelagic – think middle sea – habitat, praya can be 30 to 50 metres long. Being so close to the surface, Moira Galbraith a marine biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada said it was unlikely the one photographed would wind up washed on shore. If it did, no one got a picture and posted it online. 5 - Colwood mystery: Horned sheep carcass found ashore near Esquimalt Lagoon - Sept. 11 As they walked along the beach south of Esquimalt Lagoon, Cobble Hill resident Melinda Kendall and her stepmother made the puzzling discovery of a nearly intact carcass of a horned sheep lying on its side. Initially thought to be a bighorn sheep, the animal's pristine condition and unexpected location hundreds of kilometres from its native habitat in the Canadian Rockies raised many questions. In a written statement to the Goldstream Gazette, The Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship identified the dead sheep as a domestic mouflon ram, not a wild species. Experts estimated the ram was around six years old and may have drifted from a nearby herd and ended up ashore. Mouflons, native to parts of the Middle East and Mediterranean Europe, are considered ancestors of modern domestic sheep. These horned animals can grow up to one to two metres long and weigh as much as 55 kilograms. 6 - Warnings issued after second Greater Victoria deer attack in a week - Nov. 8 Two deer attacks in Greater Victoria prompted warnings from wildlife experts this year. On Nov. 4, after letting his dog into his backyard, a Fernwood resident heard a yelp and rushed outside to check on his pet. “Without warning, the owner was knocked down by a buck, which continued hitting him with its antlers,” the Conservation Officer Service said in an email. “The owner suffered minor injuries and managed to fight the deer off.” The dog wasn’t as lucky, however, and was forced to undergo surgery. It was the second deer attack in six days, following a similar incident in Oak Bay on Oct. 30, when a resident let their dog outside after dark. The dog was speared by its antlers, sustaining a “three-to-four-inch puncture” in its chest and was later put down. Aggressive behaviour is normal during breeding season, also called the rut, according to Lisa Lopez, the program manager of the outdoor education group WildSafeBC. 7 - Newly notorious Youbou elk named for Metchosin singer-songwriter , Oct. 4 Youbou is known for naming its wildlife, taking a Metchosin moniker for its latest rambunctious elk. The community nestled on the shores of Lake Cowichan has long honoured its wildlife, with many an elk becoming local celebrities. The latest to get a name was spotted with a rope tangled in its antlers this fall. Thus it was dubbed Jesse Roper – after the popular singer-songwriter from Metchosin. “They’re both Island staples, elk and Jesse Roper – now there’s two,” Ash said. 8 - Brave Little Hunter's orca family visits Victoria's Inner Harbour , Oct. 7 Killer whale sightings off the coastline of Greater Victoria never prove tiresome, so it comes as no surprise the marine mammals continued to make a splash in the news in 2024. But the family of orphan orca, Brave Little Hunter, caused the biggest splash in October when it visited Victoria’s Inner Harbour. A pod of five, identified as T109As, was caught on camera by former whale-watching tour operator Jackie Cowan. Among them was the grandmother of Brave Little Hunter, the famous calf, which has been surviving alone in the wild after escaping from a tidal lagoon off northwest Vancouver Island in late April. There was no sign of the calf with the pod. "I had been staring out at the harbour for years, waiting for this moment,” said Cowan. “I was vibrating all over.” 9 - Good karma chameleon: Sooke social media rescues lizard on the loose , Oct. 23 More commonly found in the wilds of Madagascar and Africa, a chameleon out for a stroll in Sooke had eyebrows raised in October. “Anyone missing a chameleon by the sports box off Phillips Road?” said Tanya Green in a social media post, which sparked a frenzied search for the lizard on the loose. More than 20 people turned up to help find the animal, known for their ability to change colour to camouflage themselves against their surroundings. Against all the odds, the reptile was found and taken into the care of staff at Sooke Veterinary Hospital. And his rescue came just in the nick of time, with temperatures plummeting, and showing signs of dehydration and a weakened immune system, the cold-blooded chameleon was potentially days away from death. The chameleon’s good luck continued when thanks to the Sooke News Mirror story, his owners came forward to claim him. It was then vet clinic staff discovered just how incredible Zeke the chameleon’s story was – he had been missing since mid-August. How the domesticated chameleon survived over two months in the wild remains a mystery, but vet Dr Andrew Crookes, who has a special interest in exotic pets, said Sooke’s semi-Mediterranean climate in August and September will have met Zeke’s needs “reasonably well.” Regardless of how Zeke survived, there is one thing Crookes is certain of. “He’s one tough critter,” he said. “I'm pretty blown away by his story." 10 - Otters fatally injure dog, threaten another at Central Saanich beach , Aug. 19 In stark contrast to Sooke’s cute paddle-boarding sea otter, visitors to a popular Central Saanich beach were on the lookout for a bevy of aggressive river otters. According to witnesses, the otters were "targeting" dogs, with one encounter proving fatal. A married couple who witnessed the first attack in late July at Island View Beach, said they saw a golden retriever swim toward a group of otters who quickly turned on the dog, biting and holding it underwater. The woman said a man ran into the water to help the dog, but when he also showed signs of distress, her husband went in after them. “And so my husband started doing a rescue, like a person, keeping the (dog’s) head up,” she said. “And the otters just continued darting at them until they got in. Then people were throwing things to try to scare the otters.” According to unconfirmed reports, the dog was later euthanized because of its injuries. Weeks later, James Younger and his dog Lou were confronted by five aggressive river otters at the same beach. “They came out of the water in front of me, in a line, making these really weird grunting and growling sounds,” Younger said. In an attempt to defend himself and his dog, Younger picked up a seven-foot log, swinging it back and forth, yelling at the otters, which he describes as “vile, evil and nasty creatures.” The professional dog walker said he believes the otters are targeting dogs, specifically those that resemble golden retrievers, which he says is a learned behaviour from previous generations of the same otter family. In an attempt to raise awareness, the Capital Regional District developed temporary 'caution otter in area' signs for the beach.Hood: Timely read for our troubled times

NoneOhio State, Michigan players involved in postgame scuffle

:Lumen Technologies has kicked off a process to sell its consumer fiber operations, as the telecommunications company looks to phase out its legacy mass markets business and reduce its sizable debt pile, according to people familiar with the matter. The move to offload the fiber business, which provides high-speed internet services to residential customers, comes as Lumen is doubling down on the artificial intelligence boom to power its near-term growth, while grappling with a rapid decline in sales and profits from its legacy business. Monroe, Louisiana-based Lumen is working with investment bankers at Goldman Sachs to gauge interest for the business from potential acquirers that include industry rivals, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the matter is confidential. The company's shares closed up nearly 5 per cent on the news on Thursday. Lumen could also choose to sell a stake in the fiber unit or sign a joint-venture deal with a strategic partner, the sources said, adding that the talks are at an early stage and a deal is not guaranteed. The company has been exploring options for the mass markets business, which houses the fiber operations, since earlier this year. At the Bank of America Leveraged Finance Conference earlier this month, Lumen Chief Financial Officer Chris Stansbury said the fiber business was "a great asset, but an asset that is probably better suited in somebody's hands that has a wireless offering." Any deal would require Lumen to split up its fiber business, which also offers internet services to large enterprise customers, the sources said, adding that the company is not planning to sell the enterprise fiber operations. As of the end of September, Lumen operated 4.1 million fiber-enabled locations. Depending on what parts of the consumer fiber unit Lumen chooses to sell and how a deal is structured, the transaction could be valued at $6 billion to $9 billion, the sources said. Lumen and Goldman Sachs both declined to comment. STRATEGIC SHIFT Known as CenturyLink before its 2020 rebranding, Lumen has changed course several times over the years, most recently in 2021 when the company sold its local exchange carrier assets in 20 states to Apollo-backed Brightspeed for $7.5 billion. Lumen's legacy business offers broadband, voice and other services to businesses and residential customers. It owns underground cables that are leased out through long-term contracts and helps provide fiber connectivity to customers. To turn around its fortunes, Lumen has restructured its debt and signed billions of dollars of new contracts to provide networking and cybersecurity services to Big Tech companies. Lumen has also been attempting to shrink its reliance on the legacy business, which was grown from past acquisitions - including its $25 billion merger with Level 3 Communications in 2017 - and has declined in value over the years as the technology has become outdated. In August, the company secured $5 billion in business from new customers, including Microsoft, to provide AI connectivity to cloud computing data centers. In its latest quarter, Lumen signed new contracts worth $3 billion, which included partnerships with Meta, Alphabet and Amazon. The contract wins have bolstered Lumen's share price, which has more than tripled in value this year, giving the company a market value of about $6.2 billion. Lumen’s long-term debt stood at $18.1 billion for the quarter ended Sept 30. Lumen posted revenue of $3.2 billion in the third quarter, down 11.5 per cent from the same period a year earlier, while its net loss widened to $148 million. Its fiber broadband business, which accounts for 40 per cent of its mass markets broadband revenue, grew 16.6 per cent from last year. In September, Lumen launched a debt swap for near-term bonds to extend some of its maturities. The exchange triggered a downgrade in Lumen's credit rating from S&P Global Ratings. In November, S&P assigned a CreditWatch Positive rating to Lumen on the back of the company's recent AI contract wins, indicating that its credit rating could be upgraded by a notch depending on its fourth-quarter results.

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Ohio State, Michigan players involved in postgame scuffleNone