Virginia has scored at least 31 points in every game and ranks fifth nationally in total offense (564.5) in its fourth year under Tony Elliott. Its lone loss came at N.C. State.
This season marks 30 years since Virginia upset then-No. 2 FSU at home to hand the Seminoles their first-ever ACC loss after a 29-0 start. The Cavaliers have unveiled throwback uniforms to that 1995 win for the occasion.
The undercard
No. 16 Georgia Tech (4-0, 1-0) at Wake Forest (2-1, 0-1), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)
— N.C. State RB Hollywood Smothers. The transfer from Oklahoma has nearly matched his rushing total for last year’s debut with the Wolfpack. He’s sixth nationally in rushing yardage (125.8 per game) entering this weekend’s visit from Virginia Tech.
— California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele had the Bears off to a 3-0 start before last weekend’s shutout loss at San Diego State. The freshman has thrown for 988 yards and six TDs entering Saturday’s trip to Boston College.
Inside the numbers
The league has three ranked teams in this week’s AP Top 25 poll, headlined by No. 2 Miami. … Louisville (3-0) hits the road Saturday to face Pittsburgh (2-1) in the ACC opener for both teams, with the Panthers having won three of five meetings since the Cardinals joined the ACC for the 2014 season. The Cards have lost the last three meetings at Pitt. … Stanford (1-3) hosts San Jose State on Saturday with a chance to start 2-0 at home for the first time since 2018. … Miami, Clemson, North Carolina and SMU have open dates this week.
SPRUCE PINE, N.C. (NCN News) — It has been one year since the worst storm to ever hit North Carolina devastated the western part of the state.
Hurricane Helene was not even on the list of storms to worry about at first. It made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Sept. 27 as a Category 2 hurricane before beginning a long trek inland. By the time it reached the Appalachian Mountains, it was a tropical storm still packing high winds and heavy rain.
Western North Carolina had already seen significant rainfall before Helene arrived, setting the stage for catastrophic flooding. Meteorologists predicted once-in-a-thousand-year flooding, and they were right. Some weather stations from Mount Mitchell to Asheville recorded more than 30 inches of rain, in addition to days of rainfall leading up to the storm.
On Sept. 25, forecasters placed the region under tropical storm warnings. Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency. Mount Mitchell State Park and others closed, and the Blue Ridge Parkway shut down. Hundreds of roads were impassable, and more than 2,000 landslides were reported in North Carolina.
In a rare, coordinated release, the National Hurricane Center and NOAA warned of the inland flood threat and asked media outlets to emphasize the risk. Helene’s impact was every bit as intense as predicted.
The South Toe Township of Yancey County received 31 inches of rain. Mount Mitchell recorded wind gusts over 100 mph in a part of the state that rarely sees such conditions. Sixty-three stream and river gauges logged record water levels. The South Toe River in Yancey County and the Ivy River in Buncombe County each broke their previous flood records by nearly nine feet.
In Mitchell County, the smallest county in the state, the normally calm Toe River rose 35 feet, overflowing its banks and flooding homes and businesses in small towns like Spruce Pine. Luther Stroup, who owns Stroup Hobby Shop, recalled watching the river rise to within inches of his shop and home. He said the community went without power, sewer, phones or water for 22 days.
Areas in the Black Mountains were especially devastated. Black Mountain police reported neighborhoods in Montreat and Swannanoa “destroyed including homes on fire, along with numerous fatalities.” The village of Chimney Rock was also largely swept away in the floodwaters.
Across the region, more than 400 roads closed and more than 200 rescues were carried out. In total, 108 people died and hundreds more were injured in North Carolina.
A year later: Recovery
Recovery has been uneven. Ninety-six percent of small business owners across western North Carolina reported Helene hurt them, hitting during peak tourist season and leading to widespread event cancellations. Even mining and computer parts manufacturing in Spruce Pine were disrupted, causing global supply concerns.
Sharon Decker, senior advisor of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, said the community stepped up when it was needed most. Neighbors and churches delivered food, water and supplies to people who had lost everything. The storm also forced the region to confront its aging infrastructure and to begin planning for future disasters.
Gov. Josh Stein said six out of seven businesses have not returned to pre-Helene revenues. Still, Decker noted restaurants, tourist attractions and farms are coming back, and leaders hope tourists will return as well.
Decker praised bipartisan efforts to secure funding for repairs to businesses, homes, roads and infrastructure. Stein has pushed for additional state and federal support. But recovery is expected to be a long-term process.
Officials are also coordinating with schools, nonprofits and community groups to build volunteer and resource databases to be better prepared next time.
Decker said her hope is that the sense of community sparked by Helene’s devastation — people going above and beyond to help one another — remains even after recovery is complete.
“We’re better as a nation and state when there are disasters,” Decker said. “And as a state, we’ll be more prepared in the future for storms like Helene.”
By ALLEN G. BREED and BRITTANY PETERSON Associated Press
WOODFIN, N.C. (AP) — Bracing himself against the current in waist-deep water, Clancy Loorham wrestles a broken length of PVC pipe from the rocky bottom of the French Broad River and peers inside.
“I got a catfish in the pipe,” the 27-year-old with wispy beard and mustache shouted to fellow cleanup workers floating nearby in rafts, canoes and kayaks piled with plastic pipe and other human-made detritus. “He’s right here. I’m looking him in the eyes!”
It’s been just a year since floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Helene washed these pipes out of a nearby factory with such force that some pieces ended up in Douglas Lake, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) away in Tennessee. But they’re already slick with algae and filled with river silt — and creatures.
It’s been only a year since Hurricane Helene hammered the southeast U.S. from Florida to the Carolinas. The worst wreckage has been cleared away, but cleanup crews are still at work plucking smaller debris from waterways throughout the region. (AP video by Brittany Peterson)
Helene killed more than 250 people and caused nearly $80 billion in damage from Florida to the Carolinas. In the North Carolina mountains, rains of up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) turned gentle streams into torrents that swept away trees, boulders, homes and vehicles, shattered century-old flood records, and in some places carved out new channels.
In the haste to rescue people and restore their lives to some semblance of normalcy, some fear the recovery efforts compounded Helene’s impact on the ecosystem. Contractors hired to remove vehicles, shipping containers, shattered houses and other large debris from waterways sometimes damaged sensitive habitat.
“They were using the river almost as a highway in some situations,” said Peter Raabe, Southeast regional director for the conservation group American Rivers.
Conservationists found instances of contractors cutting down healthy trees and removing live root balls, said Jon Stamper, river cleanup coordinator for MountainTrue, the North Carolina-based nonprofit conducting the French Broad work.
“Those trees kind of create fish habitats,” he said. “They slow the flow of water down. They’re an important part of a river system, and we’ve seen kind of a disregard for that.”
The Army Corps of Engineers said in a statement that debris removal missions “are often challenging” due to the large volume storms can leave behind across a wide area. The Corps said it trains its contractors to minimize disturbances to waterways and to prevent harm to wildlife. North Carolina Emergency Management said debris removal after Helene took into account safety and the environment, and that projects reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency met that agency’s standards for minimizing impact.
Battered first by the storm, and then by the cleanup
Hannah Woodburn, who tracks the headwaters and tributaries of the New River as MountainTrue’s Upper New Riverkeeper, said waters are much muddier since Helene, both from storm-related vegetation loss and from heavy machinery used during cleanup.
She said it’s been bad for the eastern hellbender, a “species of special concern” in North Carolina. It’s one of only three giant salamanders found in the world, growing up to 2 feet (61 centimeters) long and weighing more than 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms).
“After the storm, we had so many reports and pictures of dead hellbenders, some nearly a mile from the stream once the waters receded,” said Woodburn.
Of even greater concern is the Appalachian elktoe, a federally endangered mussel found only in the mountains of North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Helene hurt the Appalachian elktoe, but it also suffered from human-caused damage, said Mike Perkins, a state biologist.
Perkins said some contractors coordinated with conservation teams ahead of river cleanups and took precautions. Others were not so careful.
He described snorkeling in the cold waters of the Little River and “finding crushed individuals, some of them still barely alive, some with their insides hanging out.” On that river, workers moved 60 Appalachian elktoe to a refuge site upstream. On the South Toe River, home to one of the most important populations, biologists collected a dozen and took them to a hatchery to store in tanks until it’s safe to return them to the wild.
“It was shocking and unprecedented in my professional line of work in 15 years,” Perkins said of the incident. “There’s all of these processes in place to prevent this secondary tragedy from happening, and none of it happened.”
Andrea Leslie, mountain habitat conservation coordinator with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, said she hopes the experience can inform future recovery efforts.
“To a certain degree, you can’t do this perfectly,” she said. “They’re in emergency mode. They’re working to make sure that people are safe and that infrastructure is safe. And it’s a big, complicated process. And there are multiple places in my observation where we could shift things to be more careful.”
Humans along the river are still recovering, too
Like the hellbender and the Appalachian elktoe, humans cling to the river, too.
Vickie and Paul Revis’ home sat beside old U.S. 70 in a bend of the Swannanoa River. As Helene swept through, the Swannanoa took their home and scraped away a big chunk of their half-acre lot.
With the land paid for and no flood insurance payment to move away, they decided to stay put.
After a year in a donated camper, they’ll soon move into their new house — a double-wide modular home, also donated by a local Christian charity. It sits atop a 6-foot mound that Paul Revis piled up near the front of the property, farther from the river.
Using rock, fill dirt and broken concrete dumped on his property by friendly debris-removal contractors, Paul has reclaimed the frontage the Swannanoa took. His wife planted it with marigolds for beauty and a weeping willow for stability. And they’ve purchased flood insurance.
“I hope I never see another one in my lifetime, and I’m hoping that if I do, it does hold up,” Vickie said. “I mean, that’s all we can (do). Mother Nature does whatever she wants to do, and you just have to roll with it.”
Tons of debris pulled out, tons still to go
Back on the French Broad, the tedious cleanup work continues. Many on the crew are rafting guides knocked out of work by the storm.
MountainTrue got a $10 million, 18-month grant from the state for the painstaking work of pulling small debris from the rivers and streams. Since July, teams have removed more than 75 tons from about a dozen rivers across five watersheds.
Red-tailed hawks and osprey circle high overhead as the flotilla glides past banks lined with willow, sourwood and sycamore, ablaze with goldenrod and jewelweed. That peacefulness belies its fury of a year ago that upended so many lives.
“There are so many people who are living in western North Carolina right now that feel very afraid of our rivers,” said Liz McGuirl, a crew member who managed a hair salon before Helene put her out of work. “They feel hurt. They feel betrayed.”
Downstream, as McGuirl hauled up a length of pipe, another catfish swam out.
“We’re creating a habitat, but it’s just the wrong habitat,” crew leader Leslie Beninato said ruefully. “I’d like to give them a tree as a home, maybe, instead of a pipe.”
___
The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
These cookies are the perfect fall treat–chewy, cozy, and caramel-y.
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup apple cider
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
1 package caramel candies
Instructions
1.Prep the oven and cookie sheet Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the wet ingredients In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Then, add in the egg, vanilla and apple cider, and mix until combined.
3. Add the dry ingredients In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Then, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until fully combined.
4. Shape the cookies Chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes, then scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto your baking sheet. Add one caramel to the center of each ball of dough and cover it completely.
5. Bake and serve Bake for 10–12 minutes until the edges of the cookies are set and centers look slightly soft. Let the cookies cool on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. Then, enjoy this tasty fall treat!
I planted some Russian Sage (Salvia yangii) decades ago. Alas, I can’t remember when it faded into oblivion. It is really not native to Russia and hails from Central Asia, ie, Afghanistan, Tibet. The name derives from the genus of the plant which is “perovskia” and it was named for the Russian General V.A. Perovski in the 1800’s. I don’t know why, I suppose he was some sort of wise person or “sage”.
I do love the color contrast between the silvery-green foliage and the bluish-lavender flowers, so I am inspired to plant a new batch of this perennial. You see, on my daily walk as I take note of my neighbor’s landscapes, I attempt to assess the variety of plants with the seasonal progress and changes of each. My friend Charlie has a lovely yard of zoysia interspersed with interesting flowers, shrubs and trees. He has a group of Russian Sage planted in full sun near the sidewalk. This summer on my late afternoon walks I was struck by the sight of sleeping bumble bees. I know they take naps and sleep overnight. I, however, had never paid attention to them clinging to a plant in small colonies. I’ve always heard they can be stroked gently, but I’ve just never dared to attempt it. I don’t want to disturb them. They work hard everyday and deserve their rest. At any rate, the sage and bumble bee combination paints quite a picture. Now I must try my luck once again.
Russian Sage requires full sun, (at least 6 hours) to thrive and to give you the full effect of its foliage and flower color which can be subtle from a distance and striking up close. However, planted in mass, this plant can be remarkable. It likes well drained soil which will prevent root rot. Except for this malady, there really nothing else in the way of disease or insect problems with this plant. It is even deer resistant.
Many people plant Russian Sage in the spring when there is abundant inventory at their favorite garden center. Fall is a great time too, when you can often find perennials on sale. Plant your Russian Sage by using a sharp shovel. Anne Clapp and Rufus always recommend that. Dig a hole that is at least twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Place your shrub in the hole, gently spreading out the roots, and then backfill to ground level or slightly above and water well. To get your plant off to a good start, incorporate some organic matter in the soil, and cover the root zone with a layer of mulch to help keep the soil cool and moist even though the Russian Sage thrives in the hot weather.
There are a bunch of varieties of Russian Sage from which to choose. Among the favorite cultivars that can be grown successfully in the Tar Heel state are: “Blue Spire”, “ Little Spire”, “Denim ‘N Lace” “Rocket Man”, “Blue Haze”, ”Blue Spire” and “Crazy Blue”.
The North Carolina Extension Gardener Toolbox available online is an extraordinary resource and can supply you with all the information you may need on the Russian Sage or any other plant you can imagine. All of the Cooperative Extension Service folks on the Weekend Gardener swear by this catalog of knowledge. So, to summarize, Russian Sage
is an exceptional, sun loving plant for North Carolina that is named after a Russian general, but is not native to Russia, and bumblebees love this plant for a nap or a long sleep. Go find one for your yard!
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — In response to the stabbing death of a Ukrainian refugee on Charlotte’s light rail system, the North Carolina legislature gave final approval Tuesday to a criminal justice package that limits bail and seeks to ensure more defendants undergo mental health evaluations.
The Republican-penned bill also could help restart executions in the state.
The House voted 81-31 to accept the omnibus measure passed by the Senate on Monday, sending it next to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. Stein, a former attorney general, has said he supports some pretrial reforms following the fatal Aug. 22 attack upon 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Stein would sign the bill into law or veto it. A Stein spokesperson said he was reviewing the measure.
The attack suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., had been arrested more than a dozen times and was released earlier this year by a magistrate on a misdemeanor count without any bond. Brown is charged with first-degree murder in state court and a federal count in connection with Zarutska’s death. Both crimes can be punishable by the death penalty.
Brown “should have never been allowed out of the jail. The catch-and-release practices for violent offenders will end today with your support,” Charlotte-area Republican state Rep. Tricia Cotham told colleagues during two hours of House debate. “This heinous act was preventable.”
Public outrage over Zarutska’s death intensified with the release of security video showing the attack on the commuter train, leading President Donald Trump and GOP allies to accuse Charlotte and statewide elected Democrats of promoting soft-on-crime policies.
‘Iryan’s Law’ addresses bail, magistrates, behavioral health
Much of the bill entitled “Iryna’s Law” focuses on eliminating cashless bail for many crimes, limiting the discretion that magistrates and judges have in making pretrial release decisions, and laying out when offenders should be examined for possible involuntary commitment.
Brown’s mother told media outlets that her son has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Several House Democrats took issue with the soft-on-crime label, pointing out that Republicans have controlled the General Assembly for over a decade. They said the bill falls well short in providing mental health services that advocates say could stop crimes before they occur, as well as funds to hire additional police officers and crisis responders and to house defendants being held for behavioral problems.
“Tough on crime doesn’t only mean let’s pay attention to punishment after the fact,” said Democratic Rep. Marcia Morey of Durham, a former judge. “We grieve the murder. It was senseless, it was horrible. But what you are voting on today does nothing to take it back or would have prevented it. Let’s get smart on crime.”
Unlike Monday’s party-line Senate vote, over one-third of House Democrats present joined all Republicans in voting for the bill Tuesday. The margins signal a Stein veto could be overridden.
Bill aims to end nearly 20-year halt of executions
The bill initially contained language that would require certain appeals for death-row inmates be heard and reviewed by courts by the end of 2027. More than 120 people are on death row in North Carolina, but an execution hasn’t been carried out since 2006.
But an amendment from powerful Senate leader Phil Berger would direct the state Adult Correction Department secretary to find another form of execution if lethal injection — currently the state’s sole method — is declared unconstitutional or is “not available,” potentially if the drugs can’t be accessed.
The secretary would have to select another method that’s been adopted by another state. That could include the use of a firing squad, a method used to execute South Carolina inmates twice this year, or perhaps electrocution.
Capital punishment has been put on hold in North Carolina in part over legal challenges on the use of the injection drugs. Inmate challenges also have occurred under a now-repealed law that has allowed some prisoners to receive life without parole if they could show racial bias was the reason for their death sentence.
“For nearly two decades, judicial and administrative roadblocks have stopped true justice for victims, and it’s time for that to end,” Berger said in a news release Monday.
Democrats blasted Berger’s addition, saying it’s wrong and cynical to use the measure to push what one lawmaker called “barbaric” punishments to take someone else’s life.
“No matter what you think about the death penalty more generally, there’s just no question that these methods are risky and have the potential to be extremely gruesome,” said Democratic Rep. Vernetta Alston, an attorney who previously represented death-row inmates in appeals.
Still no deals on Medicaid spending, budget
The bill was approved while lawmakers returned this week to continued fallout from not having passed a budget for the ninth-largest U.S. state.
The new fiscal year began July 1. State law and a stopgap spending measure have kept North Carolina government operating.
But the state Department of Health and Human Services said $600 million in additional Medicaid funds included in the stopgap measure still left a $319 million shortfall. The agency said it would have to cut Medicaid provider reimbursement rates on Oct. 1 unless lawmakers provided more.
House and Senate Republicans approved competing measures that located more Medicaid money, but they couldn’t agree. The Senate plan includes funding it contends was previously agreed upon for building a standalone children’s hospital near Raleigh and rural health care.
The legislature now doesn’t plan to return to Raleigh until Oct. 20.
As the clock was winding down in a second straight game during which Archie Wilson didn’t attempt a punt, Nebraska coach Matt Rhule came up with an idea to get the freshman on the field for the first time at Memorial Stadium.
When the Cornhuskers went into victory formation to finish a 52-point win over Houston Christian on Sept. 13, Wilson was out there as the deep man behind the running backs.
Wilson ended up punting four times in last week’s loss to Michigan, but his relative inactivity in the previous two games was a sign of the times.
The punt is in decline.
Football Bowl Subdivision teams are averaging 3.8 punts per game, a figure on track to be the lowest since the NCAA began keeping the statistic in 1937. Punt attempts have dropped for eight straight seasons, and the 2024 average of 4.1 was one full punt per game less than in 2015.
The college numbers mirror those in the NFL, where the average of 3.6 per game is lowest in history.
The sport’s growing reliance on analytics has encouraged coaches to be aggressive on fourth down. Also, field goals from long distances are on the rise. There were six field goals of 60-plus yards in the FBS last season, the most since 1977, and there has been one this season. There have been 52 field goals from 50-59 yards, on pace to match the record 188 last year.
The picks for this week’s FBS vs. FBS games, with Associated Press Top 25 rankings and lines from BetMGM Sportsbook:
No. 1 Ohio State (minus 8 1/2) at Washington
Washington has scored touchdowns on 23 of its 29 drives over three games. Ohio State has allowed two TDs over 34 series. First meeting since the 2019 Rose Bowl, where Buckeyes held on to win Urban Meyer’s final game as coach.
Pick: Ohio State 31-21.
No. 6 Oregon (plus 3 1/2) at No. 3 Penn State
Penn State can make a statement after getting skewered for its light nonconference schedule. Ducks have won eight straight on the road, and it’s hard to imagine they’ll be intimidated by the White Out in this Big Ten championship game rematch.
Pick: Oregon 26-22.
No. 4 LSU at No. 13 Mississippi (minus 1 1/2)
Rebels offense has been prolific with QB Trinidad Chambliss filling in for Austin Simmons. Coach Lane Kiffin hasn’t announced a starter for this week. LSU has one of the nation’s most stout defenses, but the home team gets the nod.
Pick: Mississippi 28-24.
No. 17 Alabama at No. 5 Georgia (minus 3)
Georgia has won a nation-best 33 straight home games since 2019. Alabama has won nine of the last 10 in the series. Crimson Tide QB Ty Simpson draws tough assignment for his first start in an SEC game.
Pick: Georgia 28-21.
No. 8 Florida State (minus 7) at Virginia
It’s been a slow build for Tony Elliott and the Cavaliers, and they look at Friday night as a big opportunity after a 3-1 start. The Seminoles lead the nation in scoring, and QB Tommy Castellanos expects to be back after leaving last week’s game with a leg injury.
Pick: Florida State 42-28.
Auburn at No. 9 Texas A&M (minus 6 1/2)
Texas A&M has had two weeks to come down from its emotional one-point win at Notre Dame. Auburn is on the road a second straight week against a ranked opponent. Aggies’ front seven will be licking chops after Oklahoma recorded nine sacks against the Tigers last week.
Pick: Texas A&M 30-21.
No. 11 Indiana (minus 7 1/2) at Iowa
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the hottest QB in the country and Curt Cignetti doesn’t know how to tap the brakes on his offense. Iowa gave up 330 yards passing to Rutgers last week, the most allowed by the Hawkeyes in four years.
Pick: Indiana 38-14.
Arizona (plus 6 1/2) at No. 14 Iowa State
Cyclones QB Rocco Becht will have to be at his best against the nation’s top pass efficiency defense. The Wildcats, 3-0 for first time since 2014, have picked off five passes and haven’t given up a touchdown through the air.
Pick: Iowa State 24-21.
No. 15 Tennessee (minus 7 1/2) at Mississippi State
Bulldogs have greatly improved their pass defense, but it’s a big ask to keep Joey Aguilar under wraps when the MSU pass rush has recorded just 1.25 sacks per game. MSU’s offense won’t be able to keep up.
Pick: Tennessee 37-24.
No. 16 Georgia Tech (minus 14) at Wake Forest
The Yellow Jackets have overcome turnovers and a rash of penalties to win four straight, and a balanced offense averaging 8.1 yards per play should keep chugging along.
Pick: Georgia Tech 35-17.
Utah State at No. 18 Vanderbilt (minus 22 1/2)
Vanderbilt has scored no fewer than 31 points, averages 47.5 per game and just hung 70 on Georgia State for its highest total since 1918. Utah State is 1-13 all-time against the SEC and hasn’t beaten a power-conference opponent since 2021.
Pick: Vanderbilt 45-20.
UMass at No. 20 Missouri (minus 44 1/2)
RB Ahmad Hardy has four straight 100-yard games and is second nationally at 150 per game. He’ll probably sit down for the day after getting his obligatory 100 against the overmatched Minutemen. Mizzou won 45-3 in Amherst last year.
Pick: Missouri 45-0.
No. 21 Southern California (minus 6 1/2) at No. 23 Illinois
Illinois gets a double whammy having to face the Trojans right after being humiliated 63-10 by Indiana. Like Fernando Mendoza, USC’s Jayden Maiava puts up big numbers and is complemented by a strong run game.
Pick: USC 33-21.
No. 22 Notre Dame (minus 4 1/2) at Arkansas
The Irish made some personnel adjustments in their secondary after allowing 300 yards passing two straight games. Arkansas’ Taylen Green has thrown for over 300 in his last two. Turnovers have been a bugaboo for the Razorbacks.
Pick: Notre Dame 33-28.
No. 24 TCU at Arizona State (minus 2 1/2)
The Friday night game features two of the Big 12’s most exciting passing combination in TCU QB Josh Hoover and WR Eric McAlister and ASU’s Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson.
Pick: Arizona State 45-40.
No. 25 BYU at Colorado (plus 6 1/2)
This is a rematch of the 2024 Alamo Bowl, which BYU won 36-14 in an all-Big 12 matchup. The Cougars are on the road a second straight week after going across the country to play East Carolina last week.
NEW YORK (AP) — YouTube will offer creators a way to rejoin the streaming platform if they were banned for violating COVID-19 and election misinformation policies that are no longer in effect, its parent company Alphabet said Tuesday.
In a letter submitted in response to subpoenas from the House Judiciary Committee, attorneys for Alphabet said the decision to bring back banned accounts reflected the company’s commitment to free speech. It said the company values conservative voices on its platform and recognizes their reach and important role in civic discourse.
“No matter the political atmosphere, YouTube will continue to enable free expression on its platform, particularly as it relates to issues subject to political debate,” the letter read.
The move is the latest in a cascade of content moderation rollbacks from tech companies, who cracked down on false information during the pandemic and after the 2020 election but have since faced pressure from President Donald Trump and other conservatives who argue they unlawfully stifled right-wing voices in the process.
It comes as tech CEOs, including Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, have sought a closer relationship with the Republican president, including through high-dollar donations to his campaign and attending events in Washington.
YouTube in 2023 phased out its policy to remove content that falsely claims the 2020 election, or other past U.S. presidential elections, were marred by “widespread fraud, errors or glitches.”
The platform in 2024 also retired its standalone COVID-19 content restrictions, allowing various treatments for the disease to be discussed. COVID-19 misinformation now falls under YouTube’s broader medical misinformation policy.
Among the creators who have been banned from YouTube under the now-expired policies are prominent conservative influencers, including Dan Bongino, who now serves as deputy director of the FBI. For people who make money on social media, access to monetization on YouTube can be significant, earning them large sums through ad revenue.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and other congressional Republicans have pressured tech companies to reverse content moderation policies created under former President Joe Biden and accused Biden’s administration of unfairly wielding its power over the companies to chill lawful online speech.
In Tuesday’s letter, Alphabet’s lawyers said senior Biden administration officials “conducted repeated and sustained outreach” to coerce the company to remove pandemic-related YouTube videos that did not violate company policies.
“It is unacceptable and wrong when any government, including the Biden Administration, attempts to dictate how the Company moderates content, and the Company has consistently fought against those efforts on First Amendment grounds,” the letter said.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also accused the Biden administration of pressuring employees to inappropriately censor content during the COVID-19 pandemic. Elon Musk, the owner of the social platform X, has accused the FBI of illegally coercing Twitter before his tenure to suppress a story about Hunter Biden.
These cinnamon rolls are the perfect sweet treat for a cozy fall day.
Ingredients
Dough:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter (or vegetable oil)
Filling:
1/4 cup softened butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1–2 tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Preheat & Prep Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (f) and grease or line an 8-inch baking dish or circle pan.
2. Make the Dough In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the milk and melted butter, stirring until a dough forms. Then, knead gently 3–5 times on a floured surface until smooth.
3. Roll Out the Dough Roll the dough into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
4. Add Filling Spread the softened butter over the dough, then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon evenly.
5. Roll & Cut Roll the dough tightly from the long side. Then, cut it into 8–10 slices using a sharp knife or string.
6. Bake Place rolls in the greased pan. Then, bake for 20–25 minutes or until lightly golden on top.
7. Add Glaze and Enjoy Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth, then drizzle the glaze over the rolls and enjoy this delicious classic!
