WASHINGTON — With the nation entering a peak period for filing taxes,
 the Internal Revenue Service urges taxpayers to use online tools to get
 answers quickly and avoid phone delays during a traditional peak period
 for IRS phone lines around Presidents Day.

Presidents Day weekend, when many people prepare their taxes, 
historically marks a peak period for IRS phone lines. During the two 
week February period following Presidents Day, the IRS recommends 
turning first to the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">self-help tools</a> available online on IRS.gov to avoid delays.

"The IRS continues to see improvements this tax season compared to 
previous years, including better phone service," said IRS Acting 
Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "But we always see a significant surge in 
phone traffic around Presidents Day. With the calendar advancing, 
millions of people turn their attention to taxes during this period. To 
avoid potential delays, we encourage people to check IRS.gov first, 
which can provide much of the same information instantly to taxpayers."

Easy-to-use and available anytime, the IRS website can help taxpayers <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing">file</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">pay taxes</a>, find information about their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">accounts</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">determine eligibility for tax credits</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">get answers to tax questions</a>.

And when it comes time to file, taxpayers are encouraged to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">e-file</a> and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a> to get their refunds as quickly as possible.

Available IRS tools to help taxpayers through tax filing season

The IRS recommends trying the following self-help resources available
 to taxpayers 24/7 for a smooth and easy tax filing experience.

For those who need to talk to someone, the IRS has hired an 
additional 5,000 customer service representatives to help staff its 
toll-free customer service line. IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers or TACs
 are another resource for individuals who need more than online tools or
 the IRS toll-free customer service line to solve a tax matter. Anyone 
who needs face-to-face service should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">make an appointment</a> or check for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help">special Saturday hours</a> before visiting.

Taxpayers should call employers for missing Forms W-2. Those who did 
not receive a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, from one or more 
employers by Jan. 31 should contact the issuer to inform them of the 
missing form.

Those who do not get a response from an issuer must still file on time and may need to use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4852">Form
 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, or Form 1099R, 
Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing 
Plans, IRA's Insurance Contracts, Etc.</a>

For a copy of Form 1099 or 1042 to report Social Security income, 
visit the Social Security Administration's website. These forms can be 
downloaded through <a href="http://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/">my Social Security&nbsp;account</a>. It's fast and secure.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — With the nation entering a peak period for filing taxes,
 the Internal Revenue Service urges taxpayers to use online tools to get
 answers quickly and avoid phone delays during a traditional peak period
 for IRS phone lines around Presidents Day.Presidents Day weekend, when many people prepare their taxes, 
historically marks a peak period for IRS phone lines. During the two 
week February period following Presidents Day, the IRS recommends 
turning first to the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tools">self-help tools</a> available online on IRS.gov to avoid delays."The IRS continues to see improvements this tax season compared to 
previous years, including better phone service," said IRS Acting 
Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "But we always see a significant surge in 
phone traffic around Presidents Day. With the calendar advancing, 
millions of people turn their attention to taxes during this period. To 
avoid potential delays, we encourage people to check IRS.gov first, 
which can provide much of the same information instantly to taxpayers."Easy-to-use and available anytime, the IRS website can help taxpayers <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing">file</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">pay taxes</a>, find information about their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">accounts</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">determine eligibility for tax credits</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions">get answers to tax questions</a>.And when it comes time to file, taxpayers are encouraged to <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options">e-file</a> and choose <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a> to get their refunds as quickly as possible.<h2>Available IRS tools to help taxpayers through tax filing season</h2>The IRS recommends trying the following self-help resources available
 to taxpayers 24/7 for a smooth and easy tax filing experience.<ul>
 <li>IRS.gov offers a variety of online tools to help taxpayers answer common tax questions. For example, taxpayers can search the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/ita">Interactive Tax Assistant</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics">Tax Topics</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</a> to find answers. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant">Earned Income Tax Credit Assistant (EITC)</a>&nbsp;allows
 taxpayers to check eligiblity for this valuable credit. Taxpayers can 
also calculate how much EITC they may get and find answers to EITC 
questions. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">Online Account</a>
 gives taxpayers secure access to personal tax account information 
including balance, payments and tax records with previous year's 
adjusted gross income information. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The IRS offers basic tax information in <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/languages">several languages</a> to help taxpayers get the information they need to file a federal tax return and pay any tax owed. 
	&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">IRS Free File</a> provides eligible taxpayers who want to prepare their own returns free tax preparation and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/find-a-location-for-free-tax-prep">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs</a> offer free tax help from certified volunteers at thousands of sites across the country. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a>&nbsp;tool on IRS.gov and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a>
 app allow taxpayers to check the status of their refund within 24 hours
 after the IRS accepts their e-filed tax return. Where's My Refund? 
updates once every 24 hours, usually overnight, so taxpayers don't need 
to check more than once a day. Tax law prevents the IRS from issuing 
refunds that include the EITC and/or the Additional Child Tax Credit 
before Feb. 15. But not to worry, Where's My Refund?&nbsp;should provide an 
updated refund status for most early filers by Feb. 18 and EITC/ACTC 
related refunds should be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on 
debit cards by Feb. 28 if they chose direct deposit and there are no 
other issues with their tax return. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>&nbsp;can
 help taxpayers determine&nbsp;the right amount of tax to have withheld from a
 paycheck. Taxpayers should submit a new Form W-4 to their employer if 
an adjustment is needed. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5136.pdf">IRS Services Guide</a>PDF and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance">Let Us Help You</a> page on IRS.gov can help taxpayers find additional ways to get help.</li>
 </ul>For those who need to talk to someone, the IRS has hired an 
additional 5,000 customer service representatives to help staff its 
toll-free customer service line. IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers or TACs
 are another resource for individuals who need more than online tools or
 the IRS toll-free customer service line to solve a tax matter. Anyone 
who needs face-to-face service should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office">make an appointment</a> or check for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help">special Saturday hours</a> before visiting.<h2>Missing information?</h2>Taxpayers should call employers for missing Forms W-2. Those who did 
not receive a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, from one or more 
employers by Jan. 31 should contact the issuer to inform them of the 
missing form.Those who do not get a response from an issuer must still file on time and may need to use <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4852">Form
 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, or Form 1099R, 
Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing 
Plans, IRA's Insurance Contracts, Etc.</a>For a copy of Form 1099 or 1042 to report Social Security income, 
visit the Social Security Administration's website. These forms can be 
downloaded through <a href="http://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/">my Social Security&nbsp;account</a>. It's fast and secure.

IRS: Get your tax help this month to avoid delays

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission today announced it is committing over $24 million in a new funding round through the Emergency Connectivity Program, which provides digital services for students in communities across the country.  Today’s funding commitments support applications from the third application window, benefiting approximately 50,000 students across the country, including students in Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Texas, and Wisconsin.

“We need all our students to have access to digital tools for connecting with teachers and keeping up with homework assignments,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.  “This program continues to make progress in our ongoing work to close the Homework Gap.”

The Emergency Connectivity Program, which launched in 2021, has provided schools and libraries three different “application windows” for schools and libraries to apply for support.  Today’s announcement will support over 140 schools, 8 libraries, and 3 consortia.

The funding can be used to support off-campus learning, such as nightly homework, to ensure students across the country have the necessary support to keep up with their education.  To date, the program has provided support to approximately 11,000 schools, 1,000 libraries, and 100 consortia, and providing nearly 13 million connected devices and over 8 million broadband connections.  Of the nearly $6.6 billion in funding commitments approved to date, approximately $4.1 billion is supporting applications from Window 1; $833 million from Window 2; and $1.6 billion from Window 3.  

More details about which schools and libraries have received funding commitments can be found <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-connectivity-fund">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584977952684.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FCCWASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission today announced it is committing over $24 million in a new funding round through the Emergency Connectivity Program, which provides digital services for students in communities across the country. Today’s funding commitments support applications from the third application window, benefiting approximately 50,000 students across the country, including students in Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Texas, and Wisconsin.“We need all our students to have access to digital tools for connecting with teachers and keeping up with homework assignments,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “This program continues to make progress in our ongoing work to close the Homework Gap.”The Emergency Connectivity Program, which launched in 2021, has provided schools and libraries three different “application windows” for schools and libraries to apply for support. Today’s announcement will support over 140 schools, 8 libraries, and 3 consortia.The funding can be used to support off-campus learning, such as nightly homework, to ensure students across the country have the necessary support to keep up with their education. To date, the program has provided support to approximately 11,000 schools, 1,000 libraries, and 100 consortia, and providing nearly 13 million connected devices and over 8 million broadband connections. Of the nearly $6.6 billion in funding commitments approved to date, approximately $4.1 billion is supporting applications from Window 1; $833 million from Window 2; and $1.6 billion from Window 3. More details about which schools and libraries have received funding commitments can be found <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-connectivity-fund">HERE</a>.

FCC announces another $24M in broadband connectivity funding

By WILLIAM F. ZORZI <a href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/02/14/federal-grand-jury-indicts-pair-who-planned-attack-on-baltimore-area-electrical-grid/">Maryland Matters</a>

A federal grand jury Tuesday indicted a Catonsville woman and a 
neo-Nazi residing in Orlando, Fla., on one count of conspiring to 
destroy an electrical transmission substation resulting in damages that 
would have exceeded $100,000, court documents show.

Federal authorities had arrested Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 34, and 
Brandon Clint Russell, 27, on a criminal information earlier this month,
 alleging that the two conspired to shoot up five BGE substations that 
would cause a “cascading failure” in the power grid, an FBI affidavit 
showed.

Clendaniel specifically mentioned destroying electrical substations 
in Norrisville, Reisterstown and Perry Hall, and two more in and around 
Baltimore City, the affidavit alleged.

Much of the information that led to the charges was obtained from an 
unnamed FBI confidential informant, who communicated with Clendaniel and
 Russell, who was known to authorities for his affiliations with 
pro-Nazi groups.

As part of the indictment, a forfeiture notice was filed for any and 
all assets that could be traced to the crime of terrorism, should the 
two be convicted. The forfeiture notice listed property already seized 
by the FBI, including:

If convicted, Russell and Clendaniel each face a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676414256052.png" alt="A woman believed to be Sarah Beth Clendaniel is shown wearing tactical gear containing a swastika, holding a rifle and with a pistol in a drop holster on her left leg. Photo from FBI Affidavit. " />
 <figcaption>A woman believed to be Sarah Beth Clendaniel is shown wearing tactical gear containing a swastika, holding a rifle and with a pistol in a drop holster on her left leg. Photo from FBI Affidavit. </figcaption>
 </figure>By WILLIAM F. ZORZI <a href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/02/14/federal-grand-jury-indicts-pair-who-planned-attack-on-baltimore-area-electrical-grid/">Maryland Matters</a>A federal grand jury Tuesday indicted a Catonsville woman and a 
neo-Nazi residing in Orlando, Fla., on one count of conspiring to 
destroy an electrical transmission substation resulting in damages that 
would have exceeded $100,000, court documents show.Federal authorities had arrested Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 34, and 
Brandon Clint Russell, 27, on a criminal information earlier this month,
 alleging that the two conspired to shoot up five BGE substations that 
would cause a “cascading failure” in the power grid, an FBI affidavit 
showed.Clendaniel specifically mentioned destroying electrical substations 
in Norrisville, Reisterstown and Perry Hall, and two more in and around 
Baltimore City, the affidavit alleged.Much of the information that led to the charges was obtained from an 
unnamed FBI confidential informant, who communicated with Clendaniel and
 Russell, who was known to authorities for his affiliations with 
pro-Nazi groups.As part of the indictment, a forfeiture notice was filed for any and 
all assets that could be traced to the crime of terrorism, should the 
two be convicted. The forfeiture notice listed property already seized 
by the FBI, including:<ul>
 <li>A Kral Av Sanayi semiautomatic 12-gauge shotgun;</li><li>A P80 Glock-style handgun, with no serial number or manufacturer;</li><li>559 rounds of 9-mm ammunition;</li><li>953 rounds of 7.62-mm ammunition; and</li><li>77 shotgun cartridges.</li>
 </ul>If convicted, Russell and Clendaniel each face a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.

Pair who planned attack on Baltimore-area electrical grid indicted

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

Peyton Reed’s “Ant-Man” films have generally served as a kind of 
palate cleanser to the world-ending stakes of the larger Marvel 
Cinematic Universe. Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang is just an ordinary dude, or 
so they keep telling us, who still can’t really believe that he’s part 
of the Avengers at all. He gets to be the wide-eyed middle-aged fanboy 
of the group in those films. In his own films, he’s just living a 
blue-sky life in San Francisco as an affable single dad and ex-con who 
was once fired from Baskin Robbins and who has occasional enemies to 
defeat.

In this third film, “ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlNFpri-Y40">Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania</a>,”
 in theaters Thursday, he’s coasting on his own post-Blip celebrity with
 a best-selling memoir out, lots of fans around town and a generally 
sunny disposition — when he’s not breaking his teenage daughter Cassie 
(now played by Kathryn Newton, always an enjoyable presence) out of jail
 for civil disobedience.

There is a fun, light, sitcom-y touch to 
these early scenes in which he and his makeshift family, Hope Van Dyne 
(Evangeline Lilly), Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym 
(Michael Douglas) sit around the table for takeout pizza. They use their
 particle technology to blow up the tiny pie.

“I just saved us $8,” Pym declares proudly.

But
 Ant-Man is part of the larger chess board of the MCU, so naturally he’s
 doomed to be sucked into the multiverse mess, setting up pieces for 
more Avengers films to come with the introduction of a new villain, Kang
 (played with a maniacal sorrow by the great Jonathan Majors). And the 
results are mixed. Reed has returned to direct with a new writer, Jeff 
Loveness, who has also been tapped to write “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”
 and it’s hard not to empathize with both for the logic gymnastics 
required to back Ant-Man and his gang into this conflict.

Loveness,
 who cut his teeth in comedy and has an affinity for comic book and 
B-movie absurdities, gives Ant-Man his own “Star Wars”-adjacent 
adventure. There’s quite a bit of unrest in the Quantum Realm, with 
scrappy rebels battling against a powerful ruler with an army of 
faceless soldiers. But he takes that conceit further and gives the 
rebels some personality and humor, including William Jackson Harper as 
the mind-reading Quaz. The villain's a killing machine, M.O.D.O.K., that
 looks (knowingly) straight out of a “Mystery Science Theater 3000” 
movie and it is quite entertaining. It’s both a nod to the fun of the 
ridiculousness in sci-fi and a reminder that Serious Superhero Films are
 sometimes just one crazy special effect away from being Silly Superhero
 Films.

“Quantumania” also gives Pfeiffer a lot more to do as we, 
and Hank and Hope, learn a little bit more about Janet’s 30 years in the
 Quantum Realm and the various compromises and allegiances she made to 
stay alive. Pfeiffer is an unambiguous delight and the real center of 
the movie despite what the title might claim. Ant-Man just finds himself
 in the middle of the mess, which starts to drag on in a muddle of 
sci-fi furnishings that individually are probably quite inspired and 
interesting but together just blend into a dreary mess.

It’s a 
shame because Reed’s films are generally so crisp and styled and are 
best when focused on characters, not worlds and Quantum Realms. 
“Quantumania” shines when it is keeping things light and quippy.

But
 Kang, for what we can assume are bigger story needs, needs to be more 
serious. Majors is certainly chilling and captivating, but Kang seems 
like a mismatched foe for a standalone Ant-Man film and the result is a 
“Quantumania” that is trying to be too many things. One thing it is not 
is a Wasp movie, though. Lilly gets a lot to do but not a lot of — or 
any — character development.

“Quantumania” sticks the ending, 
however. Without giving anything away, we'll just say that Reed and Rudd
 get to return to their sweet spot, with a bit of a twist.

“Ant-Man
 and the Wasp: Quantumania,” a Walt Disney release in theaters Thursday,
 is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for “some sci-fi 
action violence.” Running time: 122 minutes. Two and a half stars out of
 four.

MPA Definition of PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film WriterPeyton Reed’s “Ant-Man” films have generally served as a kind of 
palate cleanser to the world-ending stakes of the larger Marvel 
Cinematic Universe. Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang is just an ordinary dude, or 
so they keep telling us, who still can’t really believe that he’s part 
of the Avengers at all. He gets to be the wide-eyed middle-aged fanboy 
of the group in those films. In his own films, he’s just living a 
blue-sky life in San Francisco as an affable single dad and ex-con who 
was once fired from Baskin Robbins and who has occasional enemies to 
defeat.In this third film, “ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlNFpri-Y40">Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania</a>,”
 in theaters Thursday, he’s coasting on his own post-Blip celebrity with
 a best-selling memoir out, lots of fans around town and a generally 
sunny disposition — when he’s not breaking his teenage daughter Cassie 
(now played by Kathryn Newton, always an enjoyable presence) out of jail
 for civil disobedience.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667933757340.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>There is a fun, light, sitcom-y touch to 
these early scenes in which he and his makeshift family, Hope Van Dyne 
(Evangeline Lilly), Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym 
(Michael Douglas) sit around the table for takeout pizza. They use their
 particle technology to blow up the tiny pie.“I just saved us $8,” Pym declares proudly.But
 Ant-Man is part of the larger chess board of the MCU, so naturally he’s
 doomed to be sucked into the multiverse mess, setting up pieces for 
more Avengers films to come with the introduction of a new villain, Kang
 (played with a maniacal sorrow by the great Jonathan Majors). And the 
results are mixed. Reed has returned to direct with a new writer, Jeff 
Loveness, who has also been tapped to write “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”
 and it’s hard not to empathize with both for the logic gymnastics 
required to back Ant-Man and his gang into this conflict.Loveness,
 who cut his teeth in comedy and has an affinity for comic book and 
B-movie absurdities, gives Ant-Man his own “Star Wars”-adjacent 
adventure. There’s quite a bit of unrest in the Quantum Realm, with 
scrappy rebels battling against a powerful ruler with an army of 
faceless soldiers. But he takes that conceit further and gives the 
rebels some personality and humor, including William Jackson Harper as 
the mind-reading Quaz. The villain's a killing machine, M.O.D.O.K., that
 looks (knowingly) straight out of a “Mystery Science Theater 3000” 
movie and it is quite entertaining. It’s both a nod to the fun of the 
ridiculousness in sci-fi and a reminder that Serious Superhero Films are
 sometimes just one crazy special effect away from being Silly Superhero
 Films.“Quantumania” also gives Pfeiffer a lot more to do as we, 
and Hank and Hope, learn a little bit more about Janet’s 30 years in the
 Quantum Realm and the various compromises and allegiances she made to 
stay alive. Pfeiffer is an unambiguous delight and the real center of 
the movie despite what the title might claim. Ant-Man just finds himself
 in the middle of the mess, which starts to drag on in a muddle of 
sci-fi furnishings that individually are probably quite inspired and 
interesting but together just blend into a dreary mess.It’s a 
shame because Reed’s films are generally so crisp and styled and are 
best when focused on characters, not worlds and Quantum Realms. 
“Quantumania” shines when it is keeping things light and quippy.But
 Kang, for what we can assume are bigger story needs, needs to be more 
serious. Majors is certainly chilling and captivating, but Kang seems 
like a mismatched foe for a standalone Ant-Man film and the result is a 
“Quantumania” that is trying to be too many things. One thing it is not 
is a Wasp movie, though. Lilly gets a lot to do but not a lot of — or 
any — character development.“Quantumania” sticks the ending, 
however. Without giving anything away, we'll just say that Reed and Rudd
 get to return to their sweet spot, with a bit of a twist.“Ant-Man
 and the Wasp: Quantumania,” a Walt Disney release in theaters Thursday,
 is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for “some sci-fi 
action violence.” Running time: 122 minutes. Two and a half stars out of
 four.MPA Definition of PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Review: A Marvel villain comes into focus in ‘Ant-Man 3’

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic Sen. <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/dianne-feinstein">Dianne Feinstein</a>,
 whose groundbreaking political career shattered gender barriers from 
San Francisco's City Hall to the corridors of Capitol Hill, said Tuesday
 she won't seek reelection in 2024.

The senator, who turns 90 in 
June, is the oldest member of Congress and has faced questions in recent
 years about her cognitive health and memory, though she has defended 
her effectiveness representing a state that is home to nearly 40 million
 people.

The announcement came after several prominent Democrats, including U.S. Reps. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-politics-california-dianne-feinstein-united-states-senate-172759fa83faa0a70a2195a91dedb6f3">Katie Porter</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/adam-schiff">Adam Schiff</a>,
 already had declared Senate campaigns. With Feinstein a now 30-year 
veteran of the Senate, there hasn’t been a wide open competition for her
 seat in decades.

Feinstein plans to remain in Congress through 
the end of her current term. Speaking to reporters in Washington on 
Tuesday, she said “there's times for all things under the sun.”

“I think that will be the right time, towards the end of next year," she said.

Feinstein
 is one of the Senate's few remaining veterans of the so-called Year of 
the Woman, referring to several women who were elected to the 
male-dominated chamber during the 1992 election. But even before she 
moved to Washington, Feinstein was one of the most prominent women in 
American politics.

She was the first woman to serve as president of the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/san-francisco">San Francisco</a>
 Board of Supervisors in the 1970s and the first female mayor of San 
Francisco. She ascended to that post after the November 1978 
assassinations of then-Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey 
Milk by a former supervisor, Dan White. Feinstein found Milk’s body.

In
 the Senate, she was the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence 
Committee and the first woman to serve as the Judiciary Committee’s top 
Democrat. She gained a reputation as a pragmatic centrist who left a 
mark on political battles over issues ranging from reproductive rights 
to environmental protection.

Feinstein is particularly closely 
associated with efforts to broaden gun restrictions. Early in her 
career, the Senate approved her amendment to ban manufacturing and sales
 of certain types of assault weapons as part of a crime bill that 
President <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bill-clinton">Bill Clinton</a>
 signed into law in 1994. The ban expired 10 years later and was never 
replaced, but it remained a trademark issue in a career that was molded 
by gun violence.

She was also known for reaching out to 
Republicans to find middle ground. While that may have helped her notch 
legislative accomplishments in Washington, it chafed some in a 
Democratic Party that has moved increasingly to the left in recent 
years.

That frustration was on display during her last reelection 
campaign in 2018. The California Democratic Party endorsed a liberal 
rival for the seat over her, with some delegates complaining Feinstein 
had been in Washington too long and hadn’t stood strong enough for 
immigrants.

She <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-confirmation-hearings-amy-coney-barrett-dianne-feinstein-voting-rights-366d70dcde6aa681e540dd6a0e3a25de">infuriated liberals</a>
 in 2020 when she closed out confirmation hearings for Justice Amy Coney
 Barrett with an embrace of Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey 
Graham, a Republican, and a public thanks to him for a job well done.

Liberal
 advocacy groups that had fiercely opposed Barrett’s nomination to 
replace the late liberal icon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg were furious 
and called for her to step down from the committee leadership. A month 
later, she announced she would remain on the Judiciary Committee but 
step down as the top Democrat.

But such tension was forgotten on 
Capitol Hill on Tuesday, where Democrats praised Feinstein's career. At a
 closed door lunch of Democratic senators, the lawmakers broke into 
rounds of applause for Feinstein after Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sen-chuck-schumer">Chuck Schumer</a> announced her decision.

“She’s
 a legend,” Schumer later told reporters. “A legend in California as the
 first woman senator; a legend in this Senate. She was the leader on so 
many different issues, assault weapons, environment, women’s rights, and
 so much else. She approached everything studiously and carefully.”

At
 the lunch, Feinstein told her colleagues how hard her husband’s death 
was and that she would be ready to step away from public life after 
finishing this term, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said afterward. 
Feinstein's husband, Richard Blum, died last year.

“Senator 
Feinstein made history,” said Warren. “She changed this country and she 
was a woman on the front lines in fights, like access to assault 
weapons, and national security and intelligence.”

Warren added: “Every other woman in public office owes a special debt to Dianne Feinstein.”

In
 her home state, where Feinstein is the longest serving U.S. senator, 
she was lionized for her historic tenure in public service.

Democratic
 U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, called her San 
Francisco neighbor “a titan” of the Senate who, among her 
accomplishments, steered billions of federal dollars to California for 
environmental protection. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom called Feinstein a
 mentor and credited her with “blazing a trail for a new generation of 
female lawmakers.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic Sen. <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/dianne-feinstein">Dianne Feinstein</a>,
 whose groundbreaking political career shattered gender barriers from 
San Francisco's City Hall to the corridors of Capitol Hill, said Tuesday
 she won't seek reelection in 2024.The senator, who turns 90 in 
June, is the oldest member of Congress and has faced questions in recent
 years about her cognitive health and memory, though she has defended 
her effectiveness representing a state that is home to nearly 40 million
 people.The announcement came after several prominent Democrats, including U.S. Reps. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-politics-california-dianne-feinstein-united-states-senate-172759fa83faa0a70a2195a91dedb6f3">Katie Porter</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/adam-schiff">Adam Schiff</a>,
 already had declared Senate campaigns. With Feinstein a now 30-year 
veteran of the Senate, there hasn’t been a wide open competition for her
 seat in decades.Feinstein plans to remain in Congress through 
the end of her current term. Speaking to reporters in Washington on 
Tuesday, she said “there's times for all things under the sun.”“I think that will be the right time, towards the end of next year," she said.Feinstein
 is one of the Senate's few remaining veterans of the so-called Year of 
the Woman, referring to several women who were elected to the 
male-dominated chamber during the 1992 election. But even before she 
moved to Washington, Feinstein was one of the most prominent women in 
American politics.She was the first woman to serve as president of the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/san-francisco">San Francisco</a>
 Board of Supervisors in the 1970s and the first female mayor of San 
Francisco. She ascended to that post after the November 1978 
assassinations of then-Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey 
Milk by a former supervisor, Dan White. Feinstein found Milk’s body.In
 the Senate, she was the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence 
Committee and the first woman to serve as the Judiciary Committee’s top 
Democrat. She gained a reputation as a pragmatic centrist who left a 
mark on political battles over issues ranging from reproductive rights 
to environmental protection.Feinstein is particularly closely 
associated with efforts to broaden gun restrictions. Early in her 
career, the Senate approved her amendment to ban manufacturing and sales
 of certain types of assault weapons as part of a crime bill that 
President <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bill-clinton">Bill Clinton</a>
 signed into law in 1994. The ban expired 10 years later and was never 
replaced, but it remained a trademark issue in a career that was molded 
by gun violence.She was also known for reaching out to 
Republicans to find middle ground. While that may have helped her notch 
legislative accomplishments in Washington, it chafed some in a 
Democratic Party that has moved increasingly to the left in recent 
years.That frustration was on display during her last reelection 
campaign in 2018. The California Democratic Party endorsed a liberal 
rival for the seat over her, with some delegates complaining Feinstein 
had been in Washington too long and hadn’t stood strong enough for 
immigrants.She <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-confirmation-hearings-amy-coney-barrett-dianne-feinstein-voting-rights-366d70dcde6aa681e540dd6a0e3a25de">infuriated liberals</a>
 in 2020 when she closed out confirmation hearings for Justice Amy Coney
 Barrett with an embrace of Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey 
Graham, a Republican, and a public thanks to him for a job well done.Liberal
 advocacy groups that had fiercely opposed Barrett’s nomination to 
replace the late liberal icon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg were furious 
and called for her to step down from the committee leadership. A month 
later, she announced she would remain on the Judiciary Committee but 
step down as the top Democrat.But such tension was forgotten on 
Capitol Hill on Tuesday, where Democrats praised Feinstein's career. At a
 closed door lunch of Democratic senators, the lawmakers broke into 
rounds of applause for Feinstein after Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sen-chuck-schumer">Chuck Schumer</a> announced her decision.“She’s
 a legend,” Schumer later told reporters. “A legend in California as the
 first woman senator; a legend in this Senate. She was the leader on so 
many different issues, assault weapons, environment, women’s rights, and
 so much else. She approached everything studiously and carefully.”At
 the lunch, Feinstein told her colleagues how hard her husband’s death 
was and that she would be ready to step away from public life after 
finishing this term, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said afterward. 
Feinstein's husband, Richard Blum, died last year.“Senator 
Feinstein made history,” said Warren. “She changed this country and she 
was a woman on the front lines in fights, like access to assault 
weapons, and national security and intelligence.”Warren added: “Every other woman in public office owes a special debt to Dianne Feinstein.”In
 her home state, where Feinstein is the longest serving U.S. senator, 
she was lionized for her historic tenure in public service.Democratic
 U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, called her San 
Francisco neighbor “a titan” of the Senate who, among her 
accomplishments, steered billions of federal dollars to California for 
environmental protection. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom called Feinstein a
 mentor and credited her with “blazing a trail for a new generation of 
female lawmakers.”

California Sen. Feinstein says she won't run for reelection

WASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates will
 remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning April 1, 2023.

For individuals, the rate for overpayments and underpayments will be 
7% per year, compounded daily. Here is a complete list of the new rates:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is 
determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, 
the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate 
plus 3 percentage points.

Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the
 federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points, and the overpayment 
rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate 
for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 
percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of
 tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term 
rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal 
short-term rate determined during January 2023. See the revenue ruling 
for details.

<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-23-04.pdf">Revenue Ruling 2023-4</a>PDF announcing the rates of interest will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2023-9, dated Feb. 27, 2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON
 — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates will
 remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning April 1, 2023.For individuals, the rate for overpayments and underpayments will be 
7% per year, compounded daily. Here is a complete list of the new rates:<ul>
 <li>7% for overpayments (payments made in excess of the amount owed), 6% for corporations.</li><li>4.5% for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.</li><li>7% for underpayments (taxes owed but not fully paid).</li><li>9% for large corporate underpayments.</li>
 </ul>Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is 
determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, 
the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate 
plus 3 percentage points.Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the
 federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points, and the overpayment 
rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate 
for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 
percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of
 tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term 
rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal 
short-term rate determined during January 2023. See the revenue ruling 
for details.<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-23-04.pdf">Revenue Ruling 2023-4</a>PDF announcing the rates of interest will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2023-9, dated Feb. 27, 2023.

IRS: Interest rates remain the same for the second quarter of 2023

By LIA NOWER <a href="https://theconversation.com/data-from-new-jersey-is-a-warning-sign-for-young-sports-bettors-197865">The Conversation</a>

When the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs take the field 
for Super Bowl LVII, a record-breaking 50 million bettors are expected 
to have <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/new/record-50-million-americans-to-wager-16b-on-super-bowl-lvii/">US$16 billion</a> of their own skin in the game, according to the American Gaming Association.

In January 2023, Ohio and Massachusetts launched legal sports betting, joining Washington D.C. and <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/research/state-gaming-map/">34 other states</a>
 that have passed laws since the Supreme Court overturned a federal ban 
in 2018. State legislatures have generally been eager to capitalize on 
the tax windfalls from sports betting and get their slice of <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/resources/aga-commercial-gaming-revenue-tracker/">the billions</a> wagered annually. Voters are also <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/08/legal-sports-betting-support-americans/">increasingly supportive of legalization</a>.

Here in New Jersey, sports betting, both online and in person, has 
been legal since June 2018. The state is the only jurisdiction that 
requires yearly evaluations of the relationship of online gambling and 
sports wagering to problem gambling. 

The Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University, which I direct, <a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">conducts those annual evaluations</a>
 using data from all sports bets placed in New Jersey since 2018. Our 
findings suggest that the nation’s love affair with sports betting may 
be having unintended consequences.

Sports betting tied to poor mental health

In a forthcoming statewide gambling prevalence study, we found that 
those wagering on sports in New Jersey were more likely than others who 
gamble to have high rates of problem gambling and problems with drugs or
 alcohol, and to experience mental health problems like anxiety and 
depression. Most alarming, findings suggest that about 14% of sports 
bettors reported thoughts of suicide, and 10% said they had made a 
suicide attempt.

A small group of bettors seem to be most at risk. About 5% of all 
sports bettors placed nearly half of all bets and spent nearly 70% of 
the money. That means the people losing the most money are the most 
essential to operator profits. 
<a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">The fastest-growing group of sports bettors in New Jersey</a> are young adults, ages 21 to 24. Most have placed in-game bets, and about 19% spent half of their money betting during games, <a href="https://theconversation.com/sports-betting-apps-notifications-and-leaderboards-encourage-more-and-more-wagers-a-psychologist-who-treats-gambling-addictions-explains-why-some-people-get-hooked-198358">when emotions and impulsive spending are highest</a>.

Although regulators require operators to allow bettors to set limits –
 on losses, deposits or time spent gambling – only about 1% of young 
bettors use any of the safeguards, less than any other age group. Since 
about <a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">70% of the sports bets we analyzed</a> were losing bets, most of these young players could find themselves losing more money than they can afford.

It is possible, then, that states could unwittingly be introducing a 
cohort of young people to problem gambling and a lifetime of negative 
consequences. 

That’s because the younger that people <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jpsychires.2012.02.007">start gambling</a>,
 the more activities they bet on. And the more frequently they bet, the 
more likely they are to develop serious gambling problems. Studies 
suggest that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-017-9726-y">those who gamble as young adults</a> have higher-than-average rates of problem gambling.

The danger is compounded by the easy access afforded by tablets and 
mobile phones, which eliminate most barriers to gambling even for those 
who are underage. Children who are exposed to the unrelenting parade of 
gambling ads <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12728">report they remember</a> both the products and the betting terms from those ads, and some teens say <a href="https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.7.2018.128">they intended to gamble as a result</a>. If <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107460">parents or other household members also gamble</a>, those children may later develop not only gambling problems, but also problems with drugs and alcohol.

In the U.S., the Marlboro Man can no longer gallop across <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/federal-cigarette-labeling-advertising-act">the nation’s television airwaves</a>. Alcohol ads <a href="https://alcohol.org/laws/marketing-to-the-public/">can’t contain</a> statements that are misleading, patently false or target those who are underage.

However, there are currently no such federal guidelines for gambling 
ads. Major League Baseball, which banned Pete Rose and locked him out of
 the Hall of Fame for gambling, openly sanctions <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2021/08/10/why-nearly-all-mlb-ballparks-will-have-a-sportsbook-attached-to-it-in-the-future/?sh=52ba50cb36d8">sports books attached to stadiums</a> and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianred/2021/01/12/major-league-baseball-teams-and-a-new-revenue-stream-online-gaming-business-partners/?sh=a0866755ef95">partnerships with gambling operators</a>. The same goes for the NFL and most of its teams, with former stars like Eli Manning <a href="https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2022/08/23/see-it-new-york-giants-legend-eli-manning-appears-new-caesars-ad-with-brothers/">encouraging betting</a> in ads and Pro Bowl wide receiver Davonte Adams becoming the <a href="https://www.actionnetwork.com/news/davante-adams-likely-first-active-nfl-player-with-gambling-related-sponsor">first active player</a> with a gambling sponsor.

Those who recognize they have a gambling problem also have no assurances that they can find help. 

Gambling treatment services <a href="https://naadgs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NAADGS_2021_Survey_of_Publicly_Funded_Problem_Gambling_Services_in_the_United_States_v2.pdf">vary by state</a>,
 from specially trained, culturally competent counselors in a few states
 to a total lack of services in others. Most children and teens receive 
no education in schools about problem gambling as they do for drugs and 
alcohol. Some universities <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/caesars-sports-betting-universities-colleges.html">are openly partnering with gambling companies</a> and sponsoring esports competitions, which invite underage betting.

The federal government is noticeably silent on a glamorized 
addiction. Nationally, there are no federal policies, prohibitions or 
federally funded research or <a href="https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/naadgs-analysis-of-problem-gambling-funding-july-2022/521f7652c06a6d4d/full.pdf">prevention programs</a>, despite all the revenue generated by taxes on gambling winnings.

Internationally, gambling-related abuses and tragedies have led countries <a href="https://theconversation.com/40-years-of-legal-sports-betting-in-australia-points-to-risks-for-us-gamblers-and-tips-for-regulators-194993">like Australia and the U.K.</a> to enact new regulations and significant penalties for operators. The U.K., for example, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2022.0020">requires operators to conduct affordability checks</a>
 on patrons to ensure they can afford their losses and prohibits 
gambling advertising by athletes, celebrities or social media 
influencers who appeal to children and teens.

I think it’s only a matter of time before similar proposals make 
their way to the U.S. In the meantime, however, millions of people in 
more than half the country will legally lay their hard-earned money on 
the line for a chance to win big on Sunday.

Lia Nower is a professor and director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675971967412.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By LIA NOWER <a href="https://theconversation.com/data-from-new-jersey-is-a-warning-sign-for-young-sports-bettors-197865">The Conversation</a>When the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs take the field 
for Super Bowl LVII, a record-breaking 50 million bettors are expected 
to have <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/new/record-50-million-americans-to-wager-16b-on-super-bowl-lvii/">US$16 billion</a> of their own skin in the game, according to the American Gaming Association. In January 2023, Ohio and Massachusetts launched legal sports betting, joining Washington D.C. and <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/research/state-gaming-map/">34 other states</a>
 that have passed laws since the Supreme Court overturned a federal ban 
in 2018. State legislatures have generally been eager to capitalize on 
the tax windfalls from sports betting and get their slice of <a href="https://www.americangaming.org/resources/aga-commercial-gaming-revenue-tracker/">the billions</a> wagered annually. Voters are also <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/08/legal-sports-betting-support-americans/">increasingly supportive of legalization</a>. Here in New Jersey, sports betting, both online and in person, has 
been legal since June 2018. The state is the only jurisdiction that 
requires yearly evaluations of the relationship of online gambling and 
sports wagering to problem gambling. The Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University, which I direct, <a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">conducts those annual evaluations</a>
 using data from all sports bets placed in New Jersey since 2018. Our 
findings suggest that the nation’s love affair with sports betting may 
be having unintended consequences.<h2>Sports betting tied to poor mental health</h2>In a forthcoming statewide gambling prevalence study, we found that 
those wagering on sports in New Jersey were more likely than others who 
gamble to have high rates of problem gambling and problems with drugs or
 alcohol, and to experience mental health problems like anxiety and 
depression. Most alarming, findings suggest that about 14% of sports 
bettors reported thoughts of suicide, and 10% said they had made a 
suicide attempt.A small group of bettors seem to be most at risk. About 5% of all 
sports bettors placed nearly half of all bets and spent nearly 70% of 
the money. That means the people losing the most money are the most 
essential to operator profits. 
<a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">The fastest-growing group of sports bettors in New Jersey</a> are young adults, ages 21 to 24. Most have placed in-game bets, and about 19% spent half of their money betting during games, <a href="https://theconversation.com/sports-betting-apps-notifications-and-leaderboards-encourage-more-and-more-wagers-a-psychologist-who-treats-gambling-addictions-explains-why-some-people-get-hooked-198358">when emotions and impulsive spending are highest</a>. Although regulators require operators to allow bettors to set limits –
 on losses, deposits or time spent gambling – only about 1% of young 
bettors use any of the safeguards, less than any other age group. Since 
about <a href="https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/center-gambling-studies/research-publications">70% of the sports bets we analyzed</a> were losing bets, most of these young players could find themselves losing more money than they can afford. <h2>A vulnerable population</h2>It is possible, then, that states could unwittingly be introducing a 
cohort of young people to problem gambling and a lifetime of negative 
consequences. That’s because the younger that people <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jpsychires.2012.02.007">start gambling</a>,
 the more activities they bet on. And the more frequently they bet, the 
more likely they are to develop serious gambling problems. Studies 
suggest that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-017-9726-y">those who gamble as young adults</a> have higher-than-average rates of problem gambling.The danger is compounded by the easy access afforded by tablets and 
mobile phones, which eliminate most barriers to gambling even for those 
who are underage. Children who are exposed to the unrelenting parade of 
gambling ads <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12728">report they remember</a> both the products and the betting terms from those ads, and some teens say <a href="https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.7.2018.128">they intended to gamble as a result</a>. If <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107460">parents or other household members also gamble</a>, those children may later develop not only gambling problems, but also problems with drugs and alcohol. <h2>Few regulatory measures in place</h2>In the U.S., the Marlboro Man can no longer gallop across <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/federal-cigarette-labeling-advertising-act">the nation’s television airwaves</a>. Alcohol ads <a href="https://alcohol.org/laws/marketing-to-the-public/">can’t contain</a> statements that are misleading, patently false or target those who are underage.However, there are currently no such federal guidelines for gambling 
ads. Major League Baseball, which banned Pete Rose and locked him out of
 the Hall of Fame for gambling, openly sanctions <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2021/08/10/why-nearly-all-mlb-ballparks-will-have-a-sportsbook-attached-to-it-in-the-future/?sh=52ba50cb36d8">sports books attached to stadiums</a> and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianred/2021/01/12/major-league-baseball-teams-and-a-new-revenue-stream-online-gaming-business-partners/?sh=a0866755ef95">partnerships with gambling operators</a>. The same goes for the NFL and most of its teams, with former stars like Eli Manning <a href="https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2022/08/23/see-it-new-york-giants-legend-eli-manning-appears-new-caesars-ad-with-brothers/">encouraging betting</a> in ads and Pro Bowl wide receiver Davonte Adams becoming the <a href="https://www.actionnetwork.com/news/davante-adams-likely-first-active-nfl-player-with-gambling-related-sponsor">first active player</a> with a gambling sponsor.Those who recognize they have a gambling problem also have no assurances that they can find help. Gambling treatment services <a href="https://naadgs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NAADGS_2021_Survey_of_Publicly_Funded_Problem_Gambling_Services_in_the_United_States_v2.pdf">vary by state</a>,
 from specially trained, culturally competent counselors in a few states
 to a total lack of services in others. Most children and teens receive 
no education in schools about problem gambling as they do for drugs and 
alcohol. Some universities <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/caesars-sports-betting-universities-colleges.html">are openly partnering with gambling companies</a> and sponsoring esports competitions, which invite underage betting.The federal government is noticeably silent on a glamorized 
addiction. Nationally, there are no federal policies, prohibitions or 
federally funded research or <a href="https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/naadgs-analysis-of-problem-gambling-funding-july-2022/521f7652c06a6d4d/full.pdf">prevention programs</a>, despite all the revenue generated by taxes on gambling winnings.Internationally, gambling-related abuses and tragedies have led countries <a href="https://theconversation.com/40-years-of-legal-sports-betting-in-australia-points-to-risks-for-us-gamblers-and-tips-for-regulators-194993">like Australia and the U.K.</a> to enact new regulations and significant penalties for operators. The U.K., for example, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2022.0020">requires operators to conduct affordability checks</a>
 on patrons to ensure they can afford their losses and prohibits 
gambling advertising by athletes, celebrities or social media 
influencers who appeal to children and teens.I think it’s only a matter of time before similar proposals make 
their way to the U.S. In the meantime, however, millions of people in 
more than half the country will legally lay their hard-earned money on 
the line for a chance to win big on Sunday.Hopefully, they can afford to lose.Lia Nower is a professor and director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/197865/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

Data in new study a warning sign for young sports bettors

NEW YORK (AP) — One day in 2020, at the pandemic’s height, an 
earnest-looking man with long hair the color of Buffalo sauce stepped up
 to a podium in Lincoln, Nebraska, to address his city council during 
its public comment period. His unexpected topic, as he framed it: It was
 time to end the deception.

“I propose that we as a city remove 
the name `boneless wings’ from our menus and from our hearts,” said 
Ander Christensen, who managed to be <a href="https://apnews.com/article/oddities-ne-state-wire-2b177ee0f7bf2874179519b539c9b998">both persuasive and tongue-in-cheek</a> all at once. “We’ve been living a lie for far too long.”

With
 the Super Bowl at hand, behold the cheerful untruth that has been 
perpetrated upon (and generally with the blessing of) the 
chicken-consuming citizens of the United States on menus across the 
land: a “boneless wing” that isn’t a wing at all.

Odds are you 
already knew that — though spot checks over the past year at a 
smattering of wing joints (see what we did there?) suggest that a 
healthy amount of Americans don't. But those little white-meat nuggets, 
tasty as they may be, offer a glimpse into how things are marketed, how 
people believe them — and whether it matters to anyone but the chicken.

This weekend, according to the National Chicken Council, Americans are <a href="https://www.nationalchickencouncil.org/as-prices-ease-americans-projected-to-eat-1-45-billion-chicken-wings-for-super-bowl-lvii/">set to eat 1.45 billion chicken wings</a>.
 So if you ever wanted a deep dive into what it means to eat the wings 
that aren't — and how the chicken wing's proximity to beer, good times 
and football sent it soaring — now's the time.

Today's food landscape is brimming with these gentle impostors — things we eat that pass as other things we eat.

<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/surimi-seafood-secret-ingredient">Surimi</a>
 is fish that effectively becomes crab or lobster meat for many of us — 
and stars in California rolls across the land. Carrots are cut and 
buffed until their edges are curved and smooth, becoming “ <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/the-truth-behind-baby-carrots">baby carrots</a>
 ” or, slightly more truthfully, “baby-cut carrots.” Impossible Burgers 
are plant-based delicacies that carry many of meat's characteristics 
without ever having been near an animal. And “Chilean sea bass"? Not a 
bass at all, but a rebrand of something called a Patagonian toothfish.

Part
 of the reason for the rise of the “boneless wing” is money. In recent 
years, with prices of actual chicken wings rising, the alternative 
became more cost effective. The average price for prepared “boneless 
wings” is $4.99 a pound compared with $8.38 a pound for bone-in wings, 
according to Tom Super, senior vice president of communications for the 
National Chicken Council, citing the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He 
calls it “a way to move more boneless/skinless breast meat that 
continues currently to be in ample supply.”

“While many wing 
consumers argue that the wing needs a bone to impart a special taste, 
the ongoing success of the boneless wings has proven there are plenty of
 boneless wing diners,” Super said in an email.

Why? Part of it is
 because “boneless wings” — the quotation marks will remain for the 
duration of our time together — summon a powerful backstory.

“You’re
 associating it with the Super Bowl and parties and fun, so you 
transform the perception of the product,” says Christopher Kimball, 
founder of Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street, a company whose magazine 
and instructional TV show help people cook and teach them about food.

“Most
 people have no idea where any of this stuff comes from,” Kimball says. 
“You can blame the food companies, but we’re buying it.”

We accept
 them — embrace them, even. And what does it really matter, you say? 
They're delicious, they're convenient. So why poke into things that pair
 so perfectly with beer and make the sports-watching world a better 
place?

Here's one possible reason: Could they be a microcosm of 
the national willingness to accept things that aren't what they purport 
to be? And isn't that something that this country struggles with 
mightily, particularly in the misinformation- and 
disinformation-saturated years since the “boneless wing” entered our 
world?

“It’s not really wrong, but are we tricking people?” 
wonders Matthew Read, who teaches advertising at Le Moyne College in 
Syracuse, New York, after two decades with ad agencies. He hosts a 
cooking show on local television called “Spatchcock Funk.”

“The 
wing,” he says, "has gone from being an actual part of chicken to being 
just something you can sauce and eat with your hands.”

Whether cut
 from actual flying-related appendages or not, “boneless wings” have 
taken hold. The chicken council, which credits the behemoth chain 
Buffalo Wild Wings with inventing them, asked wing eaters in 2018 which 
kind of wings they preferred, and 40% placed themselves on Team 
Boneless. Previous years were even higher.

Christensen, a chemical
 engineer by day, has been on his wing crusade for years. It began when 
he was in college, and a group of friends had all just split with their 
girlfriends. Suddenly they had extra money and time, so they started 
going to wing restaurants three times a week. He began noticing how many
 “boneless wings” were ordered with no sense that they weren't what they
 purported to be. A semi-comedic cause was born.

“I'm looking around and saying, `Why doesn't anybody care?'” he said in an interview this week.

He
 has done informal surveys, accosting people about their wing habits, 
including at one recent college football game in Ohio. “The vast 
majority of people have no clue. Most people think it’s part of the 
wing. Some think it’s part of the thigh. A small group realized that it 
was from the chicken breast.”

His theory: Generations that grew up
 on chicken nuggets turn to “boneless wings” as a way of allowing 
themselves to continue those eating habits. “They get to pretend they're
 eating like adults,” he says.

Could the very definition of the 
word “wing” be changing? Many wing places now offer a “cauliflower wing”
 alternative, whose only relationship with an actual wing is the sauce. 
And some vegan “wing” recipes even suggest inserting a popsicle stick 
into the cauliflower to approximate a chicken bone.

“Our idea of 
what a wing is comes from what we’re told we’re eating,” says Alexandra 
Plakias, who teaches at Hamilton College in New York and is the author 
of “Thinking Through Food: A Philosophical Introduction.”

“These 
kinds of mini-deceptions that seem fun kind of normalize manipulation,” 
Plakias says. “Is a wing a part of a bird, or is a wing a style of 
sauce? And that ambiguity is where I think we open up room for 
deception."

And so perhaps the language evolves, though there are pockets of skeptics.

“Personally,
 I do think it matters. I want to know exactly what it is that I’m 
ordering and what’s in my food," says Natalie Visconti, 20, of 
Bridgewater, New Jersey, a sophomore at Penn State University and a 
self-described “traditional wing” aficionado.

Christensen vows to 
carry on, and mentions — almost in passing — that he's gunning to become
 “the world's first chicken-wing lobbyist.” His efforts have drawn some 
scorn; people right and left accuse him of carrying a coded message 
about something political. He insists it's nothing more than culinary 
truth-seeking.

“Genuinely, I really only care about boneless wings,” he says. "I have one small hill to die on. But it’s mine.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676054282983.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — One day in 2020, at the pandemic’s height, an 
earnest-looking man with long hair the color of Buffalo sauce stepped up
 to a podium in Lincoln, Nebraska, to address his city council during 
its public comment period. His unexpected topic, as he framed it: It was
 time to end the deception.“I propose that we as a city remove 
the name `boneless wings’ from our menus and from our hearts,” said 
Ander Christensen, who managed to be <a href="https://apnews.com/article/oddities-ne-state-wire-2b177ee0f7bf2874179519b539c9b998">both persuasive and tongue-in-cheek</a> all at once. “We’ve been living a lie for far too long.”With
 the Super Bowl at hand, behold the cheerful untruth that has been 
perpetrated upon (and generally with the blessing of) the 
chicken-consuming citizens of the United States on menus across the 
land: a “boneless wing” that isn’t a wing at all.Odds are you 
already knew that — though spot checks over the past year at a 
smattering of wing joints (see what we did there?) suggest that a 
healthy amount of Americans don't. But those little white-meat nuggets, 
tasty as they may be, offer a glimpse into how things are marketed, how 
people believe them — and whether it matters to anyone but the chicken.This weekend, according to the National Chicken Council, Americans are <a href="https://www.nationalchickencouncil.org/as-prices-ease-americans-projected-to-eat-1-45-billion-chicken-wings-for-super-bowl-lvii/">set to eat 1.45 billion chicken wings</a>.
 So if you ever wanted a deep dive into what it means to eat the wings 
that aren't — and how the chicken wing's proximity to beer, good times 
and football sent it soaring — now's the time.Today's food landscape is brimming with these gentle impostors — things we eat that pass as other things we eat.<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/surimi-seafood-secret-ingredient">Surimi</a>
 is fish that effectively becomes crab or lobster meat for many of us — 
and stars in California rolls across the land. Carrots are cut and 
buffed until their edges are curved and smooth, becoming “ <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/the-truth-behind-baby-carrots">baby carrots</a>
 ” or, slightly more truthfully, “baby-cut carrots.” Impossible Burgers 
are plant-based delicacies that carry many of meat's characteristics 
without ever having been near an animal. And “Chilean sea bass"? Not a 
bass at all, but a rebrand of something called a Patagonian toothfish.Part
 of the reason for the rise of the “boneless wing” is money. In recent 
years, with prices of actual chicken wings rising, the alternative 
became more cost effective. The average price for prepared “boneless 
wings” is $4.99 a pound compared with $8.38 a pound for bone-in wings, 
according to Tom Super, senior vice president of communications for the 
National Chicken Council, citing the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He 
calls it “a way to move more boneless/skinless breast meat that 
continues currently to be in ample supply.”“While many wing 
consumers argue that the wing needs a bone to impart a special taste, 
the ongoing success of the boneless wings has proven there are plenty of
 boneless wing diners,” Super said in an email.Why? Part of it is
 because “boneless wings” — the quotation marks will remain for the 
duration of our time together — summon a powerful backstory.“You’re
 associating it with the Super Bowl and parties and fun, so you 
transform the perception of the product,” says Christopher Kimball, 
founder of Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street, a company whose magazine 
and instructional TV show help people cook and teach them about food.“Most
 people have no idea where any of this stuff comes from,” Kimball says. 
“You can blame the food companies, but we’re buying it.”We accept
 them — embrace them, even. And what does it really matter, you say? 
They're delicious, they're convenient. So why poke into things that pair
 so perfectly with beer and make the sports-watching world a better 
place?Here's one possible reason: Could they be a microcosm of 
the national willingness to accept things that aren't what they purport 
to be? And isn't that something that this country struggles with 
mightily, particularly in the misinformation- and 
disinformation-saturated years since the “boneless wing” entered our 
world?“It’s not really wrong, but are we tricking people?” 
wonders Matthew Read, who teaches advertising at Le Moyne College in 
Syracuse, New York, after two decades with ad agencies. He hosts a 
cooking show on local television called “Spatchcock Funk.”“The 
wing,” he says, "has gone from being an actual part of chicken to being 
just something you can sauce and eat with your hands.”Whether cut
 from actual flying-related appendages or not, “boneless wings” have 
taken hold. The chicken council, which credits the behemoth chain 
Buffalo Wild Wings with inventing them, asked wing eaters in 2018 which 
kind of wings they preferred, and 40% placed themselves on Team 
Boneless. Previous years were even higher.Christensen, a chemical
 engineer by day, has been on his wing crusade for years. It began when 
he was in college, and a group of friends had all just split with their 
girlfriends. Suddenly they had extra money and time, so they started 
going to wing restaurants three times a week. He began noticing how many
 “boneless wings” were ordered with no sense that they weren't what they
 purported to be. A semi-comedic cause was born.“I'm looking around and saying, `Why doesn't anybody care?'” he said in an interview this week.He
 has done informal surveys, accosting people about their wing habits, 
including at one recent college football game in Ohio. “The vast 
majority of people have no clue. Most people think it’s part of the 
wing. Some think it’s part of the thigh. A small group realized that it 
was from the chicken breast.”His theory: Generations that grew up
 on chicken nuggets turn to “boneless wings” as a way of allowing 
themselves to continue those eating habits. “They get to pretend they're
 eating like adults,” he says.Could the very definition of the 
word “wing” be changing? Many wing places now offer a “cauliflower wing”
 alternative, whose only relationship with an actual wing is the sauce. 
And some vegan “wing” recipes even suggest inserting a popsicle stick 
into the cauliflower to approximate a chicken bone.“Our idea of 
what a wing is comes from what we’re told we’re eating,” says Alexandra 
Plakias, who teaches at Hamilton College in New York and is the author 
of “Thinking Through Food: A Philosophical Introduction.”“These 
kinds of mini-deceptions that seem fun kind of normalize manipulation,” 
Plakias says. “Is a wing a part of a bird, or is a wing a style of 
sauce? And that ambiguity is where I think we open up room for 
deception."And so perhaps the language evolves, though there are pockets of skeptics.“Personally,
 I do think it matters. I want to know exactly what it is that I’m 
ordering and what’s in my food," says Natalie Visconti, 20, of 
Bridgewater, New Jersey, a sophomore at Penn State University and a 
self-described “traditional wing” aficionado.Christensen vows to 
carry on, and mentions — almost in passing — that he's gunning to become
 “the world's first chicken-wing lobbyist.” His efforts have drawn some 
scorn; people right and left accuse him of carrying a coded message 
about something political. He insists it's nothing more than culinary 
truth-seeking.“Genuinely, I really only care about boneless wings,” he says. "I have one small hill to die on. But it’s mine.”

How the 'boneless wing' became a tasty culinary lie

By MACALUS V. HOGAN <a href="https://theconversation.com/patrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248">The Conversation</a>

<a target="_blank" href="mailto:?subject=Patrick%20Mahomes%20injury%3A%20An%20ankle%20surgeon%20explains%20what%20a%20high%20ankle%20sprain%20is%20and%20how%20it%20might%20affect%20Mahomes%20in%20the%20Super%20Bowl%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Conversation&amp;body=Hi.%20I%20found%20an%20article%20that%20you%20might%20like%3A%20%22Patrick%20Mahomes%20injury%3A%20An%20ankle%20surgeon%20explains%20what%20a%20high%20ankle%20sprain%20is%20and%20how%20it%20might%20affect%20Mahomes%20in%20the%20Super%20Bowl%22%20%E2%80%94%20https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fpatrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248"> Email</a><a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Patrick+Mahomes+injury%3A+An+ankle+surgeon+explains+what+a+high+ankle+sprain+is+and+how+it+might+affect+Mahomes+in+the+Super+Bowl&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fpatrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248%3Futm_source%3Dtwitter%26utm_medium%3Dbylinetwitterbutton&amp;utm_campaign=none&amp;via=ConversationUS"> Twitter</a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fpatrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248%3Futm_source%3Dfacebook%26utm_medium%3Dbylinefacebookbutton"> Facebook12</a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;source=The+Conversation&amp;summary=Leading+up+to+the+2023+Super+Bowl%2C+one+of+the+biggest+points+of+discussion+has+been+the+%5Bright+ankle+of+Patrick+Mahomes%5D%28https%3A%2F%2Fwww.msn.com%2Fen-us%2Fsports%2Fother%2Fpatrick-mahomes-ankle-injury-is-the-b...&amp;title=Patrick+Mahomes+injury%3A+An+ankle+surgeon+explains+what+a+high+ankle+sprain+is+and+how+it+might+affect+Mahomes+in+the+Super+Bowl&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fpatrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248%3Futm_source%3Dlinkedin%26utm_medium%3Dbylinelinkedinbutton"> LinkedIn</a><a href="https://theconversation.com/patrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248#"> Print</a>

Leading up to the 2023 Super Bowl, one of the biggest points of discussion has been the <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/patrick-mahomes-ankle-injury-is-the-biggest-variable-of-this-super-bowl-the-latest-update-is-a-big-win-for-the-chiefs/ar-AA17gaCO">right ankle of Patrick Mahomes</a>.
 During a playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 21, 
2023, Mahomes, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, awkwardly 
fell on his ankle after being tackled. Mahomes finished the game after 
trainers taped the ankle up, but after the game, news broke that he’d <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/2023/1/22/23566337/patrick-mahomes-injury-2023-nfl-playoffs-chiefs">suffered a high ankle sprain</a>.

As a surgeon who specializes in sport ankle injuries – and having 
myself sustained a similar injury while playing high school football – I
 cringed when I saw Mahomes go down during the game against the Jaguars.
 Ankle injuries are serious affairs. High ankle sprains are painful and 
can limit performance, but given the level of fitness of an NFL 
quarterback like Mahomes and the elite-level treatment and 
rehabilitation teams provide to help players recover, I expect he will 
be ready to play at Super Bowl kickoff and the injury will cause few if 
any problems during the game.

The ankle is comprised of two large leg bones – the tibia, or shin 
bone, and the smaller fibula, which sits outside the tibia – and a 
number of strong ligaments that attach the leg bones to the foot and 
stabilize the whole area.

An ankle sprain occurs when someone abnormally bends or rolls their 
ankle joint, leading to the stretching or tearing of the ligaments that 
hold the ankle together. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.20.01787">Ankle sprains</a>
 can be either “low” or “high” based on the location of the affected 
ligaments and are graded on a scale from one to three – mild, moderate 
or severe.

The most common type of ankle sprain involves <a href="https://www.upmc.com/services/orthopaedics/conditions-treatments/sprains-strains">ligaments of the lower, outside part of ankle joint</a>.
 Low ankle sprains usually occur due to an inversion, or when the 
outside edge of the foot rolls inward toward the sole of the foot.

High ankle sprains, like the injury Mahomes suffered, are rarer than 
low ankle sprains and are caused by the opposite motion. When a 
defensive player for the Jaguars tackled and fell on Mahomes, the 
defensive player landed on Mahomes’ leg, causing the inside of his foot 
to roll outward toward the small toe. This motion is what <a href="https://doi.org/10.5435/jaaos-d-13-00135">stressed his high ankle ligaments</a>.

Most sprained ankles will result in some level of pain, swelling and 
difficulty walking on the affected joint — all things that would affect 
Mahomes’ ability to play comfortably and at the level needed to bring 
home the Lombardi Trophy. But there is a huge difference between a 
minor, grade I sprain or a severe grade III sprain in terms of 
performance and recovery time.

The ligaments of a healthy high ankle provide more stability than the
 lower ligaments, so high ankle sprains are often more serious injuries.
 In a bad high ankle sprain, the majority of the ligaments tear 
completely, resulting in severe pain, swelling and often bruising of the
 ankle. Initially it is very difficult to even stand on the ankle, let 
alone run or jump. If not properly treated, the injury can lead to 
instability, weakness and pain that limits function, especially for an 
elite athlete.

Based on the video of the injury and my experience treating 
professional athletes, it looks like Mahomes suffered at minimum a grade
 II, or moderate, sprain. After a grade II sprain, most people need a 
period of rest and treatment to reduce the inflammation of the ankle. 
Resting from running and jumping is important in the immediate days 
following the injury. If an athlete is able to return to play in the 
same game or soon after, that is usually a good sign. 

Generally, high ankle sprains take <a href="https://doi.org/10.5435/jaaos-d-13-00135">longer to heal and recover from</a> than other types of sprains, but treatment can help speed up this process.

When a patient comes in complaining of a rolled ankle, I start with a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/jisakos-2017-000183">physical exam to check the stability of the joint</a>.
 If the ankle is stable and the patient can run and jump with little 
pain, that usually means they have a low-grade injury and will not 
require much time away from sports. With a bit of rest, most people are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/jsm.0000000000001019">back at their activities within a few days</a>.

For more serious injuries, it is first essential to reduce the pain 
and swelling through a routine of rest, ice, compression and elevation, 
the well-known <a href="https://share.upmc.com/2014/08/rice-method-for-treating-injury/">“RICE” method</a>.
 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can help reduce 
pain as well. In cases where the ankle is moderately unstable, research 
shows that providing patients with a boot to immobilize the ankle can <a href="https://doi.org/10.5435/jaaos-d-13-00135">speed up the healing process</a>.

I also recommend that my patients stay off the injured leg for a 
couple of days. After those first days of rest, most patients, and 
especially elite athletes, can begin putting weight on the ankle with 
the boot still on. After about four to seven days, I will begin to 
transition my patients into strength and stability training with a focus
 on reducing swelling. This will usually include low-impact training 
such as stationary bike and pool therapy. Gradual return to 
sport-specific drills occurs prior to return-to-play. 

In the most severe cases of grade III high ankle sprains, the 
ligaments can be torn completely or injured to the point that they are 
unlikely to heal in a way that supports the ankle. In these cases, <a href="https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.20.01787">surgery involving screws, plates and other hardware</a> to hold the fibula and tibia together can be the best option.

Thankfully for Mahomes and football fans across the U.S., his injury <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/02/07/patrick-mahomes-ankle-injury-update-super-bowl-chiefs-eagles">does not appear to require surgery</a>, at least not immediately.

Research shows that most athletes with high ankle sprains often return to their sports and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/jsm.0000000000001019">can play at a similar level</a>
 to how they played before their injury. While Mahomes may not be at 
100%, given the moderate severity of the injury, his fitness and the 
high quality of care he is receiving, I expect that he will be ready to 
play an exciting game come kickoff on Super Bowl Sunday.

MaCalus V. Hogan is a Professor and Chair of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675049407857.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes signals teammates during the first half of the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes signals teammates during the first half of the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MACALUS V. HOGAN <a href="https://theconversation.com/patrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248">The Conversation</a><a target="_blank" href="mailto:?subject=Patrick%20Mahomes%20injury%3A%20An%20ankle%20surgeon%20explains%20what%20a%20high%20ankle%20sprain%20is%20and%20how%20it%20might%20affect%20Mahomes%20in%20the%20Super%20Bowl%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Conversation&amp;body=Hi.%20I%20found%20an%20article%20that%20you%20might%20like%3A%20%22Patrick%20Mahomes%20injury%3A%20An%20ankle%20surgeon%20explains%20what%20a%20high%20ankle%20sprain%20is%20and%20how%20it%20might%20affect%20Mahomes%20in%20the%20Super%20Bowl%22%20%E2%80%94%20https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fpatrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248"> Email</a><a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Patrick+Mahomes+injury%3A+An+ankle+surgeon+explains+what+a+high+ankle+sprain+is+and+how+it+might+affect+Mahomes+in+the+Super+Bowl&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fpatrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248%3Futm_source%3Dtwitter%26utm_medium%3Dbylinetwitterbutton&amp;utm_campaign=none&amp;via=ConversationUS"> Twitter</a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fpatrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248%3Futm_source%3Dfacebook%26utm_medium%3Dbylinefacebookbutton"> Facebook12</a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;source=The+Conversation&amp;summary=Leading+up+to+the+2023+Super+Bowl%2C+one+of+the+biggest+points+of+discussion+has+been+the+%5Bright+ankle+of+Patrick+Mahomes%5D%28https%3A%2F%2Fwww.msn.com%2Fen-us%2Fsports%2Fother%2Fpatrick-mahomes-ankle-injury-is-the-b...&amp;title=Patrick+Mahomes+injury%3A+An+ankle+surgeon+explains+what+a+high+ankle+sprain+is+and+how+it+might+affect+Mahomes+in+the+Super+Bowl&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fpatrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248%3Futm_source%3Dlinkedin%26utm_medium%3Dbylinelinkedinbutton"> LinkedIn</a><a href="https://theconversation.com/patrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-surgeon-explains-what-a-high-ankle-sprain-is-and-how-it-might-affect-mahomes-in-the-super-bowl-199248#"> Print</a>Leading up to the 2023 Super Bowl, one of the biggest points of discussion has been the <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/patrick-mahomes-ankle-injury-is-the-biggest-variable-of-this-super-bowl-the-latest-update-is-a-big-win-for-the-chiefs/ar-AA17gaCO">right ankle of Patrick Mahomes</a>.
 During a playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 21, 
2023, Mahomes, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, awkwardly 
fell on his ankle after being tackled. Mahomes finished the game after 
trainers taped the ankle up, but after the game, news broke that he’d <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/2023/1/22/23566337/patrick-mahomes-injury-2023-nfl-playoffs-chiefs">suffered a high ankle sprain</a>. As a surgeon who specializes in sport ankle injuries – and having 
myself sustained a similar injury while playing high school football – I
 cringed when I saw Mahomes go down during the game against the Jaguars.
 Ankle injuries are serious affairs. High ankle sprains are painful and 
can limit performance, but given the level of fitness of an NFL 
quarterback like Mahomes and the elite-level treatment and 
rehabilitation teams provide to help players recover, I expect he will 
be ready to play at Super Bowl kickoff and the injury will cause few if 
any problems during the game.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676054106403.png" alt=" The ankle joint is where the lower leg bones are stabilized and attached to the foot by a group of ligaments. This diagram shows the outside view of a right foot. Jak/Wikimedia Commons " />
 <figcaption> The ankle joint is where the lower leg bones are stabilized and attached to the foot by a group of ligaments. This diagram shows the outside view of a right foot. Jak/Wikimedia Commons </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>What is an ankle sprain?</h2>The ankle is comprised of two large leg bones – the tibia, or shin 
bone, and the smaller fibula, which sits outside the tibia – and a 
number of strong ligaments that attach the leg bones to the foot and 
stabilize the whole area.An ankle sprain occurs when someone abnormally bends or rolls their 
ankle joint, leading to the stretching or tearing of the ligaments that 
hold the ankle together. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.20.01787">Ankle sprains</a>
 can be either “low” or “high” based on the location of the affected 
ligaments and are graded on a scale from one to three – mild, moderate 
or severe.The most common type of ankle sprain involves <a href="https://www.upmc.com/services/orthopaedics/conditions-treatments/sprains-strains">ligaments of the lower, outside part of ankle joint</a>.
 Low ankle sprains usually occur due to an inversion, or when the 
outside edge of the foot rolls inward toward the sole of the foot.High ankle sprains, like the injury Mahomes suffered, are rarer than 
low ankle sprains and are caused by the opposite motion. When a 
defensive player for the Jaguars tackled and fell on Mahomes, the 
defensive player landed on Mahomes’ leg, causing the inside of his foot 
to roll outward toward the small toe. This motion is what <a href="https://doi.org/10.5435/jaaos-d-13-00135">stressed his high ankle ligaments</a>. <h2>Walking it off or needing surgery</h2>Most sprained ankles will result in some level of pain, swelling and 
difficulty walking on the affected joint — all things that would affect 
Mahomes’ ability to play comfortably and at the level needed to bring 
home the Lombardi Trophy. But there is a huge difference between a 
minor, grade I sprain or a severe grade III sprain in terms of 
performance and recovery time.The ligaments of a healthy high ankle provide more stability than the
 lower ligaments, so high ankle sprains are often more serious injuries.
 In a bad high ankle sprain, the majority of the ligaments tear 
completely, resulting in severe pain, swelling and often bruising of the
 ankle. Initially it is very difficult to even stand on the ankle, let 
alone run or jump. If not properly treated, the injury can lead to 
instability, weakness and pain that limits function, especially for an 
elite athlete.Based on the video of the injury and my experience treating 
professional athletes, it looks like Mahomes suffered at minimum a grade
 II, or moderate, sprain. After a grade II sprain, most people need a 
period of rest and treatment to reduce the inflammation of the ankle. 
Resting from running and jumping is important in the immediate days 
following the injury. If an athlete is able to return to play in the 
same game or soon after, that is usually a good sign. <h2>Treating high ankle sprains</h2>Generally, high ankle sprains take <a href="https://doi.org/10.5435/jaaos-d-13-00135">longer to heal and recover from</a> than other types of sprains, but treatment can help speed up this process.When a patient comes in complaining of a rolled ankle, I start with a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/jisakos-2017-000183">physical exam to check the stability of the joint</a>.
 If the ankle is stable and the patient can run and jump with little 
pain, that usually means they have a low-grade injury and will not 
require much time away from sports. With a bit of rest, most people are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/jsm.0000000000001019">back at their activities within a few days</a>. For more serious injuries, it is first essential to reduce the pain 
and swelling through a routine of rest, ice, compression and elevation, 
the well-known <a href="https://share.upmc.com/2014/08/rice-method-for-treating-injury/">“RICE” method</a>.
 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can help reduce 
pain as well. In cases where the ankle is moderately unstable, research 
shows that providing patients with a boot to immobilize the ankle can <a href="https://doi.org/10.5435/jaaos-d-13-00135">speed up the healing process</a>.I also recommend that my patients stay off the injured leg for a 
couple of days. After those first days of rest, most patients, and 
especially elite athletes, can begin putting weight on the ankle with 
the boot still on. After about four to seven days, I will begin to 
transition my patients into strength and stability training with a focus
 on reducing swelling. This will usually include low-impact training 
such as stationary bike and pool therapy. Gradual return to 
sport-specific drills occurs prior to return-to-play. In the most severe cases of grade III high ankle sprains, the 
ligaments can be torn completely or injured to the point that they are 
unlikely to heal in a way that supports the ankle. In these cases, <a href="https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.20.01787">surgery involving screws, plates and other hardware</a> to hold the fibula and tibia together can be the best option.Thankfully for Mahomes and football fans across the U.S., his injury <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/02/07/patrick-mahomes-ankle-injury-update-super-bowl-chiefs-eagles">does not appear to require surgery</a>, at least not immediately.Research shows that most athletes with high ankle sprains often return to their sports and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/jsm.0000000000001019">can play at a similar level</a>
 to how they played before their injury. While Mahomes may not be at 
100%, given the moderate severity of the injury, his fitness and the 
high quality of care he is receiving, I expect that he will be ready to 
play an exciting game come kickoff on Super Bowl Sunday.MaCalus V. Hogan is a Professor and Chair of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/199248/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

THE ANKLE: Surgeon describes Mahomes' high ankle sprain

Clinical trials can benefit you, no matter what stage of cancer you have. Here, Tara Lin, M.D., professor of hematologic malignancies and cellular therapeutics at KU Medical Center and medical director of the Clinical Trials Office at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, explains five reasons to consider participating in the testing of a novel cancer treatment.

Advances in cancer medicine come through rigorous testing in clinical trials. A clinical trial is how we develop new treatments — by testing a new drug alone, by testing a new drug in combination with already approved medications or by testing a new combination of older medicines used together. There are also clinical trials to learn about new techniques in surgery or radiation therapy for people with cancer.&nbsp;

By the time the treatment reaches an individual, scientists have already spent years developing it. Nearly all tried-and-true cancer drugs available to you today exist because past patients participated in clinical trials.

Despite the advantages of joining a clinical trial, few people with cancer actually&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kucancercenter.org/cancer-clinical-trials/why-participate" target="_blank">participate</a>. With all the advances in our understanding of cancer biology and new options for treatment, today is an ideal time to consider joining a clinical trial.

Below are five reasons you should consider participating in a clinical trial:

1. You gain access to innovative treatments before they become widely available.

As a participant in a clinical trial, you may receive the latest leading-edge cancer treatment.

2. You receive frequent, attentive medical care.&nbsp;

Some people are nervous that once in a clinical trial, their standard of care will stop. Placebos are rarely used for active cancer treatment. Most studies compare the standard treatment with a new investigational drug or treatment. As a clinical trial participant, in addition to the care you would receive as part of your standard treatment, you will also have visits to the clinic with the trial team. Team members will track your side effects as well as the effectiveness of the new therapy. In essence, you are receiving “Standard of Care Plus.”

3. You play an active role in important treatment decisions that can affect your care.&nbsp;

If you qualify for a clinical trial, you are the advocate in your care and can choose to take part. Participating in a clinical trial may make you feel as if you have more control over your health, which can lead to a more positive outlook on life.

4. Clinical trials aren’t just for people who have exhausted all treatment options.&nbsp;

There are more clinical trials testing new medications in combination with the current standard of care for people with newly diagnosed cancers, too. Clinical trials can be an important part of your cancer care when you are first diagnosed or if the cancer comes back.

5. You are contributing to improving the health of others.&nbsp;

Clinical trials are the only way researchers can continue to develop new cancer treatments. By participating in a clinical trial, you are helping to advance cancer research and offering hope and opportunity for future patients.

If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial, ask your doctor about your options.

To search KU Cancer Center clinical trials that may be a good fit for you, download the KUCC Clinical Trial Finder app. The app is currently available for iOS and Android users. To download, go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for “KUCC Clinical Trial Finder.” From there, download the app to your personal device.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675778031892.jpeg" alt="Tara L. Lin, M.D., is a professor in the Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She also is the medical director of the Clinical Trials Office at The University of Kansas Cancer Center." />
 <figcaption>Tara L. Lin, M.D., is a professor in the Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She also is the medical director of the Clinical Trials Office at The University of Kansas Cancer Center.</figcaption>
 </figure>Clinical trials can benefit you, no matter what stage of cancer you have. Here, Tara Lin, M.D., professor of hematologic malignancies and cellular therapeutics at KU Medical Center and medical director of the Clinical Trials Office at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, explains five reasons to consider participating in the testing of a novel cancer treatment.Advances in cancer medicine come through rigorous testing in clinical trials. A clinical trial is how we develop new treatments — by testing a new drug alone, by testing a new drug in combination with already approved medications or by testing a new combination of older medicines used together. There are also clinical trials to learn about new techniques in surgery or radiation therapy for people with cancer.&nbsp;By the time the treatment reaches an individual, scientists have already spent years developing it. Nearly all tried-and-true cancer drugs available to you today exist because past patients participated in clinical trials.Despite the advantages of joining a clinical trial, few people with cancer actually&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kucancercenter.org/cancer-clinical-trials/why-participate" target="_blank">participate</a>. With all the advances in our understanding of cancer biology and new options for treatment, today is an ideal time to consider joining a clinical trial.Below are five reasons you should consider participating in a clinical trial:<h2>1. You gain access to innovative treatments before they become widely available.</h2>As a participant in a clinical trial, you may receive the latest leading-edge cancer treatment.<h2>2. You receive frequent, attentive medical care.&nbsp;</h2>Some people are nervous that once in a clinical trial, their standard of care will stop. Placebos are rarely used for active cancer treatment. Most studies compare the standard treatment with a new investigational drug or treatment. As a clinical trial participant, in addition to the care you would receive as part of your standard treatment, you will also have visits to the clinic with the trial team. Team members will track your side effects as well as the effectiveness of the new therapy. In essence, you are receiving “Standard of Care Plus.”<h2>3. You play an active role in important treatment decisions that can affect your care.&nbsp;</h2>If you qualify for a clinical trial, you are the advocate in your care and can choose to take part. Participating in a clinical trial may make you feel as if you have more control over your health, which can lead to a more positive outlook on life.<h2>4. Clinical trials aren’t just for people who have exhausted all treatment options.&nbsp;</h2>There are more clinical trials testing new medications in combination with the current standard of care for people with newly diagnosed cancers, too. Clinical trials can be an important part of your cancer care when you are first diagnosed or if the cancer comes back.<h2>5. You are contributing to improving the health of others.&nbsp;</h2>Clinical trials are the only way researchers can continue to develop new cancer treatments. By participating in a clinical trial, you are helping to advance cancer research and offering hope and opportunity for future patients.If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial, ask your doctor about your options.To search KU Cancer Center clinical trials that may be a good fit for you, download the KUCC Clinical Trial Finder app. The app is currently available for iOS and Android users. To download, go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for “KUCC Clinical Trial Finder.” From there, download the app to your personal device.

LIN: Five reasons to consider participating in a clinical trial for cancer treatment

Disney
 is working on sequels for “Toy Story,” “Frozen” and “Zootopia,” three 
huge hits as the entertainment powerhouse attempts to find its footing 
under newly returned CEO Bob Iger.

The Walt Disney Co. is undergoing a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/walt-disney-co-bob-iger-earnings-business-28f75af4037890243412412f1c501682">“strategic transformation,”</a> Iger said on Wednesday. That includes 7,000 job cuts announced this week and a renewed focus on core brands and franchises.

Iger, who <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-bob-iger-chapek-susan-arnold-81f76a4a34c1e902fbd639af843cf84a">returned as CEO</a>
 in November following a challenging two-year tenure by his handpicked 
successor, Bob Chapek, announced the plans for the new movies during 
Disney's first-quarter earnings call on Wednesday.

Disney owns Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar. Its latest Marvel movie, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” opens on Feb. 17.

The
 Burbank, California, company said it wants to make sure that executives
 in charge of content creation have a prominent say in what movies, TV 
shows or other content to produce, as well as the marketing and 
distribution of those products.

“Toy Story” is a long-time movie 
franchise for Disney. The original film, which was the first 
computer-animated feature film and the debut feature release from Pixar 
Animation Studios, came out in 1995. It received a Special Achievement 
Academy Award in 1996, as there was no best animated feature film 
category at the time.

The most recent sequel, “Toy Story 4” released in 2019 and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/academy-awards-tim-allen-tom-hanks-randy-newman-movies-addec9fd40a18623a6d26dc26df94af2">won two animated film Oscars</a>
 in 2020, becoming the first franchise to accomplish that. Predecessor 
“Toy Story 3” won the best animated feature Academy Award in 2011.

A prequel film, called “Lightyear,” was in theaters last year.

The original “ <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bba4cf20d2ea42ed863288b7c7b69f2c">Frozen</a>
 ” film released in 2013 and won the Academy Award for best animated 
feature film in 2014. The sequel, “Frozen II,” was in theaters in 2019.

Disney made about <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-us-news-ap-top-news-canada-movies-1eef5653bdf27f2cb1a99b56ba18cfc5">$13 billion in worldwide box office</a> in 2019, helped by a strong slate of movies that included “Toy Story 4," “Frozen II,” “Avengers: Endgame” and others.

Unlike “Toy Story” and “Frozen,” “Zootopia" has yet to have a sequel. The original movie came out in 2016 and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ede550a2b4aa688c004f9bbb49fe8759">won an Academy Award</a> for best animated film in 2017.

Associated PressDisney
 is working on sequels for “Toy Story,” “Frozen” and “Zootopia,” three 
huge hits as the entertainment powerhouse attempts to find its footing 
under newly returned CEO Bob Iger.The Walt Disney Co. is undergoing a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/walt-disney-co-bob-iger-earnings-business-28f75af4037890243412412f1c501682">“strategic transformation,”</a> Iger said on Wednesday. That includes 7,000 job cuts announced this week and a renewed focus on core brands and franchises.Iger, who <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-bob-iger-chapek-susan-arnold-81f76a4a34c1e902fbd639af843cf84a">returned as CEO</a>
 in November following a challenging two-year tenure by his handpicked 
successor, Bob Chapek, announced the plans for the new movies during 
Disney's first-quarter earnings call on Wednesday.Disney owns Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar. Its latest Marvel movie, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” opens on Feb. 17.The
 Burbank, California, company said it wants to make sure that executives
 in charge of content creation have a prominent say in what movies, TV 
shows or other content to produce, as well as the marketing and 
distribution of those products.“Toy Story” is a long-time movie 
franchise for Disney. The original film, which was the first 
computer-animated feature film and the debut feature release from Pixar 
Animation Studios, came out in 1995. It received a Special Achievement 
Academy Award in 1996, as there was no best animated feature film 
category at the time.The most recent sequel, “Toy Story 4” released in 2019 and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/academy-awards-tim-allen-tom-hanks-randy-newman-movies-addec9fd40a18623a6d26dc26df94af2">won two animated film Oscars</a>
 in 2020, becoming the first franchise to accomplish that. Predecessor 
“Toy Story 3” won the best animated feature Academy Award in 2011.A prequel film, called “Lightyear,” was in theaters last year.The original “ <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bba4cf20d2ea42ed863288b7c7b69f2c">Frozen</a>
 ” film released in 2013 and won the Academy Award for best animated 
feature film in 2014. The sequel, “Frozen II,” was in theaters in 2019.Disney made about <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-us-news-ap-top-news-canada-movies-1eef5653bdf27f2cb1a99b56ba18cfc5">$13 billion in worldwide box office</a> in 2019, helped by a strong slate of movies that included “Toy Story 4," “Frozen II,” “Avengers: Endgame” and others.Unlike “Toy Story” and “Frozen,” “Zootopia" has yet to have a sequel. The original movie came out in 2016 and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ede550a2b4aa688c004f9bbb49fe8759">won an Academy Award</a> for best animated film in 2017.

New 'Toy Story,' 'Frozen,' 'Zootopia' movies on tap

WELLINGTON,
 New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand police said Wednesday they found more 
than 3 tons of cocaine floating in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean 
after it was dropped there by an international drug-smuggling syndicate.

While
 they had yet to make any arrests, police said they had dealt a 
financial blow to everyone from the South American producers of the 
drugs through to the distributors in what was the nation's largest-ever 
drug seizure.

New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said 
the cocaine had been dropped at a floating transit point in 81 bales 
before it was intercepted by a navy ship, which was deployed to the area
 last week. The ship then made the six-day trip back to New Zealand, 
where the drugs were being documented and destroyed.

Coster said 
the wholesale value of the 3.5 tons of cocaine was about $316 million and it was likely 
destined for Australia.

“We believe there was enough cocaine to 
service the Australian market for about one year, and this would be more
 than New Zealand would use in 30 years,” Coster said.

He said 
police, customs and the military found the drugs after launching 
Operation Hydros in December in collaboration with international partner
 agencies to identify and monitor the movements of suspicious vessels.

Coster said they were continuing to investigate the case with other international agencies.

Bill
 Perry, the acting comptroller of the New Zealand Customs Service, said 
the haul illustrated the lengths that organized syndicates were going to
 in order to smuggle drugs in the South Pacific.

“We see perhaps 
this is just an indication that the transnational organized crime groups
 are testing the market in different ways, so as agencies, we need to 
collaborate," Perry said.

WELLINGTON,
 New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand police said Wednesday they found more 
than 3 tons of cocaine floating in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean 
after it was dropped there by an international drug-smuggling syndicate.While
 they had yet to make any arrests, police said they had dealt a 
financial blow to everyone from the South American producers of the 
drugs through to the distributors in what was the nation's largest-ever 
drug seizure.New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said 
the cocaine had been dropped at a floating transit point in 81 bales 
before it was intercepted by a navy ship, which was deployed to the area
 last week. The ship then made the six-day trip back to New Zealand, 
where the drugs were being documented and destroyed.Coster said 
the wholesale value of the 3.5 tons of cocaine was about $316 million and it was likely 
destined for Australia.“We believe there was enough cocaine to 
service the Australian market for about one year, and this would be more
 than New Zealand would use in 30 years,” Coster said.He said 
police, customs and the military found the drugs after launching 
Operation Hydros in December in collaboration with international partner
 agencies to identify and monitor the movements of suspicious vessels.Coster said they were continuing to investigate the case with other international agencies.Bill
 Perry, the acting comptroller of the New Zealand Customs Service, said 
the haul illustrated the lengths that organized syndicates were going to
 in order to smuggle drugs in the South Pacific.“We see perhaps 
this is just an indication that the transnational organized crime groups
 are testing the market in different ways, so as agencies, we need to 
collaborate," Perry said.

New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine floating in Pacific Ocean

NEW YORK (AP) — A bevy of booze brands will be in the Super Bowl ad lineup this year, now that Anheuser-Busch has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-super-bowl-sports-fox-corp-5d9922047c7fb640ddbf8caf5100ece2">ended its exclusive advertising sponsorship</a> after more than 30 years.

In addition to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-buffalo-bills-philadelphia-eagles-nfl-super-bowl-221469a7596a194eefe5f56e539ed8ed">celebrities</a>
 hawking Budweiser and Michelob Ultra, viewers will see some famous 
folks touting the qualities of Heineken and Coors, and even suggesting 
they drink cognac or whiskey — responsibly, of course.

Anheuser-Busch,
 parent of the Bud, Ultra and Busch beer brands, said in June it would 
end the exclusivity deal it first struck in 1989. The company is still a
 big presence at NFL games, sponsoring all major NFL moments during the 
offseason, such as the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas.

And the St. 
Louis, Missouri beverage giant is still the largest alcohol advertiser 
during the game, with three minutes of national airtime and a 30-second 
regional Budweiser spot.

On A-B's roster this year: A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCNwGnxq0s">Bud Light ad</a> shows actor Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh dancing to on-hold music. A regional <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dChVB7iKSg8">Budweiser ad</a> focuses on people connecting with a six-pack. A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDGwwVki13Q">Michelob Ultra ad</a>
 spotlights actor Brian Cox and tennis star Serena Williams at a new 
members day at the Bushwood Country Club, the golf club in “Caddyshack.”
 And a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGZRMC3S9Ic">Busch Light ad</a> shows singer Sarah McLachlan sharing a tent with a wolf spoofing her well-known animal-advocacy ad.

The
 other alcohol brands running ads include beer brands Heineken and 
Molson Coors and liquor brands Remy Martin and Crown Royal, all eager to
 make their mark on advertising's largest stage.

Brands pay premium dollars to advertise during the gridiron classic, which draws about 100 million viewers each year. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-super-bowl-sports-fox-corp-5d9922047c7fb640ddbf8caf5100ece2">This year, most 30-second ad blocks sold for between $6 million and $7 million</a> — for the ad space alone. Companies spend millions more to create the ads themselves and book celebrity sponsors.

Heineken
 is promoting its alcohol-free beer Heineken 0.0 with an ad that's part 
of its larger partnership with Marvel — the ad, under wraps until the 
game, will feature actor Paul Rudd as his Marvel character “Ant Man.”

“We
 were really excited to hear that category opened up, and almost 
immediately we thought, you know, what a great way to really blow out 
Heineken 0.0 momentum and share that brand and that product with the 
wider market,” said Heineken chief marketing officer Jonnie Cahill in an
 interview with the AP.

Beer sales have held steady in the U.S., 
but the beer category has been losing market share to other types of 
alcoholic drinks, said Bart Watson, chief economist for trade group 
Brewers Association.

Beer's share in the alcohol market had 
dropped from 58% in 2000 to about 46% in 2022, while other alcoholic 
beverages, particularly spirits, have gained share. But overall beer 
barrel shipments are still up during the same time frame because the 
overall category has grown, according to figures tallied by the Beer 
Institute and Brewers Association.

NEW YORK (AP) — A bevy of booze brands will be in the Super Bowl ad lineup this year, now that Anheuser-Busch has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-super-bowl-sports-fox-corp-5d9922047c7fb640ddbf8caf5100ece2">ended its exclusive advertising sponsorship</a> after more than 30 years.In addition to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-buffalo-bills-philadelphia-eagles-nfl-super-bowl-221469a7596a194eefe5f56e539ed8ed">celebrities</a>
 hawking Budweiser and Michelob Ultra, viewers will see some famous 
folks touting the qualities of Heineken and Coors, and even suggesting 
they drink cognac or whiskey — responsibly, of course.Anheuser-Busch,
 parent of the Bud, Ultra and Busch beer brands, said in June it would 
end the exclusivity deal it first struck in 1989. The company is still a
 big presence at NFL games, sponsoring all major NFL moments during the 
offseason, such as the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas.And the St. 
Louis, Missouri beverage giant is still the largest alcohol advertiser 
during the game, with three minutes of national airtime and a 30-second 
regional Budweiser spot.On A-B's roster this year: A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCNwGnxq0s">Bud Light ad</a> shows actor Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh dancing to on-hold music. A regional <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dChVB7iKSg8">Budweiser ad</a> focuses on people connecting with a six-pack. A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDGwwVki13Q">Michelob Ultra ad</a>
 spotlights actor Brian Cox and tennis star Serena Williams at a new 
members day at the Bushwood Country Club, the golf club in “Caddyshack.”
 And a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGZRMC3S9Ic">Busch Light ad</a> shows singer Sarah McLachlan sharing a tent with a wolf spoofing her well-known animal-advocacy ad.The
 other alcohol brands running ads include beer brands Heineken and 
Molson Coors and liquor brands Remy Martin and Crown Royal, all eager to
 make their mark on advertising's largest stage.Brands pay premium dollars to advertise during the gridiron classic, which draws about 100 million viewers each year. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-super-bowl-sports-fox-corp-5d9922047c7fb640ddbf8caf5100ece2">This year, most 30-second ad blocks sold for between $6 million and $7 million</a> — for the ad space alone. Companies spend millions more to create the ads themselves and book celebrity sponsors.Heineken
 is promoting its alcohol-free beer Heineken 0.0 with an ad that's part 
of its larger partnership with Marvel — the ad, under wraps until the 
game, will feature actor Paul Rudd as his Marvel character “Ant Man.”“We
 were really excited to hear that category opened up, and almost 
immediately we thought, you know, what a great way to really blow out 
Heineken 0.0 momentum and share that brand and that product with the 
wider market,” said Heineken chief marketing officer Jonnie Cahill in an
 interview with the AP.Beer sales have held steady in the U.S., 
but the beer category has been losing market share to other types of 
alcoholic drinks, said Bart Watson, chief economist for trade group 
Brewers Association.Beer's share in the alcohol market had 
dropped from 58% in 2000 to about 46% in 2022, while other alcoholic 
beverages, particularly spirits, have gained share. But overall beer 
barrel shipments are still up during the same time frame because the 
overall category has grown, according to figures tallied by the Beer 
Institute and Brewers Association.For Anheuser-Busch, the 
decision to end its Super Bowl exclusivity is likely about putting 
marketing dollars elsewhere, Watson said.“You have a new 
generation that consumes alcohol differently and beer differently. (For 
A-B), to put all their eggs in this basket isn’t getting the return that
 maybe it once did.”Molson Coors is also keeping its ad for the 
big game under wraps. But it is attempting to make a splash as a 
first-time national advertiser by letting fans bet on what the ad will 
have in it — such as whether the game will feature its Coors Light or 
Miller Lite brand — via betting site DraftKings.Other alcohol ads
 have enlisted celebrities: Diageo's ad for its Crown Royal whisky will 
feature musician Dave Grohl. Rémy Cointreau is also using Serena 
Williams, in an ad that spotlights its Rémy Martin cognac.Not all alcohol makers are jumping to the national stage. Boston Beer Co. is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDo0wX1pK4c">sticking to a regional spot</a>
 for its Samuel Adams beer — the third year it has run a regional ad. 
The ad shows Bostonians imagining what would happen if everyone in the 
city was nice and polite.“Samuel Adams is a relatively small 
player in the beer category, so a regional approach enables us to be 
part of the Super Bowl conversation without having to pay the huge price
 tag of a national ad," said Lesya Lysyj, chief marketing officer. A cut
 of the ad will run nationally beginning the week after the Super Bowl, 
she added.Aside from alcohol, big brands including Pepsi Zero 
Sugar, Doritos, M&amp;Ms, Google, Downy and Kia will all be advertising 
during Super Bowl LVII, which airs Sunday on Fox.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

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