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Police identify dead students in

INSIDE THIS EDITION:

kentucky high school shooting

Toys R Us to close up to 182 stores across the U.S. Page 2

Senior Bowl: Baker Mayfield brings swagger to North practice Page 6

Patriots playing ‘catch-up’ in Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl prep Page 8

Kendrick Lamar joins label mates SZA, ScHoolboy Q for tour Page 9

By: Sara Shayanian UPI Authorities have named the two teenage students who were killed by gunfire at a Kentucky high school.

Bailey Nicole Holt died

at the scene and Preston Ryan Cope at a hospital, Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rick Sanders said. Both students were 15 years old.

Of the 18 injured, four of them are in critical con-

dition. They range in age from 14 to 18 and include 14 boys and six girls total.

Many of the injured students were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where three boys had gunshot wounds to

the head, one boy an arm wound and another shot in the chest and abdomen, officials said. The boy with the arm wound, a special needs student, may have to have the limb amputated.

The shooting occurred

just before 8 a.m. Tuesday at the southwestern Kentucky school. A 15-year-old boy was taken into custody and will be charged with two counts of murder and multiple counts of at See Shooting, page 2

Trudeau announces new TPP deal without U.S. By: Ray Downs UPI Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday announced that Canada and 10 other nations concluded talks to form a new trade deal styled after the now-defunct Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.

The Comprehensive and Progressive TransPacific Partnership will include all countries that were previously attached

to the TPP except the United States, which baccked out of the trade agreement at the direction of President Donald Trump shortly after he assumed office last year.

Trudeau said the new agreement contains numerous changes that increase benefits for Canadian workers.

“Canada has always said that we would only agree to a deal that is in Canada’s best interests,” Trudeau said in a state-

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ment. “To that end, Canada has been working very hard on the new CPTPP, from spearheading the first meetings of officials in May 2017 to proposing several suspensions and changes to secure better terms for Canadians throughout this burgeoning region.”

The other nations included in the deal are Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Singapore, New

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January 25 - February 7, 2018

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Toys R Us to close up to 182 stores across the U.S.

By Susan McFarland UPI As part of its bankruptcy reorganization plan, Toys R Us has filed court documents detailing plans to close up to 182 stores -roughly one-fifth of its U.S. presence.

Some of the closings could be avoided if more favorable lease terms are negotiated, and the closures still need court approval.

Most of the stores listed by the company will close by mid-April and goingout-of-business sales will begin in February.

“The reinvention of our brands requires that we make tough decisions about our priorities and focus,” Chairman and CEO David Brandon wrote in a memo to customers.

“The actions we are taking are necessary to give us the best chance to emerge from our bankruptcy proceedings as a more viable and competitive company.”

Shooting

continued from page 1

Shoppers holding bags cross the street near Toys R Us in Times Square in New York City. On Tuesday, the retailer announced plans to close up to 182 stores as part of a bankruptcy reorganization plan. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo The company said it also its Toys R Us stores with The company’s attor- ruptcy judge that more time of its 880 U.S. stores to plans to combine many of Babies R Us outlets. neys in court told the bank- is needed to decide which close. tempted murder, Sanders confirmed.

Sanders said that one of

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the first reconsiders at the scene, though that Holt was his daughter.

“He had to go over to convince himself it was not his daughter,” he said.

“To walk in, the backpacks laying around, the phones laying around, going off ... it’s indescribable,” Marshall County Attorney Jeffrey Edwards said.

“I’ve been doing this for 25 years. It’s not like anything I’ve experienced

in my life.”

Students were seen running down U.S. highway 68, located in front of school, to search for their parents after the shooting.

“Just the looks on their faces, it just kind of sticks with you,” Mark Garland, an auto shop owner near the school, said.

One girl, who was close enough to the shooting scene that she saw bullets pinging off the walls, could barely speak, Gar-

land said.

Government officials quickly condemned the shooting. “I know I speak for communities across my home state in sending prayers of comfort and healing to students, faculty and everyone affected by this violence,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said.

“Our hearts are with the entire community of Marshall County and our gratitude is with the first

responders who rushed into harm’s way.”

“Our nation’s schools should be some of the safest spaces in our communities,” former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a survivor of gun violence, said.

“Why do we keep allowing this terror to happen? ... It’s horrifying that we can no longer call school shootings ‘unimaginable’ because the reality is they happen with alarming frequency.”

TPP

nei Darussalam, Malaysia and Vietnam. Asia Trade Centre director Deborah Elms told the National Business Review that Can-

ada was the only nation out of the 11 that had still been “wavering” on whether to join the deal but that Canada’s qualms were re-

solved after only two days of talks. Canadian officials said they hope to have the deal signed by all 11 countries in early March.

continued from page 1

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Oregon voters approve tax increase to pay for low-income healthcare program

By Ray Downs UPI Oregonians on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to preserve a tax increase on hospitals and health insurance policies to pay for the state’s Medicaid program.

The 61 to 39 vote on Measure 101 was a rebuke of a Republican-led effort to effectively repeal a $550 million revenue package to fund the state’s healthcare program for low-income people that was passed by the Democrat-controlled state House and Senate.

“It really confirms that

Oregonians prioritize making sure all Oregonians have access to health care,” Democratic state Rep. Dan Rayfield told the Register-Guard. “The margin speaks for itself.”

The revenue package imposed a 0.7 percent tax increase on large hospitals and a 1.5 percent tax increase on insurance companies, which would likely be passed on to consumers, The Oregonian reported.

The extra taxes are expected to generate between $210 million and $320 million by 2019.

Under Oregon law, any

new tax can be voted down if a petition gathers enough signatures and three Republican lawmakers did that to force the vote on Measure 101 on Tuesday, NPR reported. “This is about a fundamental disagreement that taxing other people’s insurance is the way to fund Medicaid,” Republican state Rep. Julie Parrish said.

But with Oregonians approving the measure, state Republicans said they’ll focus efforts on improving the state healthcare program.

“Our state’s health care programs have suffered

from chronic failure for years,” said House Republican Leader Mike McLane in a statement to the Register-Guard.

“This culture of incompetence cannot be excused or forgotten in the wake of this ballot measure. I hope legislators on both sides of the aisle will make it a priority to safeguard and protect the investment in our state government that Oregon taxpayers have affirmed tonight.” In addition to adding up to $320 million for the state healthcare program, the vote ensures that the state will qualify for between

$630 million to $960 million in federal Medicaid

matching funds, according to The Oregonian.

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In the face of adversity, African Americans throughout history have worked hard to pave the way for future generations. During Black History Month, we salute their accomplishments and celebrate the African Americans men and women who continue to uphold a rich heritage full of pride and outstanding achievement.

EPA dismisses five members of scientific review board

By Ed Adamczyk UPI

The Environmental Protection Agency dismissed at least five of its scientific advisers, opening seats the head of the agency may give to representatives of agencies regulated by the board.

The three-year terms of five people on the 18-member Board of Scientific Counselors were not renewed, they were informed Friday. The board is a key scientific bureau of the agency and advises on whether EPA research has sufficient scholarly rigor and integrity. J.P. Friere, spokesman for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, said consideration would be given to granting the vacant seats on the board to representatives from industries whose pollution is regulated by the agency. The action Friday comes six weeks after the House voted to change another EPA scientific review board to include corporate involvement.

Friere said the agency will “take as inclusive an approach to regulation as possible.” “We want to expand the pool of applicants to as broad a range as possible, to include universities that aren’t typically represented and issues that aren’t typically represented.”

Trump has called on Pruitt to remake the EPA and has advocated deep budget cuts for its main scientific branch. He has instructed Pruitt, who has questioned the established science of human-caused climate change, to roll back Obama-era regulations on climate change and clean water protection. Since becoming EPA chief, Pruitt has pledged to restore the U.S. coal mining industry, although EPA scientific review boards have recommended limitations on coal pollution to combat climate change.

“This is completely part of a multifaceted effort to get science out of the way of a deregulation agenda,” commented Ken Kimmell of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

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January 25 - February 7, 2018

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As we celebrate Black History Month,

we celebrate the historic and ongoing contributions of African Americans in every realm of our nation’s growth and success, from business and politics to art, music, education and beyond. celebrate the historic and ongoing contributions of African Americans in every realm of our Please join us in we saluting theandachievements of the and role models who have made nation’s growth success, from business andblack politics leaders to art, music, education and beyond.

Please join us in salutingprogress, the achievements of the blackand leaders and role models history, and continue to cultivate awareness a bright futurewhoforhave all.made

As we celebrate Black History Month, history, and continue to cultivate progress, awareness and a bright future for all.

Florida to vote on restoring felon voting rights

By Ray Downs UPI An initiative to end lifetime voting bans for felons in Florida has reached enough signatures to be on the November ballot, officials said Tuesday.

Floridians for Fair Democracy gathered more than 800,000 certified signatures to get the initiative on the ballot.

The amendment would restore voting rights to felons after their sentence is completed, including probation and parole. but it would not apply to those convicted of murder or sexual offenses.

“No one thought we would get here, but we’re here,” said FFR founder Desmond Meade in a Facebook video. “We’re one step closer to liberating and giving over 1.6 million people a shot at redemption, a shot at restoration, a shot at citizenship.”

Florida is one of only three states in the country, along with Iowa and Kentucky, to permanently ban felons from voting.

Those convicted of felonies in Florida are barred from voting unless they’ve received a full pardon, conditional pardon, or

People enter Manhattan Plaza on November 8, 2016 in New York City. On Tuesday, Florida officials announced a ballot to restore voting rights to felons will be on the November ballot. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo “Once a person pays Meade, who is a forBut Republican Gov. tion can’t vote, giving it restoration of civil rights Rick Scott only hears be- the highest percentage of mer felon who went on their debt and pays in full, by the governor.

But such pardons are tween 50 and 75 cases disenfranchisement in the to graduate from Florida they shouldn’t have to pay International University another thing,” he said. each year and grants rights country. extremely rare.

The amendment will The state’s black popu- College of Law after beAccording to the Or- to about half.

With more than 1.5 lation is especially im- ing released from prison, still face a significant lando Sentinel, there is a backlog of more than million felons in Florida pacted, with 21 percent said to give people their hurdle in November as 12,000 people who have banned from the ballot of black adults unable to right to vote after serving Florida amendments need petitioned to have their box, about 10 percent of vote because of felony their time is “people over 60 percent of the vote to pass. politics.” the state’s adult popula- convictions. voting rights restored.

Pakistan police arrest suspect in murder of 7-year-old girl

By Daniel Uria UPI Police in Pakistan arrested a suspect involved in the rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl on Tuesday.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the arrest of the key suspect in the death of Zainab Ansari, one of several minors to be raped and killed in or near Kasur.

“Zainab’s suspected murderer and rapist is a 24-year-old man named Imran Ali,” Sharif said.

“Our collective efforts have

borne fruit and the murderer has been arrested.”

The suspect, who lived in the same area as Zainab, confessed to the crime, a police official told Al Jazeera.

“He was arrested before, but was released as we did not have evidence. After that, he shaved his beard off so that no one could recognize him,” the official said.

Sharif said the suspect’s DNA was tested and presented a 100 percent match with evidence found at the scene.

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He is accused of raping for him to be publicly exand murdering seven other ecuted.

“Zainab’s father wants young girls over the course the man to be publicly of two years.

At least two people died hanged but the court will in protests denouncing po- decide the future course of lice inaction after Zainab’s this case,” Sharif said.

Sharif added the suspect death.

Zainab went missing on will be held accountable for Jan. 4 and CCTV footage the deaths of the seven other showing her walking with a girls as well. potential suspect, led police to find her body in a trash heap about a mile away from her home.

Muhammad Amin Ansa- Police in Pakistan arrested ri, Zainab’s father, thanked a man in connection with authorities for tracking the murder of 7-year-old down the suspect and called Zainab Ansari Tuesday.

File photo courtesy family handout/EPA-EFE UPI

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4 dead, 12 injured in terror attack on Afghan children’s relief office

By Sara Shayanian UPI At least four people died and 12 were injured in an Islamic State terror attack on the Save the Children office in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on Wednesday.

Four gunman stormed the office, located in the Nangarhar province, with one suicide car bomber detonating his explosives at the gate of the building -- making way for the rest to enter. Attaullah Khogyani, a provincial government

spokesman, said security forces stormed the compound.

A police officer was killed in the attack along with three Save the Children workers. One insurgent was also killed by police while another was still fighting, Khogyani said. Nearly 46 people in the compound, many of whom hid in a safe room in the building, were rescued. In an official statement from Save the Children, the organization confirmed “three staff members were killed” in their

office attack.

“We have temporarily suspended our operations across the country following today’s events, however we remain fully committed to helping the most deprived children of Afghanistan.”

The organization said they were “shocked and appalled at the violence, carried out against our staff in Afghanistan who are dedicated humanitarians, committed to improving the lives and wellbeing of millions of children across the country.”

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Trump must pair positive policies with respectful rhetoric if he ever hopes to win support from the black community In a recent White House meeting with Congressional leaders to discuss immigration reform, Donald Trump reportedly asked, “Why do we want all these people from ‘s---hole’ countries to come here?” as opposed to other countries such as Norway.

There is now discussion underway about whether Trump was crudely describing African nations alone, or also referring to people from Haiti and El Salvador.

Whether he was speaking about just some or all of those countries really does not matter. The bottom line is that the President’s comments were offensive, tasteless, simply wrong, and show no compassion for the poor.

He uttered these intemperate words just days before Black History Month, when we celebrate the remarkable contributions of Black Americans, but also remember and strive to learn from the many injustices visited upon them

from Revolutionary days all the way through the present.

Presid e n t Tr u m p ’s t r a s h y talk has prompted yet another ARMSTRONG discussion WILLIAMS of his relationship with the Black community in America, which has repeatedly felt alienated by his rhetoric and also by his associations with people accused of harboring closeted or outright racist views.

Using insulting and inappropriate language toward other countries demeans the office of the presidency.

Missteps like these have led people of Color across the nation and all across the world to raise serious concerns about President Trump, his character, and relationship with minorities. Our’s is a country that prides itself on being a land of opportunity and the place where freedom for all is

guaranteed.

We cannot effectively lead the world if our president speaks dismissively and heartlessly about human beings from other countries, especially those who are hoping to create a better life for their families in America.

In many ways, America was built upon the backs of black people forced to come here from African and Caribbean countries as slaves.

We have come a long way since those terrible days of human bondage, but there is much work that still remains to be done.

Part of what frustrates me is not just the outrageousness of the President’s comments, but the fact that he continues to make unforced errors that rally his political adversaries and those who wish to see his agenda fail.

Even worse, he is undercutting and undermining the very real economic progress that his administration has in a short time been able to deliver to the African

American community.

In the 45 years since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking black unemployment, this is the first time that the black unemployment rate has dropped below 7 percent to just 6.8 percent.

The new economic policies put into place by the Trump Administration have stabilized job growth and increased investor and consumer confidence.

Our President is a remarkable businessman who clearly understands and is sympathetic to the needs of corporations as an essential way to create jobs and provide economic opportunity for our citizens.

Since President Trump’s swearing in, the stock market has surged forward, delivering wealth into the pockets of Americans from every economic level with the good sense to save and invest.

When comparing the data to previous years, nearly half a million (480,000) more black workers are

employed compared to one year ago.

As the economy steadily improves for African Americans, this creates new opportunities that many have not been able to take advantage of due to prior lack of employment.

These new economic opportunities for the black community are tangible and impactful. Which makes it even more painful to hear the President insult countries whose citizens’ skin is brown and black.

It goes without saying that the President of the United States should be held to the highest of standards as the chief representative and Commander in Chief of this nation.

Comments like these lower the bar and are not just bad for the President and his agenda, but for every one of us.

It’s a pity since President Trump is enacting bold and growth-oriented changes that are ultimately creating more economic prosperity for a community that needs

it the most.

At the end of the day, this latest controversy conveys a lesson that we would all be wise to learn.

If you are going to be a supporter of the black community, then it is not enough to solely pursue policies that are good for us.

You must show through your actions, but also through your words, that you are capable of both giving and earning respect.

Until that happens, black people and people of color around the world are going to continue to question what is truly in President Trump’s heart.

Armstrong Williams is manager and sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and Executive Editor of American CurrentSee online magazine. Watch our Right Side Forum every Saturday on NewsChannel 8 TV 28, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., with repeats at 6:30 p.m. EST.

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VMC’s School Health Program began in March 1996, with its growth attributed in part to Terri’s contributions and leadership. Her oversight of 20 school nurses who serve 37 schools in Pitt County has a wide-reaching impact on the care students receive every day.

“Terri is responsible for 24,000 students—24,000 sets of parents—and 3,000 staff,” said Catherine Dews Nelson, BS, RDH, MPA, senior administrator for Community Health Programs at VMC. “The scope alone is mindboggling, especially when you consider anything can happen at any time, any day that might require a nurse’s

attention. The entire community benefits greatly from the dedication and expertise Terri brings to the work.”

Nominees for the annual distinction must demonstrate experience in school health; currently practice full time; supervise, administer and coordinate nursing service and health programs; and meet standards of excellence

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Liz Newlin, former president of SNANC (left) presents Terri Joyner (right) with the 2017 School Nurse Administrator of the Year Award.

The School Nurse Association of North Carolina (SNANC) recently named Terri L. Joyner, MSN, RN, NCSN, its School Nurse Administrator of the Year.

Ms. Joyner, who has served Vidant Medical Center (VMC) in a variety of roles in

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her 30-year career, has been a member of the hospital’s School Health team for 15 years. “This is by far the most rewarding job—there is nothing more rewarding than being a school nurse,” Joyner said. “It’s a very different level of care than most nurses

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in school nursing administration based upon the American Nurses Association’s Scope and Standards for Nurse Administrators. “She is beloved by her staff and peers for her positivity, energy and hard work; qualities that made our choice clear,” said SNANC President Amy McAteer-Jones, BSN, RN, NCSN.

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January 25 - February 7, 2018

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Senior Bowl: Baker Mayfield brings swagger to North practice

By Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com UPI Unlike the rest of the players auditioning for hundreds of NFL scouts and coaches at the Senior Bowl, Baker Mayfield did not arrive over the weekend or participate in Tuesday’s weigh-ins. Once the reigning Heisman Trophy winner did arrive, however, he quickly put to rest doubts about his ability to make the jump from the Big 12 to the NFL, delivering a sparkling debut similar to the one Carson Wentz enjoyed two years ago at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Taking snaps from under center as well as from the shotgun, and lining up opposite bigger, more prototypical quarterbacks like Wyoming’s rocketarmed 6-foot-5, 237-pound Josh Allen and Washington State’s Luke Falk, the Pac12’s all-time leading passer, Mayfield stole the spotlight, leaving no doubt that he was the top signal-caller in this year’s Senior Bowl.

Mayfield delivered strikes to all levels of the field, zipping underneath passes to running backs and showing perfect trajectory on what would have been long touchdowns (despite tight coverage) to Boise State wide receiver Cedrick Wilson and Central Michigan tight end Tyler Conklin. Of course, no one was keeping score in the early scrimmages and oneon-one practices -- except for maybe the scouts in the stands, which included key decision-makers for the Cleveland Browns (including new general manager John Dorsey), New York

Giants (including general manager Dave Gettleman and new head coach Pat Shurmur) and, of course, Broncos GM and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, owners of the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 overall picks in the 2018 draft and all thought to be considering taking a quarterback with their first selection.

Broncos head coach Vance Joseph did not sound overly concerned about Mayfield’s below-average height.

“I think that’s fine,” Joseph said via The Denver Post when asked about Mayfield’s height. “You watch Drew Brees play, he’s figured it out. He’s a very successful quarterback. Guys figure it out.

Good players figure it out.

I wouldn’t be concerned about that.”

It was not just that Mayfield threw the ball well -- he did so with the same confidence and bravado that made him such a lightning rod for Oklahoma, literally slapping the behind (on multiple occasions) of the Broncos’ coach who served as his center and racing ahead of the other quarterbacks through drills, providing a buzz in the stands, that frankly, did not exist during the South Team’s practice earlier in the day.

While very good, Mayfield was not perfect. On a snap in which a Denver assistant coach repeatedly shouted, “Here’s the game!” to signify the final play of oneon-ones, Mayfield’s throw to Notre Dame tight end Durham Smythe failed to connect, though in fairness, this was more due to a great break on the ball by Texas A&M safety Armani Watts,

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield looks on against the Georgia Bulldogs during the 2018 Rose Bowl game on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Photo by Juan Ocampo/UPI | License Photo one of several North defensive backs who enjoyed strong debuts themselves on Tuesday. While Mayfield’s lack of ideal size remains a concern (at least for some) when projecting to the NFL, his late arrival will not be.

Senior Bowl executive (and former Cleveland Browns general manager) Phil Savage announced to the NFL personnel and media who attended the weighin early Tuesday morning that Mayfield would arrive late due to a family issue on Sunday, delaying his flight.

Mayfield’s height, weight, hand size, arm length and wingspan will be measured and distributed to scouts Wednesday morning.

Among other notable ob-

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servations from Tuesday’s North practice: --Allen provided the same helter-skelter play that characterized his career with the Cowboys, delivering some of the prettiest passes of the day but following soon after with misfires in which he and his new teammates at receiver were clearly not on the same page. Scouts do not expect Allen to be as polished as Mayfield (or Falk, for that matter) and if he shows improvement throughout the week of practice, as expected, his status as a first-round pick -- and perhaps very early one -- will be cemented.

--Falk also showed good accuracy on most of his

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the body control to gain separation as well as soft hands to pluck outside of their frame. Unfortunately, Tuesday’s practice was not as kind to Iowa State’s Allen Lazard, who possesses an imposing frame for a split end at 6-foot-4, 227-pounds but he dropped a couple of passes that left scouts in the stands grumbling.

--Among running backs, North Carolina State’s Jaylen Samuels (5-11, 224) provided the highlights, showing burst to and through the hole to break what would have been a long run up the middle on one play and leaving linebackers in his dust with quick stuttersteps as a route-runner on others.

Minnesota Vikings’ Mike Zimmer has to sort out crowded quarterback picture

By The Sports XChange UPI

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throws but his lack of topnotch velocity was all-too apparent in comparison, at least in comparison to Mayfield and Allen.

One particular throw to the left sideline intended for Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki showed the wind-up and average RPMs that should concern scouts when projecting Falk to the NFL -- with Hawaii safety Trayvon Henderson making a terrific break on the ball, nearly intercepting the throw.

--While Allen was erratic at quarterback, two other former Mountain West stars enjoyed solid Senior Bowl debuts with Boise State’s Wilson and Colorado State’s Michael Gallup showing

M i n n e s o t a Vi k i n g s coach Mike Zimmer acknowledged on Tuesday that he faces a “unique” offseason regarding his quarterbacks.

Seldom does a team that reached the conference championship game have uncertainty at the quarterback position for the following season. But that is the case for the Vikings.

Complicating the issue is that all three of Minnesota’s quarterbacks -- Case Keenum, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater -- can become free agents this offseason. In addition, there are questions about the durability of Bradford and Bridgewater.

Zimmer was not ready to reveal the team’s plans for dealing with the quar-

terback situation.

“We’re going to work through the process just like I always do,” Zimmer said.

“We’re going to evaluate all the players, we’re going to evaluate everybody and we’re going to go about our business like we always do.”

He did not commit to Keenum as his starter for next season. Keenum, who started 14 regular-season games and both postseason games while leading the team to within one win of the Super Bowl, and Bridgewater both said on Monday they are uncertain whether the Vikings want them to return in 2018.

Zimmer did provide some significant information, however. He said he thinks Bradford has recovered from the knee problems that sidelined

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him for all but one half after guiding the team to a season-opening win.

“He feels like he is (recovered) so we’ll just have to see how he continues to improve,” said Zimmer, who spoke to Bradford on Monday.

Bradford returned to the active roster in the postseason and served as Keenum’s backup, with Bridgewater de-activated for those two games.

Bridgewater has played in only one game since suffering a severe knee injury at the end of the 2015 season.

However, Zimmer said Bridgewater is recovering from that injury faster than most players do, calling it “an unbelievable achievement.”

Bridgewater dislocated his left knee and tore his ACL in practice late in the 2015 season. He returned to practice in early November 2017 and was Keenum’s backup for the second half of the regular season.

“I think he’s doing good now,” Zimmer said. “He’s at the point where he can play. You just have to work through figuring out where he’s at in that because obviously we didn’t get to see him through games.”

The Vikings have a number of options, but Zimmer was not ready to state his game plan for addressing the future of the three quarterbacks.

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January 25 - February 7, 2018

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Belichick tight-lipped about Gronkowski’s status

By Sports Xchange UPI New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick didn’t shed much light on the status of injured tight end Rob Gronkowski during his press conference on Wednesday morning.

Gronkowski sustained an apparent concussion after he was hit in the head by Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church during the first half of the Patriots’ 24-20 win in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.

The 28-year-old Gronkowski’s condition remains a mystery ahead of New England’s clash against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4 (6:30 p.m. ET).

Belichick was asked by a reporter for an update on Gronkowski, if the tight end had finished his time in the concussion protocol and if the coach expects him to play versus the Eagles.

“Yeah, we’ll be compliant with the NFL injury report,” Belichick answered.

“When that’s required, we’ll put it on there.”

When the reporter asked a follow-up question on if the process was completed, Belichick reiterated a similar version of his first answer.

The reporter continued, asking Belichick again if he expected Gronkowski to play.

“We’ll put it right on just like everybody else the list, too. I don’t want the injury report and that’s does,” he said. “We’ll to hold anything back here. what we’re going to do, www.dailydrummediagroup.com make sure you’re first on We’ll get that out there

right away.

69 receptions for 1,084 That’s all we can do.” yards with eight touchGronkowski reeled in downs this season.

The Daily Drum

Patriots playing Ronda ‘catch-up’ in Philadelphia Eagles Rousey’s dog hates her card Super Bowl prep space shoes

By Sports Xchange UPI The Super Bowl is still 12 days away, but New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said that Tuesday would be a “major working day.”

That’s because the Patriots know little about their Super Bowl opponents, the Philadelphia Eagles. The teams meet in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

“I think in this particular case it’s sometimes a little different,” Belichick said Tuesday. “Every year is not the same but in this particular case, today is very much of a major working day, and I would say kind of a catch-up day for us because we just don’t know very much about Philadelphia.”

The Patriots have not played the Eagles since December 2015, and Philadelphia has changed head coaches since then.

Chip Kelly was the Eagles head coach when they last played New England.

Doug Pederson is the head coach now. “ Yo u k n o w, ” s a i d Belichick, “other years

when we had played a team more recently like Seattle, who we had played two years before but in a regular-season game, but there was some carry-over from that or in the (New York) Giant years where we had played those teams in the regular season, there was a little bit less of an acclimation to the opponent this week because we had some background with them.

“In this case we really don’t know very much about Philadelphia. We have a lot of ground that we need to cover, so we’re at it hard trying to catch up so when we bring the players in, we’ll be ready for them and we can do a good job of presenting the information to them efficiently and accurately because, again, there’s a lot of information to digest.”

Adding to the preparation problem for the Patriots is that Nick Foles was not the Eagles’ quarterback for the bulk of the regular season. Foles took over when Carson Wentz suffered a torn ACL on Dec. 10.

“But the bottom line

By Alex Butler UPI Former UFC superstar Ronda Rousey teased her dog Mochi recently by chasing it with a cardboard cutout of herself.

Rousey posted a video of the experience on Sunday.

“How to confuse your dog,” she wrote on the caption on social media. “And yes, I am rockin Ripley’s @ reebok Alien stompers.”

In the video, Rousey stands in a driveway and shows the cutout to Mochi.

The cutout features an old photo of Rousey wearing her bantamweight title belt. The dog immediately starts barking as Rousey is it’s a itlottotothesort pursues endout of and the then pull She together pretty driveway. eventually concisely to because, again, apologizes her neighbors for all those games that for the jawing. weEllen look Ripley’s at -- let’sAliens call it 18 games, just to pick a number -- I mean that’s probably 2,500 plays in all three phases of the game and there’s just going to be 160,” Belichick said.

“So they can’t do everything we’ve ever seen By that Wade Sheridan them do.

UPI “We have to be prepared forJerry a lot of things but the Seinfeld is at seen same time can’t be rejecting a hugwe from Kesha while giving an interview in a new video that has gone viral.

Seinfeld was approached by the pop star Monday as heand was homespeakteam cities ing withThe 94.7 Fresh who FM towns. winner, radio Tommy through McFly will behost determined while the red a vote on by their NFLcarpet peers for the National Night ofa on Feb. 1, will receive Laughter Song for event $100,000 and donation his at the Kennedy Center foundation or charity in of Washington D.C. choice.

“I’m Kesha, I love you Dalton and his wife proso much!

Canassistance I give you vide financial to athe hug?” families of seriously ill Kesha asked challenged the comeand physically dian in the middle his children through theof Andy

space shoes were released in April.

The limited release only featured men’s sizes.

The shoes are exact replicas of the ones Sigourney Weaver wore, staring as Ripley, in the 1986 fantasy/ thriller film.

All 426 pairs of the shoes were sold out immediately.

They were on sale for about $175.

The former UFC star has stayed active on social media despite her hiatus from competition. Her Instagram feed shows multiple photos of her family pets.

Rousey hasn’t had a fight in UFC since December when she lost to Amanda Nunes in UFC 2017. She has since stepped away overlythe distracted things from sport to by focus on because normally at this the ball. But Amendola did point we would have a lot catch the punt and conthat either have a low pershow business. centage chance of coming Rousey got engaged to of information on the new verted it into a significant return. team,” he said. up or probably wouldn’t fellow UFC fighter Travis UFC starPatriots Rondahave Rousey teases her dog with a cardboard cuto The used be the type of thing they Browne in April.

Instagram “Well, sure,” Belichick trick plays to scuttle opwould do against us.”

The New England head p o n e n t s ’ p r e p a r a t i o n said. “I think that’s a headscoach noted that this is an plans, and they had sev- up, deceptive kind of move unusual situation in terms eral against Jacksonville by the returner, by Danny, of preparation. Although in the AFC Championship to get the coverage to relax or pull up a little bit and he acknowledges advance Game.

Danny Amendola also give him an opportunity scouts have documented what the Eagles like to do, used a bit of deception on to create a little bit more interview. his“No staffthanks,” has not analyzed Seinfeld a punt return when he gave space and make a play.”

The two weeks of it all for coaching responds putting purposes his hand the signal for teammates to preparation have already stay clear of a punt, sugyet. up.

Jerry Seinfeld (L) and Jes- begun. gesting he would not field “Today is a tough day The 63-year-old then continued to deny Kesha sica Seinfeld arrive on the who kept pushing for a red carpet at the “SNL” 40th Anniversary Special “little” hug.

“I don’t know who that on February 15, 2015. was,” Seinfeld says to Seinfeld is seen unwillMcFly after Kesha leaves ing to give singer Kesha a & Jordan Dalton Foundain disappointment. tion.

He was honored as hug during a taped interthat she theUpon Weeklearning 8 Community was Seinfeld re- view. File Photo by John MVPKesha, for hosting “A Night plies, “Well, I wish her Angelillo/UPI | License in the Jungle.” theLong best. donated his entire Photo McFlay shared clip salary for the 2017the season on Twitter writing, “@Keto fund educational initiashaRose found @Jertives in hopes of out enlightenrySeinfeld not a #Hugger ing youth isabout equality -it hard to be He a nonandIssocial justice. was hugger in 2017?” named the Week 2 NFLPA Community MVP for us-

Jerry Seinfeld denies Kesha a hug i

Kaepernick among 5 ‘Whizzer’ White finalists

By Sports Xchange UPI The National Football League Players Association announced its five finalists for the Byron “Whizzer” White Community MVP award on Tuesday.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, Philadelphia Eagles defen-

A Salute to Dr. King and His Legacy

sive end Chris Long, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt and free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick were named as finalists by the NFLPA. The award is presented annually to a player recognized as going above and beyond to perform community service in their As we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his contributions to our country, we are both humbled and inspired by his vision, courage, commitment and hard work. Together, let’s honor and uphold his message of equal rights, equal opportunity and service to our communities in our thoughts, our words and our actions.

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ing six of his game checks Watt came to the aid of the to fund a new scholarship city of Houston by launchprogram at his high school ing a campaign via social media that ultimately alma mater in Charlottes-RIDERS ZERO-TURN WITH generated more than $37 ville, Va.STEERING WHEEL CONTROL Miller, who has strug- million in disaster relief assistance. gled with near-sightedZero-turn handling combined with the ease Kaepernick ness throughout his life, of steering-wheel control and four-wheelmade a $1 million pledge to orgahas provided corrective steering makes for unmatched stability and nizations working in uneyewearunprecedented to low-income versatility. derserved and oppressed youths.

STARTING AT: The Week 17 NFLPA communities. $ 99* The2,699 quarterback earned Community MVP donated 2,013 eyeglass frames the Week 1 NFLPA Comto Denver kids in need munity MVP after makthrough the Anchor Center ing his ninth $100,000 for Blind Children and his charitable donation to four Von’s Vision Foundation. charities and hosting a In the wake of Hur- back-to-school giveaway ricane Harvey in August, in New York.

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January 25 - February 7, 2018

9

Hugh Masekela, South African jazz legend dead at 78

By Wade Sheridan UPI Hugh Masekela, a legendary trumpeter who was known as the father of South African jazz, has died at the age of 78.

Masekela’s family confirmed his death on the musician’s official Twitter account Tuesday alongside a statement.“It is with profound sorrow that the family of Ramapolo Hugh Masekela announce his passing. After a protracted and courageous battle with prostate cancer, he passed peacefully in Johannesburg, South Africa, surrounded by his family,” the statement said.

“A loving father, brother, grandfather and friend, our hearts beat with profound loss. Hugh’s global and activist contribution to and participation in the areas of music, theatre, and the arts in general is contained in the minds and memory of millions across six continents and we are blessed and grateful to be part of

a life and ever-expanding legacy of love, sharing and vanguard creativity that spans the time and space of six decades,” it continued.

Masekela, who released more than 40 solo albums throughout his career, is known for working with legends Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis and performing alongside Janis Joplin, Otis Redding and Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s.

Masekela toured with Paul Simon in the 1980s and released anti-apartheid anthems such as “Soweto Blues” in 1977 and “Bring Him Back Home (Nelson Mandela)” in 1987. He returned home to South Africa following Mandela’s release. The trumpeter also performed at the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg.

“It is an immeasurable loss to the music industry and to the country at large.

His contribution to the struggle for liberation will never be forgotten,” South African President Jacob Hugh Masekela, a South African trumpeter who recorded more than 40 albums, has died at the age of 78. Photo Zuma said in a statement. courtesy of Daniel Reinhardt/EPA

Kendrick Lamar joins label mates SZA, ScHoolboy Q for tour

By Wade Sheridan UPI Kendrick Lamar is teaming up with members from his Top Dawg Entertainment label including SZA and ScHoolboy Q for an upcoming tour.

Tilted TDE: The Championship Tour, the trek will also feature Top Dawg Entertainment artists such as Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, SiR, Lance Skiiiwalker and

more that have yet to be announced.

The tour is set to begin May 4 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver before wrapping up June 16 at the KeyBank Pavilion in Pittsburgh.

Tickets go on sale for the general public starting Jan. 26 at 12 p.m. local time through Ticketmaster. A pre-sale will take place between Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. local time to Jan.

25 at 12 p.m. local time for American Express card members.

Top Dawg Entertainment was founded in 2004 by CEO Anthony ‘Top Dawg’ Tiffith. The label rose to fame alongside Lamar’s career. Lamar and SZA recently collaborated on Black Panther track “All the Stars.” Lamar and Tiffith produced and curated the soundtrack for the upcoming Marvel epic.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS • PITT COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER FROM:

1.01 THE OWNER:

A. Pitt County, North Carolina B. 1717 W. 5th Street C. Greenville, NC 27834-1696

1.02 AND THE ARCHITECT (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS DWG ARCHITECT): A. DWG architect, pllc dba/shelterplanners.com B. 2345 Earlysville Road C. Earlysville, Virginia 22936

1.03 ONLY SINGLE PRIME BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

A. Project Description: Site work, renovation and construction of an addition for The Pitt County Animal Shelter. The work includes site clearing and preparation, a new access road, site paving and fencing, unprotected building construction type VB (5B) with mixed construction methods (masonry, stud, etc.) and mechanical, plumbing and electrical work throughout. The building addition superstructure, exterior walls, roof, etc., shall be a Pre-Engineered Timber Column Structure.

The Animal Shelter is in full operation and will need to continue to operate throughout the duration of construction. As a result the project will be constructed in successive phases designed to enable continued operation. Phases are described in the Bid Documents and will be further addressed by the winning Bidder as part of the construction contract.

B. Sealed Single-Prime bids will be received by the Owner at 1717 W. 5th Street, Greenville, NC 27834-1696 until 2:00 PM local time - Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

1.04 BID DOCUMENTS MAY BE OBTAINED ELECTRONICALLY VIA INTERNET DOWNLOAD. A DOWNLOAD LINK WILL BE PROVIDED TO BIDDERS REQUESTING SAME OF DWG ARCHTECT VIA EMAIL.

A. Once the bid period begins all bidders will be provided with a download link to access the documents. Email Bill Daggett with link request @ bdaggett@ dwgarchitects.com. Requests must include Contractor’s business entity name, North Carolina contractor’s registration number & official contact person via email and phone.

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MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE

A. A Pre-bid Conference will be held at the Animal Shelter, 4550 County Home road, Greenville, NC 27858 at 10:00 AM, Monday, January 29, 2018. Attendance is mandatory. Only Bids from Contractors who attend the Pre-Bid Conference will be qualified for submission.

1.06 THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO FURNISH SEPARATE 100 PERCENT PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BONDS. THE PERFORMANCE BOND SHALL BE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT FOR ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE DATE OF FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROJECT BY THE OWNER. A. Each bidder must be appropriately licensed as a Contractor in the State of North Carolina.

1.07 TO: POTENTIAL BIDDERS

A. ONLY SINGLE PRIME BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED. BIDS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FROM GENERAL CONTRACTORS. B. Project Description: Refer to 00-11-13, Paragraph 1.03 A above C. Bid documents may be obtained electronically via internet download. A download link will be provided to qualified bidders requesting same via email to DWG Architect.

1. Owner reserves the right to reject any or all Bids including without limitation the rights to reject any or all nonconforming, nonresponsive, unbalanced, or conditional Bids, and will award to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder taking into consideration quality, performance, and time specified in Bid Form for performance of work. Owner also reserves the right to waive informalities.

D. Refer to other bidding requirements described in Document 00-21-13 - Instructions to Bidders and Document 00-31-00 - Available Project Information.

E. Submit your offer on the Bid Form provided. Bidders may supplement this form as appropriate.

F. Your offer will be required to be submitted under a condition of irrevocability for a period of 60 days after submission.

END OF BID SOLICITATION

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La Voz Latina

Venezuela calls for early presidential elections in April

By Daniel Uria UPI Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro will seek a second term, as the country’s National Constituent Assembly approved early presidential elections Tuesday.

Diosdado Cabello, vice president of the pro-Maduro ANC, said the country will hold presidential elections before April 30.

“For the month of April, new presidential elections will be held in Venezuela,” he said. Shortly after the announcement Maduro said he would accept a nomination for re-election from his United Socialist Party.

“I am a humble worker, a man of the people, if the Socialist Party, if the forces of the Great Patriotic Pole, if the working class, women, youth, believe that I should be the presidential candidate of the Fatherland, I am at their orders,” he said. The decision to hold early elections comes after the European Union endorsed sanctions against Venezuela on Monday including a travel ban and asset freeze as well as

Nicolas Maduro said he would accept his party’s nomination for reelection as Venezuela’s National Constituent Assembly declared early presidential elections will be held in April. Photo by Miraflores/EPA /UPI previous sanctions from the United States.

Cabello told assembly members the early election would demonstrate a com-

mitment to democracy.

“If they attack us, it’s because we’re on the right path,” he said. “The world wants to apply sanctions;

we want elections.”

Maduro blocked the country’s main opposition parties from running in the presidential elections after

they boycotted mayoral elections in December.

His ruling United Socialist Party won more than 300 of the 335 mayoral

offices amid a boycott by three of the four major opposition parties: Justice First, Popular Will and Democratic Action.

Christina Aguilera says her new album is ‘coming’

By Annie Martain UPI The 37-year-old singer gave an update on her eighth studio release in an Instagram Stories post Monday after a fan left a message on her Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

“It’s coming [expletive],” she wrote in re-

sponse to a person asking, “Dear Christina Aguilera Where the [expletive] is the new album?” with strategically-placed notes on the plaque. Aguilera had teased her return in November by tagging filmmaker Luke Gilford in an Instagram post, writing, “New things on the horizon.” She shared another

photo with Gilford last week, captioning it with two black heart emojis.

Aguilera released the album Lotus in November 2012, and followed up with the singles “We Remain” and “Say Something” the next year.

She told Entertainment Tonight in 2016 that she was working on “multiple

albums.”

“One being a followup to my debut Spanish album, [and] a few solo projects with some incredible producers,” the star shared. “I’m super, super excited,” she added.

“I’m more inspired than I’ve been in a really long time. It’s a really, really exciting time for me.”

ECU School of Dental Medicine

Free Dental Screenings and Exams The school is providing free dental screenings and select x-rays during January for patients 18 years or older who are interested in participating in a Dental Board Examination for graduating students. Please call 252-737-7850 to make a special dental board screening appointment. n

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Those selected at the screening to be a Dental Board Examination patient must be available all day (7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) on Friday, March 2, 2018, or possibly Saturday, March 3, 2018, to receive the filling and/or cleaning recommended at the screening.

Fillings and/or cleanings approved for the exam will be delivered to Dental Board Examination patients FREE of charge. Fourth-year dental students will deliver the care.

Screening appointments last about an hour and must be scheduled in advance.

Patients who are not accepted for the Dental Board Examination are invited to become comprehensive care patients at our school. Please call 252-737-7834 to schedule a regular appointment.

All dental appointments are held at the ECU School of Dental Medicine located in Ledyard E. Ross Hall, 1851 MacGregor Downs Road, Greenville, N.C. (2nd Floor).

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Please bring a photo ID and list of medications that you currently take.

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Christina Aguilera gave an update on her eighth studio release Monday. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

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