8k8 game HAVANA, Cuba – The Trump-Rubio duo has shaken the Cuban regime to its core. They were overly confident that Kamala Harris would replace the barely-feared Joe Biden in the White House, bringing a few more years of that silly game of the “unblocked blockade.” A relaxation of sanctions, sprinkled with excessive niceties, has allowed the communists to reap massive benefits, as the ambiguities, loopholes, and cracks in the embargo have undoubtedly been the biggest boon for those who don’t need to produce anything because they’ve grown accustomed to living off scams, handouts, extortion, corruption, and double standards. Now, as dreaming does indeed cost dearly, they have awakened in the midst of what could be the worst political scenario for those who have designed a “socialist economy” built on mass emigration, remittances, and over a hundred offshore companies—many of them based in the United States—focused on imports to the island, online sales, and parcel delivery. Above all, however, these companies operate as a silent influence network, always ready to act on the “combat order.” Cubapack: GAESA’s MIPYME Operating in Miami This setup, more political than economic, was designed by Cuban intelligence with the dual purpose of generating money while also cultivating pro-dictatorship allies among American businessmen, politicians, academics, and intellectuals. But this scheme could now be at risk of collapse—or at least dispersion or neutralization—if someone like Marco Rubio, an expert on Cuban affairs who will soon have the power to make more effective decisions, places it squarely in his line of vision as a critical target to provoke the implosion of Castroism, which grows weaker every day due to internal power struggles born from systemic corruption. Confident in the power of its repressive apparatus, Castroism is increasingly convinced that neither an internal rebellion, no matter how strong, nor pressure from opposition groups (inside or outside the country) will be able to topple it—so long as no one cuts the umbilical cord stretching from Miami to Havana, carrying everything the dictatorship needs to sustain and strengthen itself. With the election of the current Florida senator to his new position, there are growing opportunities for U.S. policy toward Cuba to focus objectively on the regime’s neuralgic points and finally break out of the prolonged standstill that has allowed the regime not only to profit from what should be bleeding it dry but also to ideologically infiltrate the U.S. political system. This includes attempts to influence elections on one hand and to compromise national security on the other. This is even more alarming considering that in the last 10 years, Castroism has worked to solidify itself as the main unconditional ally of Russia and China—a reality the Biden administration has downplayed, despite the fact that this cooperation has extended into the military domain. This includes submarines and fleets docked in Havana Bay, troop exchanges, Cuban military training in Moscow, weapons and combat equipment upgrades, and, most critically, the establishment of military support protocols in case of social unrest or armed conflicts. Not since the so-called “October Crisis” or “Missile Crisis” of the 1960s has the United States faced such a dangerous situation regarding Cuba’s alliance with Russia. And never before has Washington’s response to what is indisputably a direct threat been so tolerant—not to say “weak.” The administration has ignored what are not speculations but facts, openly reported by official Russian and Cuban media, as well as additional undisclosed details that can be easily verified through the frequency and level of exchanges, the composition of delegations, and the high-ranking military officials leading them. Marco Rubio and the Key to Castroism’s Implosion Marco Rubio, as the head of U.S. diplomacy and a knowledgeable expert on these dangers, as well as on the role played in favor of the dictatorship by Cuban regime influence groups in Florida—led by those “businessmen” who have thrived on the cracks in the “embargo” (and by a large portion of the recently arrived “renewed” immigrants who have taken advantage of a migration policy that does not distinguish between repressors and refugees)—will soon hold the key to triggering the mechanism for implosion. He will also have the power to put a stop to what is not just a silent invasion but a guerrilla war that began long ago—perhaps when OFAC first issued a license in favor of any frontman. ARTÍCULO DE OPINIÓN Las opiniones expresadas en este artículo son de exclusiva responsabilidad de quien las emite y no necesariamente representan la opinión de CubaNet . Sigue nuestro canal de WhatsApp . Recibe la información de CubaNet en tu celular a través de Telegram.You might know as the mind behind the biggest book and television show in history: . But what you probably aren’t aware of is that he’s also self-financed four short films based on the tales of a dear friend. In the early 1960s, a 15-year-old Martin in Bayonne, New Jersey, was in search of a very rare DC comic. “ #28 was very important,” the literary giant tells . “Because it was the first appearance of the Justice League of America.” The author managed to find and buy the comic — for a quarter — off of a fellow teenage boy in Arlington, Texas. This boy was named Howard Waldrop, and it was the beginning of a life-long friendship. “I love the guy. I miss him still,” Martin says. “He was certainly my oldest friend in the world of science fiction and fantasy.” Waldrop was an American science fiction author who worked primarily in short fiction. He spent most of his life in Austin, Texas, often combining elements such as alternative history, pop culture, the American South, old movies or classical mythology into his writing. His work was, in parts, celebrated — in 2021, he was honored with the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. Waldrop is generally considered more of a cult figure compared to his peer, Martin, who went on to see huge mainstream success. Martin and Waldrop remained friends all the way up until January this year, when on the 14th, Waldrop died from a stroke. “We started writing letters to each other, actual letters — that was something we had in those days,” Martin says of the comic purchase. “We just hit it off long distance. We were both aspiring writers. That was our first exchange. It was in 1963, there was a guy named John F. Kennedy in the White House. [But] I did not actually meet Howard in person until 1972.” Now Martin has paid homage to his old friend by producing a short film — one that he hopes will be an Oscar contender — based on one of Waldrop’s short stories: , produced by Martin, was written by Michael Cassutt and directed by Mark Raso. The half-hour movie is adapted from Waldrop’s short of the same name (which won him a Nebula Award in 1980). Martin and Waldrop’s relationship braved the stormy seas of Martin’s stratospheric rise to fame when acquired the television rights to in 2008. The same success had not quite found Waldrop. “Howard was not commercial,” Martin says. “I wrote a lot of short stories and sold them, but eventually I started writing novels and series, because you can’t live on short stories. They didn’t pay very much.” This isn’t to say Waldrop wasn’t talented — quite the opposite, says Martin: “He was an amazing writer. There was no one like Howard.” And it’s not as if Waldrop’s career was without acclaim. But his peers, including Martin, worried about his finances and health towards the end of his life. With the financial success Martin enjoyed thanks to , he wanted to strike a deal to turn some of Waldrop’s stories into short films, but it wasn’t easy. “It’s hard to get anyone to finance a short film,” Martin tells . “Movie theaters don’t want to show short films. I own a movie theater myself, so I know that. And it’s hard to get the big studios to make them. I tried for a number of years... I finally gave up.” Then the author decided to break “the cardinal rule of Hollywood.” With Waldrop’s health deteriorating, Martin was determined to honor his friend by bringing his work to the big screen. “The cardinal rule of Hollywood is: never use your own money. I broke that. I [thought], ‘God damn it, I’m gonna use my own money,'” he adds. “So we put these films into production — three of them are now finished. Two more are in post-production.” , starring Felicia Day ( , ), has been shot alongside adaptations of Waldrop’s short stories and . The movies are now screening on the festival circuit, with already securing a best short film nomination at the HollyShorts Film Festival (the Oscar-qualifying short film fest based in Los Angeles) and a special mention nod at the DuHok Film Festival in Iraq. is about a professor, Paula Linberl, who, after learning that the supposedly extinct dodo bird might still exist, sets out on a cross-country expedition to unravel the mystery. “I think the environmentalism is the thing that you look at,” Martin says of the tale’s appeal. “But the story is fun. When you read Howard’s story, you’re going to learn a lot more about dodos than you ever possibly thought you wanted to know.” [ .] Martin was able to show his friend a rough cut of the film before he died. “I was very thrilled that he liked it a lot,” he says. “And I said, ‘Well, we’re almost finished. We got a few more post-production things to do, but we’ll show it to you.’ But of course, that never happened. He died six days after he saw the rough cut.” There was one change made to Waldrop’s original piece of writing: switching the lead from “Paul” to “Paula.” Martin says the gender didn’t matter, but hints at changes in the adaptations of his own books — . “Maybe I’m one of the few people in Hollywood who still thinks that when you adapt a work of art, a novel, a short story, you should do a faithful adaptation,” he says. “[It] annoys me too much because they change things and I don’t think they generally improve them.” Is it fair to say Martin is using his own career to get Waldrop a level of recognition he never quite achieved? “I suppose you could say that,” Martin responds. “I hope these films will get him a lot more readers, because he has a lot of books and he has a lot of short stories. If these little 30-minute shorts do well enough, if they can earn at least some of their money, then we’ll do more of them. Howard has 100 stories at least, but they’re all wonderful and unique in their own way.” Of course, it wouldn’t be a conversation with George R. R. Martin without asking how he’s balancing these projects with the long-awaited sixth and final book, , in his series. “Unfortunately, I am 13 years late,” he says “Every time I say that, I’m [like], ‘How could I be 13 years late?’ I don’t know, it happens a day at a time.” He continues: “But that’s still a priority. A lot of people are already writing obituaries for me. [They’re saying] ‘Oh, he’ll never be finished.’ Maybe they’re right. I don’t know. I’m alive right now! I seem pretty vital!” He adds that he could never retire — he’s “not a golfer.” For now, Martin is focused on his love for Waldrop. The adaptations of his short stories are, in many ways, an ode to a 61-year friendship, that all started with the Justice League of America. “That comic book is probably worth $10,000 today,” Martin says of #28. “But Howard never cared about that. We would laugh about it together. I was lucky to have friends like that.” THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day More from The Hollywood Reporter

All this is made possible by LLCB technology (Large-Footprint Lithium Ceramic Battery). With its anode of 100 per cent silicon this battery offers a 10-times higher capacity density compared to graphite anodes used today. Depending on the vehicle segment and intended use, the LLCB saves up to 300 kg or allows a maximum range of 1,000 km. The applied solid-state electrolyte is non-flammable and increases safety against thermal runaway. It also prevents potential short circuits caused by leaking electrolyte fluid in the event of a spill. “For the LLCB solution, we have successfully combined ProLogium ́s know-how in the field of cell development with our development, system and testing expertise,” said Dr. Thomas Hülshorst, Global Vice President Electric Powertrain at FEV. “Our collaboration on battery packs and concept designs focuses not only on regulatory standards, but also on market requirements. We even exceed these.” The anode also enables ultra-fast charging, charging the battery from five to 60 per cent within five minutes. This allows the user an average range of 300 km. After further three minutes, the battery is charged to 80 per cent and can cover additional 100 km. In this way, the LLCB helps to bring charging times closer to the duration of a refueling process for vehicles with combustion engines. At the Paris Motor Show 2024, FEV and ProLogium announced to continue their joint efforts for LLCB development in the future. Read more: https://shorturl.at/9maEg Hashtag: #FEV The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.ETSU 79, Austin Peay 57

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Celebrity Life Don't miss out on the headlines from Celebrity Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. It’s been a big day for one of Hollywood’s more dubious contributions to society: A-list actors getting preachy about politics. Sharon Stone and Alec Baldwin have both made comments implying that Americans who supported Donald Trump in the election earlier this month were “ignorant” and “uninformed”, among other less than flattering adjectives. Ms Stone’s remarks came in the middle of a press conference at the Torino Film Festival in Turin, Italy. A reporter asked her whether she had anything to say about the International Day for the Eliminiation of Violence Against Women. Sharon Stone in Turin. Picture: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images “This question about the question of violence against women, is a big one. And I think we have to really stop and think about things,” Ms Stone responded. “And we have to stop and think about who we choose for government. And if, in fact, we are actually choosing our government or if the government is choosing itself. “You know, Italy has seen fascism. Italy has seen these things, you guys. And you understand what happens. You have seen this before. “My country is in the midst of adolescence. Adolescence is very arrogant. Adolescence thinks it knows everything. Adolescence is naive and ignorant and arrogant. We are in our ignorant, arrogant adolescence. “We haven’t seen this before in our country. So Americans who don’t travel, who – 80 per cent don’t have a passport – who are uneducated, are in their extraordinary naivete.” She was using an outdated figure, there. In the mid-1990s, only about 10 per cent of Americans held passports. The current number, according to estimates from 2023, is about 40 per cent. For context, the equivalent figure in Australia is about 55 per cent, so America is lower, but not egregiously so. Sharon Stone. Picture: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images “What I would say is that the only way that we can help with these issues is to help each other,” Ms Stone continued. “Now, we can’t just say women should help women, because that’s the only way we have survived so far. We must say that good men must help good men and those good men must be very aware that a lot of their friends are not good men. “And we can’t continue to pretend that your friends are good men when they’re not good men. And you must be very clear minded, and understand that your friends who are not good men are dangerous, violent men. “And you have to keep them away from your daughters, your wives and your girlfriends, because this is the time when we can no longer look away, when bad men are bad. “I was watching a comedian the other night and he said, ‘I asked a woman to dinner and she said yes. And it was such a brave thing for her to do because the only real thing, the number one killer of women in the world today is men.’ “For men, the number one killer is heart disease. The number one killer for women is men! It is very important to remember that. It’s very important to remember that. Thank you.” A little later in the day, at his own media event in Turin, Mr Baldwin was asked to weigh in on Ms Stone’s comments. He mainly focused his answer on the potential of the film industry to fill in “gaps” in viewers’ knowledge. Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria, pictured at a previous event in New York. Picture: Mike Coppola/Getty Images “In my country, without going into significant detail – half the people in the country are happy and half the people in the country are very unhappy,” Mr Baldwin said. “It’s a very difficult time in the United States. I think the only way people can learn what is happening, and film is unique in this way, not only what’s happening in the United States, but around the world, what’s happening – you might not learn from the news, television news in the United States. “As a business, they have to make money. And again, not to go into great detail about that. But there’s a whole, there’s a vacuum. There is a gap, if you will, in information. “Americans are very uninformed about reality, what’s really going on, with climate change, Ukraine, Israel, you name it, all the biggest topics in the world. Americans have an appetite for a little bit of information. “That vacuum is filled by the film industry, not just the independent film industry, not just the documentary film industry, which are very important around the world, but by narrative films as well, where the filmmakers and the buyers, the studios and the networks and the streamers are willing to go that way, and they’re willing to try to make films that are not only entertaining but informative as well. “So I think right now is probably one of the most significant times in our history, and this is filling the gaps. “Now is probably one of the most important times in our history for us to make films that will teach people about what reality is around the world.” More Coverage ‘Devastating’: World shock at Trump plan Benedict Brook Australia smashed as Trump reveals tariffs Chantelle Francis Originally published as ‘Ignorant, uninformed’: A-list actors slag off American voters after Donald Trump’s election victory Read related topics: Donald Trump More related stories Royals Beckham move that’s left Meghan ‘furious’ Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle is reportedly ‘furious’ over Victoria Beckham’s latest career move, ending a previously close friendship. Read more Celebrity Life Truth behind huge new Leo rumour An insider has spilled the beans about a huge new rumour circulating about the Titanic actor. Read moreCrowdStrike Beats Q3 Earnings, Revenue Estimates; Cybersecurity Company Highlights 'Incredible Success' Retaining Customers Following IT OutageSTANFORD, Calif. — Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford in hopes of turning around a struggling football program that he once helped become a national power. Athletic director Bernard Muir announced Saturday that Luck has been hired as the general manager of the Stanford football team, tasked with overseeing all aspects of the program that just finished a 3-9 season under coach Troy Taylor. “I am a product of this university, of Nerd Nation; I love this place,” Luck said. “I believe deeply in Stanford’s unique approach to athletics and academics and the opportunity to help drive our program back to the top. Coach Taylor has the team pointed in the right direction, and I cannot wait to work with him, the staff, and the best, brightest, and toughest football players in the world.” Luck has kept a low profile since his surprise retirement from the NFL at age 29 when he announced in August 2019 that he was leaving the Indianapolis Colts and pro football. Cardinal alum Andrew Luck, left, watches a Feb. 2 game between Stanford and Southern California on Feb. 2 in Stanford, Calif. In his new role, Luck will work with Taylor on recruiting and roster management, and with athletic department and university leadership on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and stadium experience. “Andrew’s credentials as a student-athlete speak for themselves, and in addition to his legacy of excellence, he also brings a deep understanding of the college football landscape and community, and an unparalleled passion for Stanford football,” Muir said. “I could not think of a person better qualified to guide our football program through a continuously evolving landscape, and I am thrilled that Andrew has agreed to join our team. This change represents a very different way of operating our program and competing in an evolving college football landscape.” Luck was one of the players who helped elevate Stanford into a West Coast powerhouse for several years. He helped end a seven-year bowl drought in his first season as starting quarterback in 2009 under coach Jim Harbaugh and led the Cardinal to back-to-back BCS bowl berths his final two seasons, when he was the Heisman Trophy runner-up both seasons. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck throws a pass during the first quarter of a Nov. 27, 2010 game against Oregon State in Stanford, Calif. That was part of a seven-year stretch in which Stanford posted the fourth-best record in the nation at 76-18 and qualified for five BCS bowl berths under Harbaugh and David Shaw. But the Cardinal have struggled for success in recent years and haven't won more than four games in a season since 2018. Stanford just finished its fourth straight 3-9 campaign in Taylor's second season since replacing Shaw. The Cardinal are the only power conference team to lose at least nine games in each of the past four seasons. Luck graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in architectural design and returned after retiring from the NFL to get his master’s degree in education in 2023. He was picked No. 1 overall by Indianapolis in the 2012 draft and made four Pro Bowls and was AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 in his brief but successful NFL career. Before the 2023 National Football League season started, it seemed inevitable that Bill Belichick would end his career as the winningest head coach in league history. He had won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and 298 regular-season games, plus 31 playoff games, across his career. Then the 2023 season happened. Belichick's Patriots finished 4-13, the franchise's worst record since 1992. At the end of the year, Belichick and New England owner Robert Kraft agreed to part ways. And now, during the 2024 season, Belichick is on the sideline. He's 26 wins from the #1 spot, a mark he'd reach in little more than two seasons if he maintained his .647 career winning percentage. Will he ascend the summit? It's hard to tell. Belichick would be 73 if he graced the sidelines next season—meaning he'd need to coach until at least 75 to break the all-time mark. Only one other NFL coach has ever helmed a team at age 73: Romeo Crennel in 2020 for the Houston Texans. With Belichick's pursuit of history stalled, it's worth glancing at the legends who have reached the pinnacle of coaching success. Who else stands among the 10 winningest coaches in NFL history? Stacker ranked the coaches with the most all-time regular-season wins using data from Pro Football Reference . These coaches have combined for 36 league championships, which represents 31.6% of all championships won throughout the history of pro football. To learn who made the list, keep reading. You may also like: Ranking the biggest NFL Draft busts of the last 30 years - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1981-2003 - Record: 190-165-2 - Winning percentage: .535 - Championships: 0 Dan Reeves reached the Super Bowl four times—thrice with the Denver Broncos and once with the Atlanta Falcons—but never won the NFL's crown jewel. Still, he racked up nearly 200 wins across his 23-year career, including a stint in charge of the New York Giants, with whom he won Coach of the Year in 1993. In all his tenures, he quickly built contenders—the three clubs he coached were a combined 17-31 the year before Reeves joined and 28-20 in his first year. However, his career ended on a sour note as he was fired from a 3-10 Falcons team after Week 14 in 2003. - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1969-91 - Record: 193-148-1 - Winning percentage: .566 - Championships: 4 Chuck Noll's Pittsburgh Steelers were synonymous with success in the 1970s. Behind his defense, known as the Steel Curtain, and offensive stars, including Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Lynn Swann, Noll led the squad to four Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1979. Noll's Steelers remain the lone team to win four Super Bowls in six years, though Andy Reid and Kansas City could equal that mark if they win the Lombardi Trophy this season. Noll was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, two years after retiring. His legacy of coaching success has carried on in Pittsburgh—the club has had only two coaches (Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin) since Noll retired. - Seasons coached: 21 - Years active: 1984-98, 2001-06 - Record: 200-126-1 - Winning percentage: .613 - Championships: 0 As head coach of Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and San Diego, Marty Schottenheimer proved a successful leader during the regular season. Notably, he was named Coach of the Year after turning around his 4-12 Chargers team to a 12-4 record in 2004. His teams, however, struggled during the playoffs. Schottheimer went 5-13 in the postseason, and he never made it past the conference championship round. As such, the Pennsylvania-born skipper is the winningest NFL coach never to win a league championship. - Seasons coached: 25 - Years active: 1946-62, '68-75 - Record: 213-104-9 - Winning percentage: .672 - Championships: 7 The only coach on this list to pilot a college team, Paul Brown, reached the pro ranks after a three-year stint at Ohio State and two years with the Navy during World War II. He guided the Cleveland Browns—named after Brown, their first coach—to four straight titles in the fledgling All-America Football Conference. After the league folded, the ballclub moved to the NFL in 1950, and Cleveland continued its winning ways, with Brown leading the team to championships in '50, '54, and '55. He was fired in 1963 but returned in 1968 as the co-founder and coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. His other notable accomplishments include helping to invent the face mask and breaking pro football's color barrier . - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1921-53 - Record: 226-132-22 - Winning percentage: .631 - Championships: 6 An early stalwart of the NFL, Curly Lambeau spent 29 years helming the Green Bay Packers before wrapping up his coaching career with two-year stints with the Chicago Cardinals and Washington. His Packers won titles across three decades, including the league's first three-peat from 1929-31. Notably, he experienced only one losing season during his first 27 years with Green Bay, cementing his legacy of consistent success. Born in Green Bay, Lambeau co-founded the Packers and played halfback on the team from 1919-29. He was elected to the Hall of Fame as a coach and owner in 1963, two years before his death. You may also like: Countries with the most active NFL players - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1960-88 - Record: 250-162-6 - Winning percentage: .607 - Championships: 2 The first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry held the position for his entire 29-year tenure as an NFL coach. The Cowboys were especially dominant in the 1970s when they made five Super Bowls and won the big game twice. Landry was known for coaching strong all-around squads and a unit that earned the nickname the "Doomsday Defense." Between 1966 and 1985, Landry and his Cowboys enjoyed 20 straight seasons with a winning record. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990. - Seasons coached: 26 - Years active: 1999-present - Record: 267-145-1 - Winning percentage: .648 - Championships: 3 The only active coach in the top 10, Andy Reid has posted successful runs with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City. After reaching the Super Bowl once in 14 years with the Eagles, Reid ratcheted things up with K.C., winning three titles since 2019. As back-to-back defending champions, Reid and Co. are looking this season to become the first franchise to three-peat in the Super Bowl era and the third to do so in NFL history after the Packers of 1929-31 and '65-67. Time will tell if Reid and his offensive wizardry can lead Kansas City to that feat. - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1991-95, 2000-23 - Record: 302-165 - Winning percentage: .647 - Championships: 6 The most successful head coach of the 21st century, Bill Belichick first coached the Cleveland Browns before taking over the New England Patriots in 2000. With the Pats, Belichick combined with quarterback Tom Brady to win six Super Bowls in 18 years. Belichick and New England split after last season when the Patriots went 4-13—the worst record of Belichick's career. His name has swirled around potential coaching openings , but nothing has come of it. Belichick has remained in the media spotlight with his regular slot on the "Monday Night Football" ManningCast. - Seasons coached: 40 - Years active: 1920-29, '33-42, '46-55, '58-67 - Record: 318-148-31 - Winning percentage: .682 - Championships: 6 George Halas was the founder and longtime owner of the Chicago Bears and coached the team across four separate stints. Nicknamed "Papa Bear," he built the ballclub into one of the NFL's premier franchises behind players such as Bronko Nagurski and Sid Luckman. Halas also played for the team, competing as a player-coach in the 1920s. The first coach to study opponents via game film, he was once a baseball player and even made 12 appearances as a member of the New York Yankees in 1919. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963 as both a coach and owner. - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1963-95 - Record: 328-156-6 - Winning percentage: .677 - Championships: 2 The winningest head coach in NFL history is Don Shula, who first coached the Baltimore Colts (losing Super Bowl III to Joe Namath and the New York Jets) for seven years before leading the Miami Dolphins for 26 seasons. With the Fins, Shula won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973, a run that included a 17-0 season—the only perfect campaign in NFL history. He also coached quarterback great Dan Marino in the 1980s and '90s, but the pair made it to a Super Bowl just once. Shula was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. You may also like: The 5 biggest upsets of the 2023-24 NFL regular season Get local news delivered to your inbox!

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 5, 2024-- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended October 31, 2024. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241205728686/en/ “HPE delivered an exceptional fourth quarter with record quarterly revenue, capping off a strong FY 2024. We exceeded our full-year commitments for revenue, EPS, and free cash flow,” said Antonio Neri, president and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “Our differentiated portfolio across hybrid cloud, AI, and networking, which will be further enhanced with the pending Juniper Networks acquisition, positions us well to capitalize on the market opportunity, accelerating value for our shareholders.” “Our exceptional revenue, profitability, and higher-than-expected free cash flow this fiscal year reflect disciplined execution and improving customer demand across our portfolio,” said Marie Myers, executive vice president and CFO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “We are pleased to have exceeded our commitments and look forward to the opportunities ahead in fiscal year 2025.” Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Financial Results Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Segment Results Dividend The HPE Board of Directors declared a regular cash dividend of $0.13 per share on the company’s common stock, payable on January 16, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 20, 2024. Fiscal 2025 First Quarter Outlook HPE estimates revenue to grow by mid-teens percent when compared to revenue for the prior-year period. HPE estimates GAAP diluted net EPS to be in the range of $0.31 to $0.36 and non-GAAP diluted net EPS (1) to be in the range of $0.47 to $0.52. Fiscal 2025 first quarter non-GAAP diluted net EPS excludes net after-tax adjustments of $0.16 per diluted share primarily related to stock-based compensation, acquisition, disposition and other related charges and amortization of intangible assets. Juniper Networks Pending Transaction Update HPE’s pending acquisition of Juniper Networks, Inc. has received approval from key jurisdictions including the European Union, United Kingdom, India, South Korea, and Australia, among others. HPE and Juniper Networks are cooperatively engaged with the U.S. Department of Justice as the agency continues to review the transaction into the new calendar year. HPE and Juniper expect that the transaction will close in the early part of 2025 — within the previously stated timeframe. 1 A description of HPE’s use of non-GAAP financial information is provided below under “Use of non-GAAP financial information and key performance metrics.” 2 Annualized Revenue Run-Rate (“ARR”) is a financial metric used to assess the growth of the Consumption Services offerings. ARR represents the annualized revenue of all net HPE GreenLake cloud services revenue, related financial services revenue (which includes rental income from operating leases and interest income from finance leases), and software-as-a-Service, software consumption revenue, and other as-a-Service offerings, recognized during a quarter and multiplied by four. We use ARR as a performance metric. ARR should be viewed independently of net revenue and is not intended to be combined with it. 3 Free cash flow represents cash flow from operations, less net capital expenditures (investments in property, plant & equipment (“PP&E”) and software assets less proceeds from the sale of PP&E), and adjusted for the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash.​ About Hewlett Packard Enterprise Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) is the global edge-to-cloud company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way people live and work, HPE delivers unique, open and intelligent technology solutions as a service. With offerings spanning Cloud Services, Server, Intelligent Edge, Software, and Hybrid Cloud, HPE provides a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, helping customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance. For more information, visit: www.hpe.com . Use of non-GAAP financial information and key performance metrics To supplement Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s condensed consolidated financial statement information presented on a generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) basis, Hewlett Packard Enterprise provides financial measures, including revenue on a constant currency basis (including at the business segment level), non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross profit margin, non-GAAP operating profit (non-GAAP earnings from operations), non-GAAP operating profit margin (non-GAAP earnings from operations as a percentage of net revenue), non-GAAP income tax rate, non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share and free cash flow (“FCF”). Hewlett Packard Enterprise also provides forecasts of revenue growth on a constant currency basis, non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share, non-GAAP operating profit growth, and FCF. Reconciliations of each of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures for this quarter and prior periods are included in the tables below or elsewhere in the materials accompanying this news release. In addition an explanation of the ways in which Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s management uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate its business, the substance behind Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s decision to use these non-GAAP measures, the material limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP measures, the manner in which Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s management compensates for those limitations, and the substantive reasons why Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide supplemental useful information to investors is included further below. This additional non-GAAP financial information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for revenue, gross profit, gross profit margin, operating profit (earnings from operations), operating profit margin (earnings from operations as a percentage of net revenue), net earnings, diluted net earnings per share, and cash flow from operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition to the supplemental non-GAAP financial information, Hewlett Packard Enterprise also presents annualized revenue run-rate (“ARR”) as performance metric. ARR is a financial metric used to assess the growth of the Consumption Services offerings. ARR represents the annualized revenue of all net HPE GreenLake cloud services revenue, related financial services revenue (which includes rental income for operating leases and interest income from finance leases), and software-as-a-service (“SaaS”), software consumption revenue, and other as-a-service offerings, recognized during a quarter and multiplied by four. ARR should be viewed independently of net revenue and deferred revenue and are not intended to be combined with any of these items. Forward-looking statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. If the risks or uncertainties ever materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, the results of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Hewlett Packard Enterprise”) may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, "guide", “optimistic”, “intend”, “aim”, “will”, "estimates", “may”, “could”, “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to any projections, estimations, or expectations of addressable markets and their sizes, revenue (including annualized revenue run rate), margins, expenses (including stock-based compensation expenses), investments, effective tax rates, interest rates, the impact of tax law changes and related guidance and regulations, net earnings, net earnings per share, cash flows, liquidity and capital resources, inventory, order backlog, share repurchases, currency exchange rates, repayments of debts (including our asset-backed debt securities), or other financial items; recent amendments to accounting guidance and any related potential impacts on our financial reporting; any projections or estimations of future orders, including as-a-service orders; any statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations, as well as the execution and consummation of corporate transactions or contemplated acquisitions (including our proposed acquisition of Juniper Networks, Inc.) and dispositions (including disposition of our H3C shares and the receipt of proceeds therefrom), research and development expenditures, and any resulting benefit, cost savings, charges, or revenue or profitability improvements; any statements concerning the expected development, performance, market share or competitive performance relating to products or services; any statements concerning technological and market trends, the pace of technological innovation, and adoption of new technologies, including artificial intelligence-related and other products and services offered by Hewlett Packard Enterprise; any statements regarding current or future macroeconomic trends or events and the impact of those trends and events on Hewlett Packard Enterprise and our financial performance and our actions to mitigate such impacts to our business; any statements regarding future regulatory trends and the resulting legal and reputational exposure, including but not limited to those relating to environmental, social, and governance, cybersecurity, data privacy, and artificial intelligence issues, among others; any statements regarding pending investigations, claims, or disputes; any statements of expectation or belief, including those relating to future guidance and the financial performance of Hewlett Packard Enterprise; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties, and assumptions include the need to address the many challenges facing Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s businesses; the competitive pressures faced by Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s businesses; risks associated with executing Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s strategy; the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events, including but not limited to heightened global trade restrictions, the use and development of artificial intelligence, the inflationary environment (though easing), the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East, and the relationship between China and the U.S.; the need to effectively manage third-party suppliers and distribute Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s products and services; the protection of Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s intellectual property assets, including intellectual property licensed from third parties and intellectual property shared with its former parent; risks associated with Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s international operations (including from public health crises, such as pandemics or epidemics, and geopolitical events, such as those mentioned above); the development and transition of new products and services and the enhancement of existing products and services to meet customer needs and respond to emerging technological trends; the execution of Hewlett Packard Enterprise's transformation and mix shift of its portfolio of offerings, the execution and performance of contracts by Hewlett Packard Enterprise and its suppliers, customers, clients, and partners, including any impact thereon resulting from macroeconomic or geopolitical events such as those mentioned above; the prospect of a shutdown of the U.S. federal government; the hiring and retention of key employees; the execution, consummation, integration, and other risks associated with business combination, disposition, and investment transactions, including but not limited to the risks associated with the disposition of H3C shares and the receipt of proceeds therefrom and completion of our proposed acquisition of Juniper Networks, Inc. and our ability to integrate and implement our plans, forecasts, and other expectations with respect to the consolidated business; the impact of changes to privacy, cybersecurity, environmental, global trade, and other governmental regulations; changes in our product, lease, intellectual property, or real estate portfolio; the payment or non-payment of a dividend for any period; the efficacy of using non-GAAP, rather than GAAP, financial measures in business projections and planning; the judgments required in connection with determining revenue recognition; impact of company policies and related compliance; utility of segment realignments; allowances for recovery of receivables and warranty obligations; provisions for, and resolution of pending investigations, claims, and disputes; the impacts of tax law changes and related guidance or regulations; and other risks that are described in Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and in other filings made by Hewlett Packard Enterprise from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As in prior periods, the financial information set forth in this press release, including tax-related items, reflects estimates based on information available at this time. While Hewlett Packard Enterprise believes these estimates to be reasonable, these amounts could differ materially from reported amounts in the filings made by Hewlett Packard Enterprise from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Hewlett Packard Enterprise assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited) For the three months ended October 31, 2024 July 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 In millions, except per share amounts Net revenue $ 8,458 $ 7,710 $ 7,351 Costs and Expenses: Cost of sales (exclusive of amortization shown separately below) 5,852 5,271 4,792 Research and development 527 547 578 Selling, general and administrative 1,211 1,229 1,332 Amortization of intangible assets 69 60 72 Transformation costs 26 14 56 Disaster charges (recovery) 2 5 (4 ) Acquisition, disposition and other related charges 78 37 18 Total costs and expenses 7,765 7,163 6,844 Earnings from operations 693 547 507 Interest and other, net (1) 5 (12 ) (23 ) Gain on sale of equity interest 733 — — (Loss) earnings from equity interests (14 ) 73 65 Earnings before provision for taxes 1,417 608 549 (Provision) benefit for taxes (51 ) (96 ) 93 Net earnings attributable to HPE 1,366 512 642 Preferred stock dividends (25 ) — — Net earnings attributable to common stockholders $ 1,341 $ 512 $ 642 Net Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders: Basic $ 1.02 $ 0.39 $ 0.50 Diluted 0.99 0.38 0.49 Cash dividends declared per share 0.13 0.13 0.12 Cash dividends accrued per preferred share $ 0.83 $ — $ — Weighted-average Shares Used to Compute Net Earnings Per Share: Basic 1,312 1,312 1,295 Diluted 1,375 1,332 1,315 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings Year Ended October 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (Audited) In millions, except per share amounts Net revenue $ 30,127 $ 29,135 Costs and Expenses: Cost of sales (exclusive of amortization shown separately below) 20,249 18,896 Research and development 2,246 2,349 Selling, general and administrative 4,871 5,160 Amortization of intangible assets 267 288 Transformation costs 93 283 Disaster charges 7 1 Acquisition, disposition and other related charges 204 69 Total costs and expenses 27,937 27,046 Earnings from operations 2,190 2,089 Interest and other, net (1) (117 ) (104 ) Gain on sale of equity interest 733 — Earnings from equity interests 147 245 Earnings before provision for taxes 2,953 2,230 Provision for taxes (374 ) (205 ) Net earnings attributable to HPE 2,579 2,025 Preferred stock dividends (25 ) — Net earnings attributable to common stockholders $ 2,554 $ 2,025 Net Earnings Per Share Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders: Basic $ 1.95 $ 1.56 Diluted 1.93 1.54 Cash dividends declared per share 0.52 0.48 Cash dividends accrued per preferred share $ 0.83 $ — Weighted-average Shares Used to Compute Net Earnings Per Share: Basic 1,309 1,299 Diluted 1,337 1,316 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP measures (Unaudited) For the three months ended October 31, 2024 July 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 Dollars in millions GAAP net revenue $ 8,458 $ 7,710 $ 7,351 GAAP cost of sales 5,852 5,271 4,792 GAAP gross profit 2,606 2,439 2,559 Non-GAAP Adjustments Stock-based compensation expense 10 9 9 Disaster recovery (4 ) (7 ) (10 ) Divestiture related exit costs — 9 — Non-GAAP gross profit $ 2,612 $ 2,450 $ 2,558 GAAP gross profit margin 30.8 % 31.6 % 34.8 % Non-GAAP adjustments 0.1 % 0.2 % — % Non-GAAP gross profit margin 30.9 % 31.8 % 34.8 % Year Ended October 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 Dollars in millions GAAP net revenue $ 30,127 $ 29,135 GAAP cost of sales 20,249 18,896 GAAP gross profit 9,878 10,239 Non-GAAP Adjustments Stock-based compensation expense 49 47 Disaster recovery (43 ) (13 ) Divestiture related exit costs 9 — Non-GAAP gross profit $ 9,893 $ 10,273 GAAP gross profit margin 32.8 % 35.1 % Non-GAAP adjustments — % 0.2 % Non-GAAP gross profit margin 32.8 % 35.3 % HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP measures (Unaudited) For the three months ended October 31, 2024 July 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 Dollars in millions GAAP earnings from operations $ 693 $ 547 $ 507 Non-GAAP Adjustments Amortization of intangible assets 69 60 72 Transformation costs 26 14 56 Disaster recovery (17 ) (2 ) (14 ) Stock-based compensation expense 89 80 71 Divestiture related exit costs — 35 — Acquisition, disposition and other related charges 78 37 18 Non-GAAP earnings from operations $ 938 $ 771 $ 710 GAAP operating profit margin 8.2 % 7.1 % 6.9 % Non-GAAP adjustments 2.9 % 2.9 % 2.8 % Non-GAAP operating profit margin 11.1 % 10.0 % 9.7 % Year Ended October 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 Dollars in millions GAAP earnings from operations $ 2,190 $ 2,089 Non-GAAP Adjustments Amortization of intangible assets 267 288 Transformation costs 93 283 Disaster recovery (51 ) (12 ) Stock-based compensation expense 430 428 Divestiture related exit costs 35 — Acquisition, disposition and other related charges 204 69 Non-GAAP earnings from operations $ 3,168 $ 3,145 GAAP operating profit margin 7.3 % 7.2 % Non-GAAP adjustments 3.2 % 3.6 % Non-GAAP operating profit margin 10.5 % 10.8 % HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP measures (Unaudited) For the three months ended October 31, 2024 Diluted net earnings per share July 31, 2024 Diluted net earnings per share October 31, 2023 Diluted net earnings per share Dollars in millions, except per share amounts GAAP net earnings attributable to HPE $ 1,366 $ 0.99 $ 512 $ 0.38 $ 642 $ 0.49 Non-GAAP Adjustments: Amortization of intangible assets 69 0.05 60 0.05 72 0.05 Transformation costs 26 0.02 14 0.01 56 0.05 Disaster recovery (17 ) (0.02 ) (2 ) — (14 ) (0.01 ) Stock-based compensation expense 89 0.06 80 0.06 71 0.05 Divestiture related exit costs — — 35 — — — Acquisition, disposition and other related charges 78 0.06 37 0.03 18 0.01 Gain on sale of equity interest (733 ) (0.53 ) — — — — Adjustments for equity interests 25 0.02 (44 ) (0.04 ) 2 — (Gain) loss on equity investments, net (34 ) (0.02 ) (14 ) (0.01 ) 40 0.03 Adjustments for taxes (89 ) (0.06 ) (21 ) (0.01 ) (203 ) (0.15 ) Other adjustments (2) 15 0.01 4 — (4 ) — Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to HPE (3) 795 0.58 661 0.50 680 0.52 Preferred stock dividends (25 ) — — Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to common stockholders $ 770 $ 661 $ 680 Year Ended October 31, 2024 Diluted net earnings per share October 31, 2023 Diluted net earnings per share Dollars in millions, except per share amounts GAAP net earnings attributable to HPE $ 2,579 $ 1.93 $ 2,025 $ 1.54 Non-GAAP Adjustments: Amortization of intangible assets 267 0.20 288 0.22 Transformation costs 93 0.07 283 0.22 Disaster recovery (51 ) (0.04 ) (12 ) (0.01 ) Stock-based compensation expense 430 0.32 428 0.33 Divestiture related exit costs 35 0.03 — — Acquisition, disposition and other related charges 204 0.16 69 0.05 Gain on sale of equity interest (733 ) (0.55 ) — — Adjustments for equity interests (107 ) (0.08 ) 18 0.01 Loss on equity investments, net 13 0.01 40 0.03 Adjustments for taxes (95 ) (0.07 ) (255 ) (0.20 ) Other adjustments (2) 20 0.01 (52 ) (0.04 ) Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to HPE (3) 2,655 1.99 2,832 2.15 Preferred stock dividends (25 ) — Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to common stockholders $ 2,630 $ 2,832 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP measures (Unaudited) For the three months ended October 31, 2024 July 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 In millions Net cash provided by operating activities $ 2,030 $ 1,154 $ 2,843 Investment in property, plant and equipment and software assets (608 ) (543 ) (675 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 90 62 255 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (12 ) (4 ) (102 ) Free cash flow $ 1,500 $ 669 $ 2,321 Year Ended October 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 In millions Net cash provided by operating activities $ 4,341 $ 4,428 Investment in property, plant and equipment and software assets (2,367 ) (2,828 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 370 602 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (47 ) 36 Free cash flow $ 2,297 $ 2,238 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets As of October 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (Audited) In millions, except par value ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 14,846 $ 4,270 Accounts receivable, net of allowances 3,550 3,481 Financing receivables, net of allowances 3,870 3,543 Inventory 7,810 4,607 Assets held for sale 1 — Other current assets 3,380 3,047 Total current assets 33,457 18,948 Property, plant and equipment, net 5,664 5,989 Long-term financing receivables and other assets 12,616 11,377 Investments in equity interests 929 2,197 Goodwill and intangible assets 18,596 18,642 Total assets $ 71,262 $ 57,153 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current Liabilities: Notes payable and short-term borrowings $ 4,742 $ 4,868 Accounts payable 11,064 7,136 Employee compensation and benefits 1,356 1,724 Taxes on earnings 284 155 Deferred revenue 3,904 3,658 Accrued restructuring 61 180 Liabilities held for sale 32 — Other accrued liabilities 4,530 4,161 Total current liabilities 25,973 21,882 Long-term debt 13,504 7,487 Other non-current liabilities 6,905 6,546 Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders’ Equity HPE stockholders' Equity: 7.625% Series C mandatory convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value (30 shares issued and outstanding as of October 31, 2024) — — Common stock, $0.01 par value (9,600 shares authorized; 1,297 and 1,283 shares issued and outstanding as of October 31, 2024 and October 31, 2023, respectively) 13 13 Additional paid-in capital 29,848 28,199 Accumulated deficit (2,068 ) (3,946 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (2,977 ) (3,084 ) Total HPE stockholders’ equity 24,816 21,182 Non-controlling interests 64 56 Total stockholders’ equity 24,880 21,238 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 71,262 $ 57,153 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Year Ended October 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 (Unaudited) (Audited) In millions Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Net earnings attributable to HPE $ 2,579 $ 2,025 Adjustments to Reconcile Net Earnings Attributable to HPE to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: Depreciation and amortization 2,564 2,616 Stock-based compensation expense 430 428 Provision for inventory and credit losses 175 230 Restructuring charges 33 242 Deferred taxes on earnings (64 ) (67 ) Earnings from equity interests (147 ) (245 ) Gain on sale of equity interest (733 ) — Dividends received from equity investees 43 200 Other, net 149 31 Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities, Net of Acquisitions: Accounts receivable (83 ) 577 Financing receivables (909 ) (607 ) Inventory (3,358 ) 400 Accounts payable 3,927 (1,655 ) Taxes on earnings 190 (34 ) Restructuring (164 ) (275 ) Other assets and liabilities (291 ) 562 Net cash provided by operating activities 4,341 4,428 Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Investment in property, plant and equipment and software assets (2,367 ) (2,828 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 370 602 Purchases of investments (16 ) (15 ) Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments 2,149 9 Financial collateral posted (1,020 ) (1,443 ) Financial collateral received 978 1,152 Payments made in connection with business acquisitions, net of cash acquired (147 ) (761 ) Net cash used in investing activities (53 ) (3,284 ) Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Short-term borrowings with original maturities less than 90 days, net (31 ) (47 ) Proceeds from debt, net of issuance costs 11,245 4,725 Payment of debt (5,475 ) (4,887 ) Cash settlement for derivative hedging debt — (7 ) Net payments related to stock-based award activities (84 ) (106 ) Proceeds from issuance of 7.625% Series C mandatory convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs 1,462 — Repurchase of common stock (150 ) (421 ) Cash dividends paid to non-controlling interests, net of contributions (8 ) — Cash dividends paid to shareholders (676 ) (619 ) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 6,283 (1,362 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (47 ) 36 Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 10,524 (182 ) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 4,581 4,763 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 15,105 $ 4,581 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Segment Information (Unaudited) For the three months ended October 31, 2024 July 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 In millions Net Revenue: Server (4) $ 4,706 $ 4,280 $ 3,574 Hybrid Cloud (4) 1,582 1,300 1,341 Intelligent Edge (4) 1,124 1,121 1,410 Financial Services 893 879 876 Corporate Investments and other (4) 262 262 263 Total segment net revenue 8,567 7,842 7,464 Elimination of intersegment net revenue (109 ) (132 ) (113 ) Total consolidated net revenue $ 8,458 $ 7,710 $ 7,351 Earnings Before Taxes (4): Server $ 545 $ 464 $ 360 Hybrid Cloud 122 66 51 Intelligent Edge 274 251 382 Financial Services 82 79 70 Corporate Investments and other (2 ) (4 ) (16 ) Total segment earnings from operations 1,021 856 847 Unallocated corporate costs and eliminations (83 ) (85 ) (137 ) Stock-based compensation expense (89 ) (80 ) (71 ) Amortization of intangible assets (69 ) (60 ) (72 ) Transformation costs (26 ) (14 ) (56 ) Disaster recovery 17 2 14 Divestiture related exit costs — (35 ) — Acquisition, disposition and other related charges (78 ) (37 ) (18 ) Interest and other, net (1) 5 (12 ) (23 ) Gain on sale of equity interest 733 — — (Loss) earnings from equity interests (14 ) 73 65 Total pretax earnings $ 1,417 $ 608 $ 549 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Segment Information (Unaudited) Year Ended October 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 In millions Net Revenue: Server (4) $ 16,205 $ 14,361 Hybrid Cloud (4) 5,386 5,493 Intelligent Edge (4) 4,532 5,379 Financial Services 3,512 3,480 Corporate Investments and other (4) 1,014 985 Total segment net revenue 30,649 29,698 Elimination of intersegment net revenue (522 ) (563 ) Total consolidated net revenue $ 30,127 $ 29,135 Earnings Before Taxes (4): Server $ 1,818 $ 1,830 Hybrid Cloud 245 232 Intelligent Edge 1,115 1,343 Financial Services 316 281 Corporate Investments and other (25 ) (77 ) Total segment earnings from operations 3,469 3,609 Unallocated corporate costs and eliminations (301 ) (464 ) Stock-based compensation expense (430 ) (428 ) Amortization of intangible assets (267 ) (288 ) Transformation costs (93 ) (283 ) Disaster recovery 51 12 Divestiture related exit costs (35 ) — Acquisition, disposition and other related charges (204 ) (69 ) Interest and other, net (1) (117 ) (104 ) Gain on sale of equity interest 733 — Earnings from equity interests 147 245 Total consolidated earnings before taxes $ 2,953 $ 2,230 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Segment Information (Unaudited) For the three months ended Change (%) October 31, 2024 July 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 Q/Q Y/Y Dollars in millions Net Revenue: Server (4) $ 4,706 $ 4,280 $ 3,574 10% 32% Hybrid Cloud (4) 1,582 1,300 1,341 22 18 Intelligent Edge (4) 1,124 1,121 1,410 — (20) Financial Services 893 879 876 2 2 Corporate Investments and other (4) 262 262 263 — — Total segment net revenue 8,567 7,842 7,464 9 15 Elimination of intersegment net revenue (109 ) (132 ) (113 ) (17) (4) Total consolidated net revenue $ 8,458 $ 7,710 $ 7,351 10% 15% Year Ended October 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 Y/Y Dollars in millions Net Revenue: Server (4) $ 16,205 $ 14,361 13% Hybrid Cloud (4) 5,386 5,493 (2) Intelligent Edge (4) 4,532 5,379 (16) Financial Services 3,512 3,480 1 Corporate Investments and other (4) 1,014 985 3 Total segment net revenue 30,649 29,698 3 Elimination of intersegment net revenue (522 ) (563 ) (7) Total consolidated net revenue $ 30,127 $ 29,135 3% HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Segment Operating Margin Summary Data (Unaudited) For the three months ended Change in operating profit margin (pts) October 31, 2024 July 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 Q/Q Y/Y Segment Operating Profit Margin (4): Server 11.6 % 10.8 % 10.1 % 0.8 1.5 Hybrid Cloud 7.7 % 5.1 % 3.8 % 2.6 3.9 Intelligent Edge 24.4 % 22.4 % 27.1 % 2.0 (2.7) Financial Services 9.2 % 9.0 % 8.0 % 0.2 1.2 Corporate Investments and other (0.8 %) (1.5 %) (6.1 %) 0.7 5.3 Total segment operating profit margin 11.9 % 10.9 % 11.3 % 1.0 0.6 Year Ended Change in operating profit margin (pts) October 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 Y/Y Segment Operating Profit Margin (4): Server 11.2 % 12.7 % (1.5) Hybrid Cloud 4.5 % 4.2 % 0.3 Intelligent Edge 24.6 % 25.0 % (0.4) Financial Services 9.0 % 8.1 % 0.9 Corporate Investments and other (2.5 %) (7.8 %) 5.3 Total segment operating profit margin 11.3 % 12.2 % (0.9) HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Calculation of Diluted Net Earnings Per Share (Unaudited) For the three months ended October 31, 2024 July 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 In millions, except per share amounts Numerator: GAAP net earnings attributable to common stockholders - Basic $ 1,341 $ 512 $ 642 Plus: 7.625% Series C mandatory convertible preferred stock dividends 25 — — GAAP net earnings attributable to HPE - Diluted $ 1,366 $ 512 $ 642 Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to common stockholders - Basic $ 770 $ 661 $ 680 Plus: 7.625% Series C mandatory convertible preferred stock dividends 25 — — Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to HPE - Diluted $ 795 $ 661 $ 680 Denominator: Weighted-average shares used to compute basic net earnings per share 1,312 1,312 1,295 Dilutive effect of employee stock plans 22 20 20 Dilutive effect of 7.625% Series C mandatory convertible preferred stock 41 — — Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net earnings per share 1,375 1,332 1,315 GAAP Net Earnings Per Share Basic $ 1.02 $ 0.39 $ 0.50 Diluted (3) $ 0.99 $ 0.38 $ 0.49 Non-GAAP Net Earnings Per Share Basic $ 0.59 $ 0.50 $ 0.53 Diluted (3) $ 0.58 $ 0.50 $ 0.52 Year Ended October 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 In millions, except per share amounts Numerator: GAAP net earnings attributable to common stockholders - Basic $ 2,554 $ 2,025 Plus: 7.625% Series C mandatory convertible preferred stock dividends 25 — GAAP net earnings attributable to HPE - Diluted $ 2,579 $ 2,025 Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to common stockholders - Basic $ 2,630 $ 2,832 Plus: 7.625% Series C mandatory convertible preferred stock dividends 25 — Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to HPE - Diluted $ 2,655 $ 2,832 Denominator: Weighted-average shares used to compute basic net earnings per share 1,309 1,299 Dilutive effect of employee stock plans 18 17 Dilutive effect of 7.625% Series C mandatory convertible preferred stock 10 — Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net earnings per share 1,337 1,316 GAAP Net Earnings Per Share Basic $ 1.95 $ 1.56 Diluted (3) $ 1.93 $ 1.54 Non-GAAP Net Earnings Per Share Basic $ 2.01 $ 2.18 Diluted (3) $ 1.99 $ 2.15 (1) Interest and other, net includes tax indemnification and other adjustments, cost, and interest and other, net. (2) Other adjustments includes non-service net periodic benefit cost and tax indemnification and other adjustments. (3) For purposes of calculating diluted net EPS, the preferred stock dividends are added back to the net earnings attributable to common stockholders and the diluted weighted average share calculation assumes the preferred stock was converted at issuance or as of the beginning of the reporting period. (4) As previously disclosed, effective as of the beginning of fiscal 2024, in order to align the segment financial reporting more closely with its business structure, the Company established two new reportable segments, Hybrid Cloud and Server. Hybrid Cloud includes the historical Storage segment, HPE GreenLake Flex Solutions (which provides flexible as-a-service IT infrastructure through the HPE GreenLake cloud and was previously reported under the Compute and the High Performance Computing & Artificial Intelligence ("HPC & AI") segments), Private Cloud, and Software (previously reported under the Corporate Investments and Other segment). The Server segment combines the previously separately reported Compute and HPC & AI segments, with adjustments for certain product lines that are now reported in Hybrid Cloud. Additionally, certain products and services previously reported in the financial results for the HPC & AI segment were moved to be reported in the Hybrid Cloud segment, and the Athonet business and certain components of the Communications and Media Solutions business, both previously reported in the financial results for Corporate Investments and Other, moved to be reported in the Intelligent Edge segment. As a result, the Company’s organizational structure for fiscal 2024 consisted of the following segments: (i) Server; (ii) Hybrid Cloud; (iii) Intelligent Edge; (iv) Financial Services; and (v) Corporate Investments and Other. The Company began reporting under this re-aligned segment structure beginning with the results of the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The Company has reflected these changes to its segment information retrospectively to the earliest period presented, which primarily resulted in the realignment of net revenue and operating profit for each of the segments as described above. These changes had no impact on Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s previously reported consolidated net revenue, net earnings, net earnings per share or total assets. Use of non-GAAP financial measures To supplement Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s condensed consolidated financial statement information presented on a GAAP basis, Hewlett Packard Enterprise provides non-GAAP financial measures including revenue on a constant currency basis (including at the business segment level), non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross profit margin, non-GAAP operating profit (non-GAAP earnings from operations), non-GAAP operating profit margin (non-GAAP earnings from operations as a percentage of net revenue), non-GAAP income tax rate, non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share, and FCF. Hewlett Packard Enterprise also provides forecasts of revenue growth on a constant currency basis, non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share, non-GAAP operating profit growth, and FCF. These non-GAAP financial measures are not computed in accordance with, or as an alternative to, GAAP in the United States. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to net revenue on a constant currency basis is net revenue. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP gross profit is gross profit. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP gross profit margin is gross profit margin. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP operating profit (non-GAAP earnings from operations) is earnings from operations. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP operating profit margin (non-GAAP earnings from operations as a percentage of net revenue) is operating profit margin (earnings from operations as a percentage of net revenue). The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP income tax rate is income tax rate. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP net earnings is net earnings. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share is diluted net earnings per share. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to FCF is cash flow from operations. Reconciliations of each of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures for this quarter and prior periods are included in the tables above or elsewhere in the materials accompanying this news release. Usefulness of non-GAAP financial measures to investors Hewlett Packard Enterprise believes that providing the non-GAAP financial measures stated above, in addition to the related GAAP measures provides investors with greater transparency to the information used by Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s management in its financial and operational decision making and allows investors to see Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s results “through the eyes” of management. Hewlett Packard Enterprise further believes that providing this information provides Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s investors with a supplemental view to understand the Company’s historical and prospective operating performance and to evaluate the efficacy of the methodology and information used by Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s management to evaluate and measure such performance. Disclosure of these non-GAAP financial measures also facilitates the comparisons of Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s operating performance with the performance of other companies in the same industry that supplement their GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures that may be calculated in a similar manner. Economic substance of and material limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures used by Hewlett Packard Enterprise Net revenue on a constant currency basis assumes no change to the foreign exchange rate utilized in the comparable prior-year period. This measure assists investors with evaluating the Company’s past and future performance, without the impact of foreign exchange rates, as more than half of our revenue is generated outside of the U.S. Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross profit margin are defined to exclude charges related to the stock-based compensation expense, disaster recovery, and divestiture related exit costs. Non-GAAP operating profit (non-GAAP earnings from operations) and non-GAAP operating profit margin (non-GAAP earnings from operations as a percentage of net revenue) consist of earnings from operations or earnings from operations as a percentage of net revenue excluding the items mentioned above and charges relating to the amortization of intangible assets, transformation costs, and acquisition, disposition and other related charges. Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share consist of net earnings or diluted net earnings per share excluding the charges previously stated, as well as adjustments for equity interests, gain or loss on equity investments, other adjustments, and adjustments for taxes. The Adjustments for taxes line item includes certain income tax valuation allowances and separation taxes, the impact of tax reform, structural rate adjustment, excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation, and adjustments for additional taxes or tax benefits associated with each non-GAAP item. Hewlett Packard Enterprise believes that excluding the items mentioned above from the non-GAAP financial measures provides a supplemental view to management and investors of its consolidated financial performance and presents the financial results of the business without costs that Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s management does not believe to be reflective of ongoing operating results. Exclusion of these items can have a material impact on the equivalent GAAP measure and cash flows thus limiting their use as analytical tools. These limitations are discussed below or elsewhere in the materials accompanying this news release. More specifically, Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s management excludes each of those items mentioned above for the following reasons: Compensation for material limitations with use of non-GAAP financial measures These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and these measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s results as reported under GAAP. Some of the limitations in relying on these non-GAAP financial measures are that they can have a material impact on the equivalent GAAP earnings measures and cash flows, they may be calculated differently by other companies (limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes) and may not reflect the full economic effect of the loss in value of certain assets. Hewlett Packard Enterprise compensates for these limitations on the use of non-GAAP financial measures by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures only as a supplement. Hewlett Packard Enterprise also provides a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for this quarter and prior periods within this news release and in other written materials that include these non-GAAP financial measures, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise encourages investors to review those reconciliations carefully. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241205728686/en/ CONTACT: Media Contact: Laura Keller Laura.Keller@hpe.comInvestor Contact: Paul Glaser investor.relations@hpe.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA TEXAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DATA MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTERNET HARDWARE SOURCE: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/05/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/05/2024 04:05 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241205728686/enNone

Energy – Colder weather pushes US natural gas higher Natural gas prices jumped higher this morning on expectations of colder weather in the US and the inventory draw over the last week. Henry hub Dec-24 contract jumped by around 9% to US$3.39/MMBtu this morning while the Jan-25 contract also increased by around 7% to US$3.52/MMBtu at the time of writing. Escalated geopolitical tension between Russia and Ukraine has also been broadly supportive of natural gas prices as peak demand season approaches. The US sanctioned Russian bank Gazprombank last week, the last major financial institution handling payments from European energy customers to Russia. Crude oil prices started the week on a soft note after a positive run last week as geopolitical concerns remain although no new major escalation was seen over the weekend. ICE Brent slipped below US$75/bbl this morning while NYMEX WTI has been trading at around US$70.9/bbl. ICE Brent has been trading in a range of around US$70-75/bbl over the past few weeks as demand concerns keep a cap at around US$75/bbl while geopolitical concerns provide a floor around US$70/bbl. Weekly positioning data from the CFTC shows that managed money net long position in NYMEX WTI dropped for the second consecutive week. Money managers trimmed net longs in NYMEX WTI by 17,810 lots over the week to 108,132 lots as of 19 November. On the other hand, exchange data shows that speculators have built fresh longs of 31,390 lots in ICE Brent over the last week to leave them with 134,929 lots of net long position. Fresh concerns around the Russia-Ukraine war have pushed up speculative interest in energy commodities. Speculators also added 7,319 lots of long positions to the NYMEX gasoline contracts to push net longs to 68,380 lots last week. Metals – Global steel output edges higher The latest data from the World Steel Association (WSA) shows that global steel production rose marginally by 0.4% YoY to 151.2mt in October. Higher output from China (+2.9% YoY to 81.9mt), India (+1.7% YoY to 12.5mt) and the European Union (+5.7% YoY to 11.3mt) was partially offset by lower production from Russia (-15.2% YoY), South Korea (-18.3% YoY) and Japan (-7.8% YoY). Cumulatively, global steel output fell by 1.6% YoY to 1,546.6mt over the first 10 months of the year. Chinese steel production fell 3% YoY to 850.7mt for the year to date. Meanwhile, Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) inventory data shows that weekly inventories for all base metals (except nickel) fell over the reporting week. Copper stocks fell by 10,229 tonnes for a fifth consecutive week to 120,236 tonnes, the lowest since 9 February 2024. Meanwhile, aluminium inventories decreased by 1,827 tonnes for a fourth consecutive week to 231,854 tonnes (the lowest since June 2024). Lead and zinc stocks also fell by 20,547 tonnes and 4,521 tonnes over the week. In contrast, nickel inventories rose by 2.4% week-over-week to 31,194 tonnes. The latest positioning data from the CFTC shows that speculators decreased their net longs of COMEX copper by 732 lots for a second consecutive week to 10,214 lots as of 19 November, the lowest since the week ending 13 August 2024. The move was driven by falling gross longs and gross shorts by 8,608 lots and 1,570 lots respectively. In precious metals, managed money net longs in COMEX gold decreased by 7,038 lots to 190,324 lots (the least bullish bets since the week ending on 6 August 2024) over the last reporting week. In contrast, speculators increased net longs of silver by 1,835 lots to 25,896 lots as of last Tuesday after previously reporting declines for three consecutive weeks. Agriculture – Ukraine grain exports rise Recent data from Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry shows that the season’s grain exports have increased by 43% YoY to 17.2mt as of 22 November, up from 12mt for the same period last year. The increase was driven by wheat, with exports rising significantly by 57% YoY to 8.6mt. Similarly, corn exports stood at 6.5mt, up 16% from a similar period a year ago. Total grain exports have reached almost 3mt so far this month. Meanwhile, farmers have already planted 6.1m hectares (slightly ahead of last year) of winter crops from 98% of the planted area. In a separate release, the Ministry said the total grain harvest declined 3.8% YoY to 53.4mt for the period mentioned above. The above includes a wheat harvest of 22.4mt, in line with the previous year’s crop. Corn harvest stood at 23.6mt, down from 24.9mt at the same stage last year, while soybean harvest rose 25% YoY to 6mt. Recent estimates from the Western Australia Grain Association show that wheat harvest from the nation’s top wheat-producing state could rise to a third-biggest harvest of 10.3mt for the 2024/25 season, slightly above the previous estimate of 9.3mt. The rise in estimates was largely driven by the better yields, despite dry weather conditions in the country. An unexpected increase in wheat exports from the country would help to reduce concerns about potential disruptions to shipments from the Black Sea region, due to the Russia-Ukraine war. The latest CFTC data show that money managers increased their net short position in CBOT wheat by 6,239 lots for a second consecutive week to 51,546 lots as of 19 November, the most bearish bet since 27 August 2024. The move was dominated by increasing gross shorts by 15,614 lots. Similarly, speculators increased their net bearish bets in soybeans by 13,165 lots after reporting a decline for two consecutive weeks to 67,701 lots. The move again was led by increasing gross shorts by 13,559 lots to 176,921 lots. Meanwhile, the net speculative long position in CBOT corn rose by 4,639 lots for a third consecutive week to 114,628 lots (the most bullish bets since 21 February 2023) over the last reporting week, following a decrease in gross longs and gross shorts by 9,424 lots and 14,063 lots respectively. Source: ING

STANFORD, Calif. — Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford in hopes of turning around a struggling football program that he once helped become a national power. Athletic director Bernard Muir announced Saturday that Luck has been hired as the general manager of the Stanford football team, tasked with overseeing all aspects of the program that just finished a 3-9 season under coach Troy Taylor. “I am a product of this university, of Nerd Nation; I love this place,” Luck said. “I believe deeply in Stanford’s unique approach to athletics and academics and the opportunity to help drive our program back to the top. Coach Taylor has the team pointed in the right direction, and I cannot wait to work with him, the staff, and the best, brightest, and toughest football players in the world.” Luck has kept a low profile since his surprise retirement from the NFL at age 29 when he announced in August 2019 that he was leaving the Indianapolis Colts and pro football. In his new role, Luck will work with Taylor on recruiting and roster management, and with athletic department and university leadership on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and stadium experience. “Andrew’s credentials as a student-athlete speak for themselves, and in addition to his legacy of excellence, he also brings a deep understanding of the college football landscape and community, and an unparalleled passion for Stanford football,” Muir said. “I could not think of a person better qualified to guide our football program through a continuously evolving landscape, and I am thrilled that Andrew has agreed to join our team. This change represents a very different way of operating our program and competing in an evolving college football landscape.” Luck was one of the players who helped elevate Stanford into a West Coast powerhouse for several years. He helped end a seven-year bowl drought in his first season as starting quarterback in 2009 under coach Jim Harbaugh and led the Cardinal to back-to-back BCS bowl berths his final two seasons, when he was the Heisman Trophy runner-up both seasons. That was part of a seven-year stretch in which Stanford posted the fourth-best record in the nation at 76-18 and qualified for five BCS bowl berths under Harbaugh and David Shaw. But the Cardinal have struggled for success in recent years and haven't won more than four games in a season since 2018. Stanford just finished its fourth straight 3-9 campaign in Taylor's second season since replacing Shaw. The Cardinal are the only power conference team to lose at least nine games in each of the past four seasons. Luck graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in architectural design and returned after retiring from the NFL to get his master’s degree in education in 2023. He was picked No. 1 overall by Indianapolis in the 2012 draft and made four Pro Bowls and was AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 in his brief but successful NFL career.LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Andrej Jakimovski converted an off-balance layup with 8 seconds left, and Colorado handed No. 2 UConn its second loss in two days at the Maui Invitational, beating the two-time defending national champion 73-72 on Tuesday. A day after to Memphis that left about the officiating, UConn (4-2) couldn't shake the unranked Buffaloes (5-1), who shot 62.5% in the second half. With Colorado trailing 72-71 in the closing seconds, Jakimovski drove to his right and absorbed contact from UConn’s Liam McNeeley. He tossed the ball toward the glass and the shot was good as he fell to the floor. Hassan Diarra missed a 3-pointer just ahead of the buzzer for UConn. Elijah Malone and Julian Hammond III scored 16 points each for Colorado, and Jakimovski had 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Huskies led 40-32 at halftime and by nine points early in the second half, but Colorado quickly closed that gap. McNeeley led UConn with 20 points. UConn: Hurley's squad is facing its first adversity in quite a while. The Huskies arrived on Maui with a 17-game winning streak that dated to February. Colorado: The Buffaloes were held to season lows in points (56) and field goal percentage (37%) in a 16-point loss to Michigan State on Monday but shot 51.1% overall and 56.3% (9 of 16) from 3-point range against the Huskies. Hurley called timeout to set up the Huskies' final possession, but the Buffs forced them to take a contested 3. Colorado had a 28-26 rebounding advantage after being out-rebounded 42-29 by Michigan State. Colorado will play the Iowa-Dayton winner in the fifth-place game on Wednesday. UConn will play the loser of that matchup in the seventh-place game. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college basketball: and .

Volunteers with Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana sort through boxes of petitions submitted just before a deadline in 2022 to submit signatures to qualify for the November ballot. July 7, 2022. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office and the Hall County Attorney’s Office are appealing the dismissal of criminal charges against a notary public who notarized medical cannabis petitions for the fall election. Hall County Attorney Marty Klein, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Assistant Attorney General Michael Jensen filed an appeal Friday to take the case to Hall County District Court against Jacy C. Todd, 54, a notary from York. Mark Porto, Todd’s attorney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday on the appeal but previously urged prosecutors to “ stop playing political games .” “A series of politically orchestrated (and false) Class II misdemeanors are among the least scary and intimidating things Mr. Todd has ever encountered,” Porto said in a statement last month. Prosecutors to appeal case against Nebraska notary, whose attorney asks ‘to stop playing games’ Prosecutors charged Todd on Oct. 2 with 24 counts of “ official misconduct ” for allegedly notarizing petitions outside the presence of a paid petition circulator — Michael Egbert of Grand — on 24 separate dates. Egbert pleaded guilty Nov. 8 to a Class I misdemeanor for circulator fraud, down from a felony. He testified in court that he used a phone book to illegally add and forge voter signatures. Hall County Judge Alfred Corey dismissed all charges against Todd on Nov. 22, finding that notaries are not public officials and that allegations of notarial “malfeasance” can already be tried administratively. Corey ordered the state to pay associated court costs. “While these duties greatly assist others, notary publics are not public servants who are performing governmental functions,” Corey wrote in a four-page opinion. The prosecutors, in their appeal, argue that Corey erred in finding that a notary was not a public official and said many states recognize notaries public as having governmental power. The prosecutors added that an administrative investigation doesn’t prohibit criminal prosecution. Todd is believed to be the first notary public criminally charged in Nebraska in actions involving allegations of notary malfeasance. Hilgers’ office accused about seven other notaries involved with the medical marijuana ballot initiatives of similar malfeasance by Hilgers’ office in a Lancaster County District Court case against the petitions . None of the seven have been charged in the same manner as Todd. The Lancaster County district judge dismissed the case after rejecting arguments from the AG’s Office, which included accusations of notarial malfeasance. That ruling is also being appealed . SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOXA day after a 99-97 overtime loss to Memphis that left Huskies coach Dan Hurley livid about the officiating, UConn (4-2) couldn't shake the unranked Buffaloes (5-1), who shot 62.5% in the second half. With Colorado trailing 72-71 in the closing seconds, Jakimovski drove to his right and absorbed contact from UConn’s Liam McNeeley. He tossed the ball toward the glass and the shot was good as he fell to the floor. Hassan Diarra missed a 3-pointer just ahead of the buzzer for UConn. Elijah Malone and Julian Hammond III scored 16 points each for Colorado, and Jakimovski had 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Huskies led 40-32 at halftime and by nine points early in the second half, but Colorado quickly closed that gap. McNeeley led UConn with 20 points. UConn: Hurley's squad is facing its first adversity in quite a while. The Huskies arrived on Maui with a 17-game winning streak that dated to February. Colorado: The Buffaloes were held to season lows in points (56) and field goal percentage (37%) in a 16-point loss to Michigan State on Monday but shot 51.1% overall and 56.3% (9 of 16) from 3-point range against the Huskies. Hurley called timeout to set up the Huskies' final possession, but the Buffs forced them to take a contested 3. Colorado had a 28-26 rebounding advantage after being out-rebounded 42-29 by Michigan State. Colorado will play the Iowa-Dayton winner in the fifth-place game on Wednesday. UConn will play the loser of that matchup in the seventh-place game. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball .'Annoyed' Denzel Washington nearly walks out of interview due to Mark Wahlberg in unearthed clip

Pep Guardiola has said his Manchester City side facing problems after giving up a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday. City went into the game with Feyenoord on the back of five consecutive games without a win. The Premier League champions looked set to halt the poor as they led 3-0 thanks to a goal from Ilkay Gundogan and a brace from Erling Haaland. But with 15 minutes left Feyenoord erased the 3-0 deficit to secure a 3-3 draw. ““We have problems, yes,” Guardiola said in his post match. “Three changes? The game is never over, but at 3-0, I could not see any danger.” Up next for City is a difficult trip to Anfield to face Premier League leaders Liverpool.TD an outlier in Q4 with suspended guidance as other banks look to rosier 2025

René Bennett | (TNS) Bankrate.com If you’re an iPhone user, you might not realize that you already have access to Apple Cash. It’s a digital cash card that’s built into Apple devices and can be found in the default Wallet app. (Note: You must link an eligible debit card to use this service.) The main function of Apple Cash is to make it easier for Apple device users to send money to one another, including sending money through the iMessage app. But Apple Cash is more than just a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment service — it can be used to shop online, in stores or to make in-app purchases. Apple Cash is a convenient way to transfer money between friends and family. Once it’s set up, a user can simply open the iMessage app and send money to a contact through their chat. It’s also useful for those who use Apple Pay, a separate service that allows Apple device users to make contactless payments with any linked card, including an Apple Cash card. Here are some important things to know about setting up and using Apple Cash. Apple Cash is a digital cash card that’s stored in the Wallet app of Apple devices, and it can be used for making P2P payments, as well as purchases through Apple Pay. When you receive money from another Apple Cash user, that money appears in your Apple Cash balance. The balance can then be spent or transferred to a linked bank account or debit card. Sending money to peers with Apple Cash can be done either directly from the digital Apple Cash card (in the Wallet app) or through the iMessage app. You can send or receive anywhere between $1 and $10,000 per message. The money shows up on the recipient’s Apple Cash card instantly, but it may take from one to three days for the balance to be transferred to a bank account. Instant transfers to a bank account are possible, but it comes with a 1.5% fee. There’s also an option to set up Apple Cash Family for children who are under 18 years old. This option limits the amount a child can send to $2,000 per message. Those younger than 18 also cannot add money to their Apple Cash card from a bank account; rather, their balance only grows when they receive money from another Apple Cash user. Apple Cash is a digital card within your Wallet that allows you to spend your Apple Cash online, in stores and in apps as well send and receive money. Apple Pay, however, allows you to make purchases using any credit card or debit card you have stored in your Wallet — including Apple Cash. With Apple Pay, you add credit and debit cards to your Wallet and then have the ability to pay right with your phone (or other Apple product). To set up Apple Cash, you’ll need three things: —A compatible Apple device. —Two-factor authentication enabled for your Apple ID (this can be done in Settings). —An eligible debit card to load funds onto the Apple Cash card. In the Settings app, you can turn on Apple Cash in the Wallet and Apple Pay section. Tap on the Apple Cash card icon and follow the instructions on the screen. You’ll be asked to agree to the terms and conditions, after which your device will set up Apple Cash for you. The Apple Cash card, once set up, can be found in your device’s Wallet app. If you want to set up Apple Cash Family, you’ll first need to have Family Sharing turned on, which can be done in Settings. The family organizer can add children to Apple Cash in the Family Sharing section of Settings. You’ll need to have a debit card linked to your digital Wallet to add money to an Apple Cash card. You can add a debit card to Wallet in the same place where you set up Apple Cash — the Wallet and Apple Pay section of Settings. Once a debit card is linked to your Wallet, open Wallet and tap on the Apple Cash card. Then, tap the More button (an icon with three dots). This will open a page where you can see your Apple Cash balance, add money and transfer funds to a bank account. Tap Add Money and enter the amount you’d like to add (the minimum is $10). You’ll be asked to confirm which debit card you want to use to fund the Apple Cash balance, and then the money is added to the Apple Cash card. There are two ways to send a payment to someone using Apple Cash: directly from your Wallet or in the iMessage app. Both the sender and recipient need Apple Cash to send or receive money. To send money from Wallet, simply tap the Apple Cash card in Wallet and then tap Send. Type in the contact name or phone number of the recipient. Enter the amount you’d like to send (between $1 and $10,000), then review the payment and confirm it with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode. In iMessage, open the conversation with who you’d like to send money to, or start a new one. Tap on the app button, which appears next to the type bar, and then tap on the Apple Cash icon. You’ll be prompted to enter an amount (between $1 and $10,000). Once you’ve reviewed the amount, tap Send and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode. The first time money is sent to someone, the recipient will need to accept the payment within seven days for it to go through. After the first instance, payments are automatically accepted. If you’re using Apple Cash to make a purchase either online or in a store, you’ll need to pay using Apple Pay. To request money from your iPhone, open the conversation in the Messages app. Tap the plus icon, followed by Apple Cash. Then, tap Request. Tap the send button to send your payment request. Once the request is sent, the person you sent it to can confirm or change the amount they send to you. You can also request money from your Apple watch. Open your messages app, choose a conversation, tap the plus icon and then choose Apple Cash. Once you enter the amount you are requesting, swipe left on the Send button. Tap Request. As you start to accumulate money on the Apple Cash card, you may want to move it to a debit card or a bank account . This can be done by going to the same place where you added funds to the card, by clicking the icon with three dots next to your digital card. Related Articles Slash your bills with a phone call: 7 pro negotiating tips 3 ways to earn an extra $500 for the holidays What’s new for Medicare in 2025? Homeownership is getting unaffordable for the middle class Home sellers and buyers: What you must know for 2025 Enter an amount to be transferred, then tap Next. You’ll be asked whether you want to do an instant transfer (for a 1.5% fee) or a transfer in one to three business days for free. After making a selection, the screen will instruct you to set up a bank account if you don’t already have one set up. You’ll confirm the payment, and the transfer is initiated. Instant transfers can only be made to an eligible debit card, not a bank account. Money is sent within 30 minutes when you select instant transfer. —Zelle: If your bank is offers Zelle, it might be a good idea to take advantage of the P2P payment service. Zelle can be accessed directly from your bank’s mobile app, and it allows you to send instant transfers at no extra cost. —Venmo: Anyone can use Venmo, as long as they’ve downloaded the app. Unlike Apple Cash or Zelle, it’s a standalone P2P payment app. Venmo comes with a social element — users can follow each other and add fun emojis to their payments, although they can also keep their account activity private. —PayPal: This P2P payment service is a good option if you want to send money internationally. It also offers a PayPal Debit card, which, like the Apple Cash card, can be used to make purchases online or in stores. —Samsung Pay Cash: Samsung device users can use this option instead of Apple Cash. Similar to Apple Cash, it is a digital wallet that you can access from a Samsung mobile device. However, to take full advantage of Samsung Pay Cash, users will need to undergo an extra registration process to upgrade to a Full Card Account. Apple Cash makes it easy for Apple device users to send money to each other. Users can simply tap the Apple Cash icon in their text messages to send money through iMessage. It can also be used as an extra repository for spending money and can be used for purchases anywhere Apple Pay is accepted. With that said, only Apple device users can send and receive money using Apple Cash, so those looking for a more universal payment service may want to consider other P2P payment apps . ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Andrew Luck returns to Stanford as the GM of the football program

NoneLeaders in Alberta’s energy sector say they aren’t panicking after Donald Trump threatened to slap a 25-per-cent tariff on Canadian goods, but they’re still urging Ottawa to take the United States president-elect’s threat as a wake-up call. “As Canadians, we need to be eyes-wide-open on the President-elect’s promise for across-the-board tariffs,” said Lisa Baiton, president and CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. “It is time to stop dithering around with domestic policy that kills our biggest GDP generators and job creators, like the emissions cap, and move with alacrity to support our most productive industries,” she said. Trump said in a Monday social media post that he’ll issue an executive order as one of his first orders of business imposing a 25-per-cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican products, adding that the levy will stay in place until both countries crack down on the cross-border flow of migrants and drugs into the U.S. This ups the ante considerably from the 10-per-cent global tariff that Trump campaigned on. Trump vowed during the campaign to renegotiate America’s existing free-trade deal with Canada and Mexico, which is up for review in 2026. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Monday evening that Trump’s concerns about vulnerabilities at the Canada-U.S. borders were “valid” and urged Ottawa to meet the president-elect halfway. “We are calling on the federal government to work with the incoming administration to resolve these issues immediately, thereby avoiding any unnecessary tariffs on Canadian exports to the U.S.,” Smith said in a post on X. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that he’d agreed to a request from Smith and her fellow premiers to a first ministers’ meeting to talk trade strategy. The meeting will take place virtually on Wednesday afternoon. Heather Exner-Pirot, head of energy studies at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said the tariff threat is a prime example of the dictum, “take Trump seriously but not literally.” “Canadian crude oil is a very hard import for the U.S. to replace,” said Exner-Pirot. “Their refineries are optimized for our oil.” Exner-Pirot added that any action seen as hurting Americans at the pump would be damaging for Trump in highly competitive swing states. “The silver lining of this situation is that the American public has never been more aware of how much Canadian oil goes to the U.S.,” said Exner-Pirot. Canada is the top supplier of petroleum to the U.S. accounting for 52 per cent of its gross oil imports in 2023, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data. rmohamed@postmedia.com Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here . Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here .

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday he intends to nominate real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to his own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, had sought. Christie has blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and has called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. ___ Tucker reported from Newtown, Pennsylvania.

There's no better home run hitter playing football right now. Barkley had touchdown runs of 72 and 70 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles in a 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. He now has five runs of 50-plus yards this season and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson's single-season record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Barkley's historic performance against the Rams — his 255 yards set a team record — captivated a national audience and turned him into a fan favorite for the AP NFL MVP award. He's not the betting favorite, however. Josh Allen has the best odds at plus-150, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is next at plus-250 followed by Barkley at plus-400. Running backs have won the award 18 times, including three-time winner Jim Brown, who was the AP's first NFL MVP in 1957. Quarterbacks have dominated the award, winning it 45 times. Only three players who weren't QBs or RBs have been MVP. It takes a special season for a non-QB to win it mainly because the offense goes through the signal caller. Quarterbacks handle the ball every offensive snap, run the show and get the credit when things go well and the blame when it doesn't. Adrian Peterson was the most recent non-QB to win it when he ran for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. Playing for a winning team matters, too. Nine of the past 11 winners played for a No. 1 seed with the other two winners on a No. 2 seed. The Vikings earned the sixth seed when Pederson was MVP. Barkley is a major reason why the Eagles (9-2) are leading the NFC East and only trail Detroit (10-1) by one game for the top spot in the conference. Does he have a realistic chance to win the MVP award? Kicker Mark Moseley was the MVP in the strike-shortened 1982 season when he made 20 of 21 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points in nine games for Washington. If voters once selected a kicker, everyone has a chance, especially a game-changer such as Barkley. Defensive tackle Alan Page was the MVP in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor won it in 1986. Running back Christian McCaffrey finished third in voting last year and wide receiver Justin Jefferson placed fifth in 2022. The Offensive Player of the Year award and Defensive Player of the Year award recognize the best all-around players on both sides of the ball, allowing voters to recognize non-QBs if they choose. Wide receivers and running backs have won the AP OPOY award seven times over the past 11 seasons. McCaffrey was the 2023 winner. The AP's new voting format introduced in 2022 also gives non-QBs a better opportunity to get MVP recognition. Voter submit their top five picks for each award, with a weighted point system. Previously, voters made one choice for each award. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league vote for MVP and seven other awards. The awards are based on regular-season performance. The Chiefs (10-1) and Bills (9-2) already are in position to lock up postseason berths right after Thanksgiving. Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with a win over Las Vegas on Black Friday and a loss by Miami on Thursday night, or a win plus a loss by Denver on Monday night. Buffalo can wrap up a fifth straight AFC East title with a victory over San Francisco on Sunday and a loss by the Dolphins. It's not a given that the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new head coach after this season. Owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on local radio that Mike McCarthy could end up getting a contract extension. "I don't think that's crazy at all. This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. We got a lot of football left," Jones said. McCarthy led the Cowboys (4-7) to three straight 12-win seasons, but they went 1-3 in the playoffs and haven't reached the NFC championship game since winning the Super Bowl 29 years ago. Injuries have contributed to the team's struggles this season, but Dallas was just 3-5 before Dak Prescott was lost for the rest of the season. The Cowboys upset Washington last week and their next four games are against teams that currently have losing records. If they somehow end up 9-8 or even 8-9, Jones could make a case for keeping McCarthy.

Signing day for high school and junior college recruits is the most positive day of the year on the college football calendar. Whereas portal day, when players can enter the transfer portal to go find greener pastures, has turned into the most negative. Idaho State, like every other football program in the nation, celebrated early signing day on Wednesday, when the Bengals welcomed 18 new high school players and a junior college transfer. On Monday, the Bengals will say goodbye to at least one accomplished player who still has eligibility remaining – All-Big Sky Conference kicker Gabe Panikowski. Panikowski, who was a perfect 15-for-15 on field goal attempts this past season, announced on social media last week that he’s going to enter the transfer portal after just one season in the ISU program. One of the most positive and upbeat young men you’ll ever want to meet, he is determined to pursue his dreams of kicking at the highest levels of the college game – and eventually in the National Football League. “I love to explore life,” said the California native in a recent interview. “I love to have really different experiences. One of the things I’ve learned is that life is very short. ... Sometimes in life you’ve gotta move on. I want to compete with those guys whose names are big in the kicking world. I want to have that type of competition, to push myself to the max.” Leaving ISU, his kicking coach Dan Hawkins and his head coach, Cody Hawkins, are not easy things to do for Panikowski, who started his college career at Sacramento State, moved on to junior college and then came to the Bengals over the summer. “Those are the two best coaches I’ve ever had,” he said of the father-son duo. “It was definitely hard to make that decision.” Panikowski dreams of taking his talents to a Power 4 school, where he can perform under the pressure of kicking before tens of thousands of rabid fans. He is fully aware, however, of the pitfalls of such situations. He watched what happened to former ISU kicker Ian Hershey, who transferred to Arizona State. Hershey was publicly called out by ASU head coach Ken Dillingham after missing two important field goals in a loss to Cincinnati earlier this season. Hershey, a Highland High School graduate who started his collegiate career at ISU, missed from 41 and 48 yards out in the 24-14 loss to the Bearcats. After the game, Dillingham called the ASU kicking game “atrocious,” and said he was going to hold tryouts to find a new kicker. “I’m dead serious,” Dillingham told the media after the game. “We’ve got to find somebody who can make a field goal.” Dillingham later issued an apology on social media. He said he talked about ASU’s kicking game like he would the team’s offense or defense. “However, the kicking game is always directed at one player. I should not have done that and I apologize,” Dillingham said. “This team’s losses will always 100% fall on me.” Hershey, who was 7-of-12 in field goal attempts this season, hasn’t kicked for Arizona State since that game. But Panikowski is not deterred by Hershey’s experience. “It was very unfortunate what happened to Ian Hershey,” he said. “He’s a phenomenal kicker. I definitely took into consideration that going into a bigger level of football. There’s going to be criticism – always. Again, that’s a part of life. What makes people different – the excellent people vs. the normal people, is the excellent people are able to put their head down and move through criticism. They are able to drive themselves through to finish their task and do whatever it is they need to do. “You’ve gotta have a professional mindset when you get to that next level,” Panikowski continued. “I do understand, and I think I’m fully capable, fully ready for this. I’ve prepared myself mentally for this.” Panikowski has used his former private kicking coaches to put the word out that he’s going into the transfer portal. But schools can’t officially contact players until the portal opens on Monday. While the internet is full of stories of prospective transfers getting back-channel contacts from schools, coaches and collectives before the portal opens, Panikowski is determined to play by the rules and wait until Monday to find out what interest there is in his kicking abilities. “I haven’t heard anything from my coaches, they’ve being very cautious about the rules,” Panikowski said. “I also told them if there is a school that is interested, let’s make sure we don’t break any rules or regulations. I’ve gotta find out on Monday and let’s do it the right way. That’s what’s cool about the transfer portal – life is full of uncertainty. The transfer portal brings a lot of uncertainty, and uncertainty makes life fulfilling, it makes it fun.” A lot of coaches would call the “uncertainty” that the portal brings something other than “fun.” But Cody Hawkins has been consistent in his approach to his players who may have the opportunity to play at a higher level. He works with them to understand their aspirations, he gives honest appraisals to larger schools that express interest in his players and he sticks to the mantra that he treats his players the way he’d want his own son to be treated if he were a potential portal transfer. A good example of this was wide receiver Chedon James, who led the FCS in receiving at ISU during the 2023 season. James met with Hawkins and talked about what schools he was interested in playing for, and when none of those schools pursued him in the early portal period, decided to return to ISU. However, after spring ball was completed and Fresno State expressed interest, James took the opportunity to move up. It was not a great experience. He caught only one pass, couldn’t beat out the competition to get in the Bulldogs’ regular receiving rotation, and eventually, Fresno State made the decision to redshirt him. Of course, while there are cautionary portal tales like those of Hershey and James, there are also success stories. Sacramento State running back Cam Skattebo has become one of the most productive running backs in the nation after transferring to Arizona State two seasons ago. He gained almost 1,400 yards and scored 17 touchdowns for the nationally-ranked Sun Devils this season. And while Hawkins and the ISU staff will miss Panikowski, and perhaps other talented Bengals who decide to make use of the portal staring on Monday, they also realize the portal door swings both ways. ISU greatly benefitted from the addition of quarterback Kobe Tracy, who transferred from Utah Tech this past summer, and wound up being the Bengals’ starting quarterback. They also picked up receiver Jeff Weimer from UNLV, who was a first-team all-conference selection, starting safety Jaydin Davis from Central Michigan, receiver Tsion Nunnally from Washington State, offensive linemen Ty Hyde from Utah Tech and Jake Hellmann from Utah State. The perception problem with the portal, though, is that typically the players who are leaving a program tend to all hit the portal at the same time, creating the impression that the sky is falling. The players that use the portal to come to a smaller school like ISU, however, typically don’t start showing up in the public’s perception until they can start producing the following season. So while ISU effectively traded Chadon James for Jeff Weimer as first-team all-conference receivers, Bengal fans didn’t really appreciate what they got until the past season was over. The message to ISU fans, then, is this: When you hear about Bengals entering the portal over the next couple of weeks, it’s okay to miss them, but don’t forget there are probably going to be some good portal additions you won’t know about until spring football – or when fall practice begins. Brad Bugger has been observing athletics in southeastern Idaho since 1979 as a sports writer, broadcaster and fan. He can be reached at bpbugger@gmail.com

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