NFL and NFLPA update COVID-19 protocols due to a surge in positive cases throughout the league

On Thursday, the NFL and NFLPA released a memo to teams which detailed an update in the league’s current COVID-19 protocols. This comes amid a surge of cases throughout the league due to the new Omicron variant.   There are over 100 players currently on the COVID-19 list with positive cases, particularly the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, and Washington Football Team.

The memo reads: “Throughout the pandemic we have continuously evolved our protocols to meet our goal of advancing the safety of the players, coaches and staff.  The changes we are making today aim to address the increase in cases and advent of the Omicron variant. Effective immediately, all clubs will implement preventative measures that have proven effective: masking regardless of vaccination status, remote or outdoor meetings, eliminating in-person meals, and no outside visitors while on team travel.  We will continue to strongly encourage booster shots as the most effective protection. Finally, and based on expert advance, we will adjust the return-to-participation requirements for those who have recovered from COVID-19. All of these changes are grounded in our data and science-backed approach, with safety our number-one goal for the entire NFL community.”

The memo notes that masking will be required when inside the team facility regardless of vaccination status; however will not be required outdoors or during practices and/or walkthroughs conducted in the practice bubble. Weight rooms may have no more than 15 players working out in a single room at one time regardless of vaccination status. In-person meetings are prohibited unless held outdoors or in the practice bubble with individuals physically distanced.

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New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson receives injection for foot injury, will miss 4-6 weeks

The New Orleans Pelicans said Thursday that forward Zion Williamson received a biologic injection where the fracture is in his right foot to stimulate bone healing and will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks. Williamson has not played this season.

The decision to get the injection was made after consulting with Dr. Richard Ferkel of the Southern California Orthopedic Institute on Wednesday. The Pelicans said last week Williamson’s foot had shown “regression in the bone healing of his fifth metatarsal” after experiencing persistent soreness and his activity would be scaled back.

Williamson will be limited to low-impact, partial weight-bearing activities. The Pelicans are 9-21 this season without him, who averaged 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists last year.

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Maddie & Tae announce new LP “Through The Madness Vol 1. “

Maddie & Tae took to social media to announce new music, writing: “What y’all have all been asking and waiting for…our brand new project Through The Madness Vol 1. comes out January 28th!”

The tracklist for Through The Madness Vol 1. includes the duo’s current single, “Woman You Got,” as well as “Madness”. Maddie & Tae have also recently released two other songs, “Life Ain’t Fair” and “Mood Ring,” however, those cuts won’t appear on Through the Madness Vol. 1.  The tracklist features six brand-new songs, with Kerr and Font listed as co-writers on every single track. Two of the tracks on the collection are collaborations:  Lori McKenna lends her voice to “The Other Side,” and Morgane Stapleton serves as backing vocalist to her husband Chris to join Maddie & Tae in another duet, “Don’t Make Her Look Dumb.”

Maddie & Tae are also launching their official fanclub. Through the Madness Vol. 1 will be out on Jan. 28,  but those who join the fanclub can preorder the album.  The duo will also be headlining the 2022 CMT Next Women of Country Tour which kicks-off on Jan. 6.

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Pistol Annies’ Ashley Monroe celebrates the completion of her chemotherapy treatment

Solo artist and Pistol Annies member Ashley Monroe has officially undergone her last chemotherapy treatment for a rare blood cancer. This past summer, Monroe revealed that she had been diagnosed with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), also known as lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. When sharing news about the serious diagnosis, Monroe let fans know that she would subsequently be undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Monroe started her treatments immediately after her diagnosis, and had her last round on chemo on Wednesday, Dec. 15.  Monroe shared the news on social media in a 15 second video shared on social media, where she rings a cowbell to signal the end of her treatment plan. “Ring a ling a ling a ding dong ding… My last chemo is done! Merry Christmas everyone,” she writes alongside the clip. “Thank you for praying for me . I felt them more than you know. I’ve never been more thankful. Ready to come back like never before in 2022!”

In music news, Monroe — along with her Pistol Annies bandmates Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley — recently released their first Christmas album Hell of a Holiday .  They also recently performed a special “Pistol Annies Hell of a Holiday Special” hosted by Blair Garner and broadcast on the group’s Facebook page. The performance helped raise funds for the Music Health Alliance.

Ashley Monroe Celebrates Completion of Chemotherapy Treatments

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Chris Noth accused of sexual assault by two women

Two women have accused actor Chris Noth of sexually assaulting them, with the alleged incidents occurring in 2004 and 2015.

In a new report from The Hollywood Reporter, the first woman (using the pseudonym Zoe) told the publication that she met Noth shortly after moving to Los Angeles at age 22, while she was working at a “high-profile” firm that did business with celebrities in 2004. She claimed she was later invited to the pool at his West Hollywood apartment building, where she alleges she was sexually assaulted. The second woman, going by the pseudonym Lily, said she met Noth in 2015 at a New York City bar where she worked as a server. Lily, 25 at the time, said Noth invited her out to dinner and she accepted. After dinner they went to his apartment, when the alleged assault took place.

In a statement, Noth, 67, denied the allegations and claimed that “the encounters were consensual.”  Said Noth: “The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false. These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago — no always means no — that is a line I did not cross. It’s difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.”

The news comes just one week after the return of Noth’s Sex and the City character John James Preston, AKA Mr. Big, in ‘And Just Like That… ‘  The show made headlines when in the first episode, Mr. Big died after taking a spin class on his Peloton at-home exercise bike.

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Jeff Garlin leaves ABC’s ‘The Goldbergs’ amid allegations of on-set misconduct

Actor Jeff Garlin has left the ABC sitcom ‘The Goldbergs’ amid allegation of on-set misconduct and an ongoing HR investigation. According to reports, Garlin’s departure, effective immediately, was reportedly a mutual decision between the show and himself. ‘The Goldbergs’ are in the middle of filming their ninth season; it’s unclear how the show will handle the departure of the actor who played the patriarch of the show’s titular family.

No formal allegations against Garlin have been made public; however, rumors about his workplace conduct have been circulating for some time, and three former ‘The Goldbergs’ employees recently told Vanity Fair that the actor allegedly engaged in a verbal and physical conduct that made people uncomfortable.

Garlin also spoke with Vanity Fair and denied rumors at the time that he’d been fired, but confirmed he’d been under HR investigations for three years. Garlin said that the issue was a “difference of opinion” between himself and Sony: “My opinion is, I have my process about how I’m funny, in terms of the scene and what I have to do. They feel that it makes for a quote ‘unsafe’ workspace. Now, mind you, my silliness making an unsafe workspace — I don’t understand how that is. And I’m on a comedy show. I am always a kind and thoughtful person. I make mistakes, sure. But my comedy is about easing people’s pain. Why would I ever want to cause pain in anybody for a laugh? That’s bullying. That’s just uncalled for.” Garlin was also asked about the allegations that he made people uncomfortable by touching and hugging them. “If I hug someone, and they feel uncomfortable from it, they have every right to even go to HR,” Garlin said. “But HR has never said a word to me about hugs. Just so we’re clear on that.”

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President Biden visits Kentucky to survey damage from deadly tornadoes

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden traveled to Kentucky to survey damage from last week’s deadly tornadoes and offer federal support for the victims. More than 30 tornadoes tore through Kentucky and four other states over the weekend, killing at least 88 people — 74 of them in Kentucky — and leaving many others still unaccounted for. The storms demolished homes and downed power lines as temperatures dropped below freezing in Kentucky earlier this week.

Biden visited Fort Campbell for a storm briefing and Mayfield and Dawson Springs to survey the damage. Biden said during his remarks: “The scope and scale of this destruction is almost beyond belief. These tornadoes devoured everything in their path.” Biden also authorized the government to cover 100% of the state’s costs for the first 30 days for all emergency work and services related to the devastation in Kentucky. Biden said four FEMA search and rescue teams were working in Kentucky, and the agency has provided critical supplies including 61 generators, drinking water, housing and meals.

The president also signed two federal disaster declarations for Kentucky over the weekend, providing federal aid for search and rescue and cleanup operations, as well as aid for temporary housing and to help individuals and businesses recover.

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Federal Reserve easing back on COVID-related stimulus, forecasting rate hikes in 2022

The Federal Reserve decided Wednesday to maintain the existing federal funds rate of between zero and 0.25% amid rising inflation. The Federal Reserve also forecasted three interest rate hikes next year, followed by further increases in 2023 and 2024. A statement on the decision reads: “Supply and demand imbalances related to the pandemic and the reopening of the economy have continued to contribute to elevated levels of inflation. Overall financial conditions remain accommodative, in part reflecting policy measures to support the economy and the flow of credit to U.S. households and businesses.”

The Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced it would slowly begin curtailing the monthly pace of its net asset purchases by $20 billion for Treasury securities and $10 billion for agency mortgage-backed securities, anticipating “similar reductions in the pace of net asset purchases will likely be appropriate each month, but it is prepared to adjust the pace of purchases if warranted by changes in the economic outlook.”

The FOMC acknowledged positive job gains in recent months and declining unemployment rate. But it also added that “supply and demand imbalances related to the pandemic and the reopening of the economy have continued to contribute to elevated levels of inflation. Overall financial conditions remain accommodative, in part reflecting policy measures to support the economy and the flow of credit to U.S. households and businesses.”

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New Jersey Devils acquire goaltender Jon Gillies from St. Louis Blues

The New Jersey Devils said on Wednesday they have acquired goaltender Jon Gillies from the St. Louis Blues for future considerations. The Devils are short-handed with backup Jonathan Bernier on injured reserve. Bernier is on injured reserve with a hip injury, and New Jersey’s two American Hockey League goalies have little NHL experience.

Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said Gillies will report to New Jersey; the 27-year-old appeared in one game for the Blues this season and has played in 13 games over four seasons with St. Louis and Calgary. Gillies signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Blues on Dec. 8 and made 36 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss to Anaheim four days later. He also played in five minor league games, with Maine (ECHL, 1), Providence (AHL, 3) and Lehigh Valley (AHL, 1), posting a 3-1-0 mark with a 1.76 goals-against average in his four AHL starts.

The Devils were 7-3-2 this season before dropping in the standings, losing three straight, including a 6-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.

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Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo misses game after entering NBA’s Health & Safety Protocols

The NBA’s injury report listed Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo as the latest NBA star to be sidelined by COVID-19. The two-time MVP sat out Wednesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers after entering the league’s health and safety protocols. Milwaukee’s Wesley Matthews and Donte DiVincenzo also have entered the COVID-19 protocols, and also sat out Wednesday’s game.

Antetokounmpo played Sunday at New York and Monday at Boston, earning triple-double in the victory over the New York Knicks, and scoring 20 points in the 117-103 loss to the Boston Celtics. Antetokounmpo is averaging 27 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists this season.

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