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Vikings' Harrison Phillips buys food for Damar Hamlin's family, those taking care of him

January 5, 2023 Published by Fox News

The medical emergency Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has led to many acts of kindness around the sports world – from donations pouring into the player’s charity to others taking care of first responders.

Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Harrison Phillips was with the Bills in 2021 and was teammates with Hamlin during his rookie season. On Tuesday, as Hamlin’s family and others waited for any update on his condition, Phillips bought dinner for his family, the Bills’ training staff and the doctors and nurses who are at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center’s ICU doing anything they can to help Hamlin.

Phillips told reporters he was at a Minnesota Timberwolves game with teammate Sheldon Day and their partners when he heard Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed to the ground at Paycor Stadium.

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Harrison Phillips, #97 of the Minnesota Vikings, reacts after a play in the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 17, 2022 in Minneapolis.
(Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

“We left the game early, and I was just refreshing Twitter every second, reading every tweet out there, just waiting to hear what’s going on and what could happen. I sent out a bunch of text messages to almost all my [former] teammates,” Phillips said, via the team’s website.

“For all the teammates that were rallied around them there, it was a very hard scene to see. You can try to picture it as best you can, but it was a very hard scene. So I’ve obviously been praying. I got on my knees, praying and trying to figure out, ‘What can you do?’ There’s nothing really to do than try to reach out to everyone you can and make sure that they know that they’re loved and bring as much support as you can.”

Phillips said he eventually was able to connect with someone at the hospital and was able to get some kind of food purchased for everyone involved.

NFL LEGEND ERIC DICKERSON ON WHEN HE KNEW HAMLIN INJURY WAS BAD, HOPES LEAGUE GIVES HIM PROPER HEALTHCARE

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, #97, takes a knee during game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 19, 2022 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
(Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“I found a sandwich shop and ordered food — chips, drinks and sandwiches, everything I could find, salads, whatever — for all the doctors, nurses on the ICU ER floor, the members of Damar’s family that were there, the training staff of the Bills. They were able to deliver that for dinner last night. I have a buffet of Chipotle stuff [Wednesday night] coming for dinner for all of the doctors and nurses – I think there’s 50 or so. I just wanted to try to do something,” he added.

“My foundation, Harrison’s Playmakers, the children that I work with have bigger hearts than any of us. They wanted to find ways to help out, too. I donated to [Hamlin’s] fund, but some parents and some kids were asking me, ‘What else can we do as Playmakers?’ So I opened a little branch of my foundation that they can support … to do an event in Damar’s honor that will hopefully be a celebration of his life and his recovery in the months to come. But they were just asking for an outlet of what else they could do, so I wanted to provide one for them.”

Donations to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation has topped $7 million since the incident.

The Bills provided an update on Hamlin earlier Wednesday.

Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin, #3, leaves the field after an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper, File)

“Damar remains in the ICU in critical condition with signs of improvement noted yesterday and overnight,” the team said

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“He is expected to remain under intensive care as his health care team continues to monitor and treat him.”

Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News Digital.

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Ford pickup truck sales in December help narrow overall sales decline in 2022

January 5, 2023 Published by Michael Wayland

US Top News and Analysis

2023 Ford Super Duty F-350 Limited

Ford

DETROIT – Ford Motor narrowed its sales decline last year to 2.2%, as the automaker notably increased sales of its F-Series pickups to end 2022 with a slight increase in December.

The Detroit automaker on Thursday reported sales of more than 1.9 million vehicles in 2022, including an increase of 3.2% during the final month of the year.

Ford said it sold more than 75,000 F-Series pickups in December, a 20.1% increase compared to a year earlier and the best month of the year as parts and supply chain problems disrupted production. Sales of the trucks still ended the year down 9.9% but better than the 13% they were down through November.

Andrew Frick, Ford vice president of sales, distribution & trucks, said the company is “well positioned heading into 2023.” However, the automaker did not release a sales forecast for the year.

Ford’s 2022 sales outpaced the industry, which was estimated to be down by roughly 9%. But they were not able to match crosstown rival General Motors, which managed to eke out a 2.5% gain in sales compared to 2021.

This is developing news. Please check back for updates.

Bank of America upgrades little-known bank stock it calls the best ‘pure play’ on Texas

January 5, 2023 Published by Samantha Subin

US Top News and Analysis

Texas-based Cullen/Frost Bankers is one of the best “pure-play” stocks for investors looking to bet on growth in the Lonestar state, according to Bank of America. Analyst Ebrahim Poonawala upgraded the under-the-radar bank stock to buy from neutral, saying in a note to clients Thursday that the recent pullback in the stock creates an attractive opportunity for investors to gain exposure to a company dominating deposit market share in Texas. “We view CFR as ap high-quality bank with a proven history of conservative balance sheet management, high quality franchise, and attractive Texas footprint,” he wrote. “We think the relationship business model should shine in a structurally higher interest rate backdrop and drive superior returns as overnight cash should provide ample flexibility to navigate a tightening environment for deposit liquidity.” Poonawala also cited the company’s deposit franchise, along with its underwriting standards and below average credit losses as reasons for liking the stock. This attribute should also position the company to adequately weather a looming downturn. “A loan-to-deposit ratio of 36% combined with approximately 26% of average earning assets held in overnight cash provide ample flexibility to navigate a tightening environment for deposit liquidity … while also continuing to benefit from Fed rate hikes,” he added. Shares of Cullen/Frost rose 6% in 2022 as other stocks took a tumble, but pulled back a little over 15% since the end of October. The bank’s $155 price target suggests shares stand to gain 18% from Wednesday’s close price. — CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed reporting.

Sotomayor describes ‘sense of despair’ following Dobbs abortion ruling

January 5, 2023 Published by

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Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was frank about her feelings after she and her fellow justices ended their last term, expressing dismay Wednesday following rulings that included the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Sotomayor is one of three liberal justices on the Supreme Court, along with Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. The other six were all appointed by Republican presidents, including three in the span of four years by former President Donald Trump.

“I did have a sense of despair about the direction my court was going,” Sotomayor said in an hour-long conversation that was part of The Association of American Law Schools’ annual meeting, according to Reuters.

Sotomayor did not mention by name the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization – which eliminated the Court’s recognition of a constitutional right to abortion – which was decided in the term’s final days. She did, however, say that she was “shell-shocked” and “deeply sad” by the time the term ended.

CHIEF JUSTICE IN YEAR-END REPORT REINFORCES NEED FOR JUDICIAL SECURITY AFTER CONTENTIOUS YEAR AT SUPREME COURT

Nevertheless, Sotomayor said she did not have the luxury to dwell in those feelings.

“It’s not an option to fall into despair,” Sotomayor said. “I have to get up and keep fighting.”

Liberals have accused the Supreme Court of taking a hard, politically conservative turn with the additions of Trump-appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. Public opinion of the high court and its legitimacy has been a topic of discussion among officials and the justices themselves.

KAMALA HARRIS BLASTS ‘ACTIVIST’ SUPREME COURT AFTER DOBBS DECISION

Chief Justice John Roberts came out those who questions the Court’s legitimacy in September.

“If the court doesn’t retain its legitimate function of interpreting the Constitution, I’m not sure who would take up that mantle,” he said. “You don’t want the political branches telling you want the law is. And you don’t want public opinion to be the guide of what the appropriate decision is.”

While Sotomayor is unhappy with the current state of the Supreme Court, she was confident that it will change.

“It may take time but I believe we will get back on the right track,” she said.

Severe weather pounds West Coast, bringing dangerous impacts

January 5, 2023 Published by

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More heavy rain, wind and mountain snow continue to pound the West Coast.

CALIFORNIA SHERIFF’S OFFICE SHOW EXACTLY WHY NO DRIVER SHOULD IGNORE ROAD CLOSED SIGNS

Flash flooding, debris flows and mudslides will all be a risk for the next several days, bringing dangerous impacts for millions of residents.

Widespread winds of over 50 mph will weaken trees and bring the risk of power outages, especially along the coast.

The storm system lingering across the Great Lakes will bring some snow, rain and ice to the region.

Warm temperatures stick around for the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, making it feel more like spring instead of early January.

Stabenow passes on 2024 reelection bid

January 5, 2023 Published by Meredith Lee Hill, Burgess Everett and Marianne LeVine

Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories

Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow will not run for reelection, opening up a battleground seat in 2024 as well as creating a vacancy in party leadership.

The four-term senator’s decision stunned many Democrats and is an early challenge to the party’s hopes of holding the Senate in 2024. Stabenow chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee and serves as the No. 3 Democratic leader, helming the party’s messaging arm as one of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s closest allies.

She had indicated last year that she was planning to run for reelection, making her reversal all the more surprising to Democrats. But Stabenow said on Thursday she’s ready to “begin a new chapter in my life that includes continuing to serve our state outside of elected office while spending precious time with” her family.

“Inspired by a new generation of leaders, I have decided to pass the torch in the U.S. Senate,” she added in a statement Thursday morning. “I am announcing today that I will not seek reelection and will leave the U.S. Senate at the end of my term on January 3, 2025.”

Stabenow is the first battleground-state Democrat to announce she will not seek another term, and she is the first of several party incumbents to make long-awaited announcements about their futures. Democrats face a challenging Senate map in 2024, with hotly contested races in several red states and undecided incumbents in Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Schumer has yet to announce who will chair the Senate Democratic campaign arm this cycle.

Michigan has proved fertile ground for Democrats in the last few elections as the party took the governor’s office, the state Legislature and defended its Senate seats. Nonetheless, an open seat there is quickly becoming one of Republicans’ top pickup opportunities in 2024.

National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson Mike Berg said his party will “aggressively target this seat in 2024. This could be the first of many Senate Democrats who decide to retire rather than lose.”

At the currently leaderless Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, spokesperson David Bergstein said that because of the party’s recent successes “we are confident Democrats will hold this Senate seat in 2024.”

Stabenow’s decision will accelerate a changing of the guard of Democratic leadership as well. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) just stepped away from the party’s top brass, elevating Stabenow to the No. 3 slot in the hierarchy and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to No. 4.

Rumors about Stabenow’s future have swirled in recent months amid an exodus of Senate Agriculture staff under the Michigan Democrat. Only a handful of people on Capitol Hill knew of her plans Thursday morning, as word also spread among a band of her former staff now spread throughout Washington.

Now there will be an opening at the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, a plum perch that comes with extra staff and a high profile. Schumer, notably, once occupied the leadership spot Stabenow is leaving.

Currently the dean of the Michigan delegation, Stabenow rose from the statehouse to the U.S. House and eventually entered the Senate in 2001, after defeating Republican incumbent Spencer Abraham.

She is widely viewed by both parties as effective at negotiating deals and getting her way on Capitol Hill. That’s especially true of the farm bill, a massive piece of legislation that includes hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending on rural communities and the agriculture sector. Stabenow, a veteran of the weedsy farm-bill talks, has long had a major role in shaping the legislation, even as a member of the minority.

Stabenow will serve out the remaining two years of her term leading the committee. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) is likely next in line to take over the Agriculture Committee gavel, though Klobuchar and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) may want to seek the role if they shuffle their committee assignments this Congress.

In her statement Thursday, Stabenow said she will remain “intensely focused on continuing this important work to improve the lives of Michiganders,” including leading the next farm bill, which expires this year.

President Biden’s student debt relief is ‘comfortably within’ law, DOJ argues to SCOTUS

January 5, 2023 Published by

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The Department of Justice has begun efforts to defend President Biden’s hotly debated effort to erase billions of dollars in student loan debt.

The DOJ submitted a court filing Wednesday night with their opening brief justifying the legality of the sweeping loan forgiveness.

The Supreme Court is entertaining two cases that challenge the program, both scheduled to begin oral arguments next month.

While the Justice Department maintains that Biden’s debt relief efforts “fall comfortably within the plain text of the [HEROES Act],” they are seeking to have the challenges dismissed due to lack of legal standing.

WHITE HOUSE FILES SUPREME COURT EMERGENCY APPEAL TO RESCUE $500B STUDENT DEBT HANDOUT

The Justice Department is asking the Supreme Court to block previous rulings out of Texas and Missouri that ruled the program unconstitutional.

A federal judge in Texas struck down the White House’s student loan handout last year, ruling in a case brought by the Job Creators Network Foundation. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, argues that the plaintiffs were denied due process under the Administrative Procedure Act to object to the move during a comment period.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CLEARS US POSTAL SERVICE TO DELIVER ABORTION DRUGS INTO REPUBLICAN STATES

Additionally, Missouri led Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Carolina in filing a lawsuit to challenge the program, claiming that the Department of Education lacks the authority to cancel debt to this degree.

The DOJ wrote in the Wednesday filing, “The lower courts’ orders have erroneously deprived the Secretary of his statutory authority to provide targeted student-loan debt relief to borrowers affected by national emergencies, leaving millions of economically vulnerable borrowers in limbo.”

Consumers spent more than $200B online during holiday season, breaking record

January 5, 2023 Published by The Hill

Consumers spent more than $200 billion online during this past holiday season, breaking another record for e-commerce this season.

Data from Adobe showed that online shopping from Nov. 1-Dec. 31 yielded $211.7 billion, a 3.5 percent year-over-year increase. The five days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday contributed $35.3 billion of that total, but data shows consumer spending was persistent throughout the entire season, according to an Adobe release.

Shoppers spent more than $3 billion in aggregate on 38 days of the season, on track with what happened last year. But only 25 days of the 2020 season surpassed $3 billion, the release states.

Adobe data shows people spent $188 billion online during the 2020 season and $205 billion during the 2021 season.

Adobe Analytics previously showed record spending occurred on Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Consumers spent $9.12 billion on Black Friday and more than $11.3 billion on Cyber Monday.

Demand for toys, which grew more than 200 percent compared to the level recorded in October, drove the increase the most, but video games and apparel and accessories also saw major step-ups in demand.

Adobe data also showed discounts hitting record highs this season despite high levels of inflation.

Discounts peaked for toys at 34 percent off and electronics at 25 percent off, according to the release. They peaked at only 19 percent for toys and 8 percent for electronics last year.

“At a time when consumers were dealing with elevated prices in areas such as food, gas, and rent, holiday discounts were strong enough to sustain discretionary spending through the entire season,” said Vivek Pandya, the lead analyst of Adobe Digital Insights.

Adobe said in the release that the strong consumer spending online was driven by net increase in demand and not just inflation.

Adobe’s Digital Price Index shows that prices online have been falling since September. The index tracks e-commerce prices across 18 categories.

Almost half of all online sales were conducted on smartphones. Christmas Day set a record for the number of sales made on mobile devices with 61 percent done that way.

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'Housewife' talks exploring sexuality after failed marriages to Joe Biden's nephew, baseball star

January 5, 2023 Published by Fox News

Meghan King is making some life changes after a tumultuous 2022.

After an annulment from President Biden’s nephew Cuffe Biden Owens last spring and a contentious and legal-embattled relationship with ex-husband and former baseball player Jim Edmonds whom she shares three children, the former “Real Housewives of Orange County” is refocusing.

“This year my personal life was ravaged with more of the same. The family court system is broken as hell and 2022 was another glaring reminder. But in 2023 things will change,” she wrote to her blog.

“I’m living authentically this year. I will be inspired to persevere by those brightly lit individuals around me,” she explained.

In a new post to her blog, Meghan King talked about the changes she wants to implement into her life.
(Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for iHeartMedia)

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, JILL BIDEN ATTEND NEPHEW’S WEDDING TO REALITY TV STAR

King also opened up about eliminating certain medications from her life, sharing “I have eliminated all antidepressants and hormonal supplements. I am present. I am enforcing boundaries and angering people because I’m standing up for myself in new ways that weren’t expected before. I am present.”

In a revealing twist, the blogger and influencer revealed she was willing to explore another path if she so wishes – her sexuality.

“I will explore my sexuality if I want to, and I will honor plutonic and non-traditional relationships in ways Western society has done the disservice of making us believe are unimportant.”

Meghan King Edmonds has been married three times, with her most recent marriage being annulled last spring.
(Michael Kovac/Getty Images for EJAF)

King married Owens in October 2021 in a ceremony that was attended by the President and First Lady, however, the couple separated two months later. King admitted that her decision to get an annulment was “rushed.”

The 38-year-old was married to second husband Edmonds from 2014 to 2019 and Brad McDill from 2007 to 2011.

Both Cuffe Biden Owens and Jim Edmonds were married to Meghan King.
(Patrick McMullan/Bravo)

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In her detailed blog post, King also added, “I will delete trolls and negativity, you will come to my page with love or you will not come at all. No bad vibes. I will stand for something even if people hate it, I will work for truth and justice because I have a voice and a platform, and I will make rumblings in grassroots efforts in order to effect change for women, my children, and the future. After all, well-behaved women rarely make history.”

Caroline Thayer is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Follow Caroline Thayer on Twitter at @carolinejthayer.

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GOP Sen. John Kennedy passes on Louisiana governor bid

January 5, 2023 Published by Caroline Vakil

Just In | The Hill

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) announced on Wednesday that he would be passing on a gubernatorial bid in Louisiana after he said late last year that he was giving the matter “serious consideration.”

“I have looked into my heart and decided to remain in the Senate and not to run for governor,” the senator said in an email, according to the Lafayette Daily Advertiser. “At this juncture, I just think I can help my state and my country more in the Senate.”

Kennedy was considering a run for governor in the state’s off-year election. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) is term-limited, and many Republicans had already been eyeing a run in the red state. After winning a second term in the Senate in November, Kennedy released a statement acknowledging he was considering a run for the governor’s mansion.

“Over the last year, Louisianans have asked me time and time again to come home to serve as governor during these difficult times. Becky and I love the people of Louisiana. We’ve always listened to them, so I am giving serious consideration to entering the governor’s race. I’ll be announcing my decision soon,” Kennedy said.

Prior to the Wednesday statement, state Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) had already announced he would be running while several other Republicans said they would be making decisions soon, though some appeared to be waiting for Kennedy to make a decision.

Other Louisiana Republicans mulling a bid include Treasurer John Schroder, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, state Rep. Richard Nelson, Rep. Garret Graves and state Sen. Sharon Hewitt, according to the news outlet. State Secretary of Transportation Shawn Wilson is also considering a bid on the Democratic side.

Louisiana has an Oct. 14 “jungle” primary, meaning that all candidates, regardless of party, will appear on the same ballot. If any one candidate receives more than half of the vote outright, they win the election. If no one notches more than 50 percent, the two-top vote getters head into the general election for a runoff, which is scheduled for Nov. 18.

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