Category: US

GEORGIA’S KIRBY SMART ISSUES BLUNT CHALLENGE TO STETSON BENNETT AFTER THRILLING WIN: ‘HE MUST PLAY BETTER’

When the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, Ohio State was having a much different night than the rest of the East Coast.

The Buckeyes dominated the defending national champions for most of the Peach Bowl on Saturday night, entering the fourth quarter with a 14-point lead but Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett closed the gap to 41-35 with a minute left before taking the lead with a 76-yard drive and a 10-yard touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell.

Stetson Bennett #13 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after a field goal during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Ohio State had a chance to win the game back with a 50-yard field-goal try but as the East Coast welcomed in the New Year, the Buckeyes said goodbye to the College Football Playoff title game.

A video of the devastating moment synced up with the ball drop in Times Square showed the unfortunate timing of Noah Ruggles’ failed attempt.

“I just try to leave it all on the line. I honestly — games like this leave me at a loss for words — it comes down to one play, but obviously it doesn’t come down to one play,” Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud said, refusing to place the blame on Ruggles.

Noah Ruggles #95 of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts after missing a field goal in the final seconds of the game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“So many things line up to those plays. That last drive, I saw how much time we had left and how many timeouts and I knew that we could do it and I tried my hardest to get us down there.”

Georgia will look to claim back-to-back tiles on Jan.9 when they take on No. 3 TCU at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett celebrates after the Peach Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game between Georgia and Ohio State, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Atlanta.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

“If we want any chance of winning a national championship, we have to play a lot better football than we played tonight, but we have to keep the resiliency and composure along with us,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin collapses on field, gets CPR; game suspended

January 3, 2023 Published by

US Top News and Analysis

Fans look on as the ambulance leaves carrying Damar Hamlin #3 of the Buffalo Bills. Hamlin collapsed after making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at Paycor Stadium on Jan. 2, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dylan Buell | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field and was administered CPR before being driven away in an ambulance during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hamlin collided with Bengals receiver Tee Higgins after a completion. He got to his feet, appeared to adjust his face mask with his right hand, and then fell backward about three seconds later and lay motionless.

Hamlin was surrounded by stunned players from both teams, and when he was taken off the field 16 minutes later, the Bills gathered in prayer.

While medical personnel were gathered around Hamlin, his uniform was cut off and he appeared to be getting CPR. ESPN reported on its telecast that Hamlin was also given oxygen. He was strapped to a backboard and moved into the ambulance.

“No one’s been through this,” longtime NFL quarterback Troy Aikman said on the ESPN telecast. “I’ve never seen anything like it, either.”

The game was suspended 21 minutes after the injury, and players walked off the field slowly.

The 24-year-old Hamlin spent five years of college at Pitt — his hometown — and appeared in 48 games for the Panthers over that span. He was a second-team All-ACC performer as a senior, was voted a team captain and was picked to play in the Senior Bowl.

He was drafted in the sixth round by the Bills in 2021, played in 14 games as a rookie and then became a starter this year once Micah Hyde was lost for the season to injury.

Entering the game, the 6-foot, 200-pound Hamlin had 91 tackles, including 63 solo tackles, and 1 1/2 sacks.

UFC's Dana White, wife Anne apologize after video of alcohol-fueled slapping incident surfaces

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

UFC president Dana White apologized Monday for an incident in Mexico involving his wife, Anne, while the two were ringing in the New Year over the weekend.

The fracas allegedly occurred at a nightclub in Cabo San Lucas. White told TMZ Sports he and his wife had been drinking but it was no excuse for him allegedly slapping his wife after she had struck him. Anne was seen talking with her husband before slapping him first.

UFC President Dana White interacts with Alex Morono after being defeated by Santiago Ponzinibbio of Argentina in a 180-pound catchweight fight during the UFC 282 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 10, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Video of the incident went viral across social media.

“There was definitely a lot of alcohol, but there’s no excuse,” White told TMZ Sports. “I’m literally making no excuses for this thing at all. It’s never happened before. It’s the first time that it’s ever happened, and people are going to say what they’re going to say.

ZION CLARK, MMA FIGHTER BORN WITHOUT LEGS, WINS FIRST PRO FIGHT

Dana White appears at the UFC 282 post-fight press conference on December 10, 2022, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
(Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“It is what it is. And whatever people do say, it’s deserved. I deserve it. It happened. I don’t know why it happened and my wife and I have apologized to each other, we’ve apologized to our kids, and this is one of those things that everyone is going to chime in. I could care less what people think about this. We’re more concerned about our kids and taking care of our family.”

White said he was embarrassed over the incident and he and his wife apologized to each other.

“Dana and I have been married for almost 30 years. To say this is out of character for him is an understatement — nothing like this has ever happened before,” Anne White told TMZ Sports. “Unfortunately, we were both drinking too much on New Year’s Eve and things got out of control, on both sides. We’ve talked this through as a family and apologized to each other. I just hope people will respect our privacy for the sake of our kids.”

Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News Digital.

CDC: FLU SEASON STARTING TO WANE AFTER BRUTAL START, INCLUDING AT LEAST 12,000 DEATHS

The new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5: What you must know now

January 3, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News

A new Omicron variant is quickly spreading across the U.S. just in time for the New Year.

The strain, known as XBB.1.5, accounts right now for almost 41% of confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The XBB mutation has picked up concerning speed over the past week as it’s jumped from just 21% on Christmas Eve.

During the last week of December 2022, XBB.1.5 made up 75.3% of COVID-19 cases in northeastern states.

Those states include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

In New York and New Jersey, the strain showed up in 72.2% of cases also during the last week of the year.

XBB has officially replaced the previously concerning BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 subvariants as the most common strains.

‘GREAT CONCERN’: INVASIVE GROUP A STREP CASES SPIKING IN SOME PARTS OF US — CDC IS INVESTIGATING

Infectious disease experts are increasingly worried about the “highly contagious” Omicron XBB variant, according to Reuters.

“Ironically, probably the worst variant that the world is facing right now is actually XBB,” Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, told Reuters.

CHINA TO STOP TESTING, DISINFECTING IMPORTED FROZEN FOOD FOR COVID

Weill Cornell Medical College professor of microbiology and immunology John Moore pointed out that the previous two winters have seen large spikes in infections that peaked in mid-January.

“And I expect the same to happen this year,” the New York-based expert said.

The only difference, Moore told Reuters, is the lack of a significant increase in death rates.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

XBB has also been driving cases in parts of Asia, including Singapore, as public health experts continue to show concern for rising COVID-19 cases in China.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Prince Harry tells Anderson Cooper why he's not stepping out of the limelight

January 3, 2023 Published by CNN

Editor’s Note: Sign up for CNN’s Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to in public and what’s happening behind palace walls.

CNN
—

Prince Harry is continuing to speak out regarding the rift in the British royal family.

He sat down with Anderson Cooper for a “60 Minutes” interview, described by CBS as Prince Harry’s “first U.S. television interview to discuss his upcoming memoir ‘Spare’ and recount his childhood, the loss of his mother and life as the Duke of Sussex living in the UK and now in America.”

In a clip released Monday, Cooper asked Prince Harry about the criticism aimed at him and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, regarding their decision to step back from their royal duties, but air their grievances about what led to the move publicly.

The second son of King Charles reiterated that he tried to address the matter privately.

“And every singly time I tried to do it privately there have been briefings and leakings and planting of stories against me and my wife,” he said. “You know, the family motto is ‘Never complain, never explain.’ It’s just a motto.”

The couple have made headlines most recently for their Netflix docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” which debuted last month. In it, the couple shared stories of both their courtship and their views on how they have been treated by the media and their respective families.

Prince Harry is also expected to go into greater detail about his life in and out of the Royal Family in an upcoming television interview with British network ITV, in which he has said, “I want a family, not an institution.”

In a preview clip of the interview released Monday, the Duke of Sussex said, “They’ve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile,” presumably referring to the Royal Family.

“I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back,” he told journalist Tom Bradby in the clip of the interview, which is due to air on ITV1 on Sunday, January 8.

The “60 Minutes” interview with Prince Harry is also set to air on Sunday on CBS.

SpaceX raising $750 million at a $137 billion valuation, investors include Andreessen-Horowitz

January 3, 2023 Published by Lora Kolodny

US Top News and Analysis

A long exposure photo shows the path of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as it launched the ispace mission on Dec. 11, 2022, with the rocket booster’s return and landing visible as well.

SpaceX

Elon Musk‘s re-usable rocket maker and satellite internet company, SpaceX, is raising $750 million in a new round of funding that values the company at $137 billion, according to correspondence obtained by CNBC.

Last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that SpaceX was allowing insiders to sell at $77 per share, which would have put the company’s valuation near $140 billion. The company raised more than $2 billion in 2022, including a $250 million round in July, and was valued at $127 billion during an equity round in May, CNBC previously reported.

According to an e-mail sent to prospective SpaceX investors, Andreessen Horowitz (also known as a16z) will likely lead the new funding round. Early SpaceX investors included Founders Fund, Sequoia, Gigafund and many others.

A16z also participated in Elon Musk’s leveraged buyout of Twitter, a $44 billion deal that closed in late October 2022.

SpaceX and a16z did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last year, SpaceX achieved several new milestones but faced delays to its Starship program, which is part of NASA’s effort to bring astronauts back to the moon.

On the upside, the company’s satellite internet service, Starlink, exceeded 1 million subscribers and provided a lifeline to users in Ukraine who suffered infrastructure disruptions after Russia’s invasion. SpaceX also managed to surpass 60 reusable rocket launches in a single year via its Falcon program.

The company is currently continuing development of its Starship and Super Heavy launch vehicles at the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. It’s not clear when the company will move to the next step of the program, which entails an orbital launch test of these larger vehicles.

As Musk has repeatedly sounded off about geopolitical issues on Twitter, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson recently asked SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell whether his “distraction” as the new owner and CEO of Twitter might affect SpaceX’s work with the space agency, NBC News reported. Nelson said that Shotwell reassured him it would not.

NASA is now considering whether SpaceX can help rescue residents on the International Space Station, including an astronaut and two cosmonauts with Russia’s Roscomos, according to CNET. Russia’s Soyuz capsule sprung a coolant leak in December, and an investigation is underway to determine if the spacecraft can safely return the crew home or if emergency measures will need to be taken instead.

Ex-NFL star Boomer Esiason rips Patriots' Mac Jones over alleged 'd—–ness' body language

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

It may not have been a pretty season but the New England Patriots are on the brink of making the playoffs behind a rock-solid defense and second-year quarterback Mac Jones.

Jones’ play has been far from outstanding.

He missed some games due to injury and has only managed to pass for 2,753 yards and 11 touchdowns in 13 games. He’s only thrown for more than 300 yards in a game twice this season.

Quarterback Boomer Esiason #7 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks at head coach Sam Wyche during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on October 25, 1987 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

For former NFL star Boomer Esiason, Jones’ body language is an issue. The one-time NFL MVP appeared on “The Greg Hill Show” on WEEI radio Monday and ripped the former Alabama standout.

“Here’s the thing that I really dislike about Mac Jones if you want to get to the root of it,” Esiason said. “His body language, his facial expressions, his gyrations on the field p—s me off. There’s a d—–ness to them. I don’t know how to explain it.

Esiason then compared Jones to seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback “could be d—chey too at times” but backs it all up with his performance on the field.

SAQUON BARKLEY HEAPS PRAISE ON DANIEL JONES AS GIANTS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH

Boomer Esiason as a member of the Jets next to Mac Jones.
(Getty Images)

“So, all I’m saying is that, I don’t necessarily know that he’s earned the right to act the way that he does at times, like frustrated, looking at the coaches and screaming and yelling, putting his hands to his head,” Esiason added. “Body language for a quarterback is so important. And I hate when quarterbacks sulk on the sideline; they have to be above all of that. They have to have the backbone. They have to have the leadership bone. They have to be able to look guys in the face and know what they’re doing. Don’t come off with your hands in the air.”

WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE

Jones guided the Patriots to the playoffs last season after winning the starting quarterback role from Cam Newton in 2021.

In 30 games, Jones has 6,554 yards, 33 touchdowns and 21 interceptions with a 66.5 completion rate. He was a Pro Bowler in 2021 – no other running back, wide receiver or tight end made it nor did they make it in 2022.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass.
(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Esiason was a four-time Pro Bowler and had weapons around him like Ickey Woods, Cris Collinsworth and Eddie Brown along with Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz blocking for him. Jones doesn’t have that around him on offense yet.

Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Bills’ Damar Hamlin in critical condition after collapsing on field, game suspended for rest of night

January 3, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was in critical condition after he collapsed on the field and needed CPR and an AED to be used on him before being rushed to the hospital.

The NFL announced it postponed the game between the Bills and Bengals.

“Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical staff and local paramedics. He was then transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition,” the league said in a statement.

“Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

“The NFL has been in constant communication with the NFL Players Association which is in agreement with postponing the game.”

The NFL Players Association also released a statement on the matter.

“The NFLPA and everyone in our community is praying for Damar Hamlin. We have been in touch with Bills and Bengals players, and with the NFL,” the NFLPA said in a tweet. “The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar’s health and well being.”

The game was initially suspended and once Hamlin was in the ambulance and off the field, officials were giving players about five minutes to warm up again to get ready to play. But Bills coach Sean McDermott was seen pulling his players off the field and into the back of the locker room.

BILLS GATHER FOR TEAM PRAYER ON FIELD FOLLOWING DAMAR HAMLIN INJURY

The scary incident occurred with 5:58 remaining in the first quarter and Cincinnati leading the game, 7-3. The Bengals were on their second drive of the game when quarterback Joe Burrow threw a pass to Tee Higgins. Bills safety Hamlin came over to make a tackle to end the play.

Hamlin got up from the ground and took a few steps backward before he collapsed to the Paycor Stadium turf. Medical personnel came over to Hamlin to attend to him as the ESPN broadcast went to commercial. A stretcher and backboard came out and later the ambulance.

Hamlin was on the ground for a while and multiple reporters indicated he was receiving CPR from the medical staff on the ground before he was put into the ambulance. According to FOX19, Hamlin was being rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

The football world offered their prayers for Hamlin. Players and coaches from both teams were in tears and prayed for the best possible outcome.

The Bills selected Hamlin with the No. 212 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. He played in 14 games last season – mostly on special teams – in his rookie season.

Hamlin, 24, was playing his 16th game of the season. He had seen more time on the field as he recorded 91 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

There's still time to get health insurance through the public exchange — and you may qualify for help paying premiums

January 3, 2023 Published by CNBC News

FatCamera | E+ | Getty Images

Anyone without health insurance has about two weeks left to get 2023 coverage through the public marketplace — and subsidies could make it affordable.

Open enrollment for the federal health care exchange runs through Jan. 15, with coverage taking effect Feb. 1. (If your state has its own exchange, the last day to enroll may be different.) After the sign-up window closes, you’d generally need to experience a qualifying life event — i.e., birth of a child or marriage — to be given a special enrollment period.

Most marketplace enrollees — 13 million of 14.5 million in 2022 — qualify for federal subsidies (technically tax credits) to help pay premiums. Four out of 5 customers will be able to find 2023 plans for $10 or less per month after accounting for those tax credits, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Some people may also be eligible for help with cost sharing, such as deductibles and copays on certain plans, depending on their income.

For the most part, people who get insurance through the federal (or their state’s) exchange are self-employed or don’t have access to workplace insurance, or they don’t qualify for Medicare or Medicaid.

As of Dec. 15, nearly 11.5 million people had selected a plan through the marketplace, according to CMS.

The tax credits are more generous now

The subsidies are still more generous than before the pandemic. Temporarily expanded subsidies that were put in place for 2021 and 2022 were extended through 2025 in the Inflation Reduction Act, which became law in August.

This means there is no income cap to qualify for subsidies, and the amount anyone pays for premiums is limited to 8.5% of their income as calculated by the exchange. Before the changes, the aid was generally only available to households with income from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level.

The marketplace subsidies that you’re eligible for are based on factors that include income, age and the second-lowest-cost “silver” plan in your geographic area (which may or may not be the plan you enroll in).

How this 26-year-old earns and spends $25,000 a year just outside NYC

For the income part of the determination, you’ll need to estimate it for 2023 during the sign-up process.

Giving a good estimate matters

Be aware that it’s important to give a good estimate.

If you end up having annual income that’s higher than what you reported when you enrolled, it could mean you’re not entitled to as much aid as you’re receiving. And any overage would need to be accounted for at tax time in 2024 — which would reduce your refund or increase the amount of tax you owe.

“You don’t want a nasty surprise when you do your taxes the next year,” said Cynthia Cox, director for the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Affordable Care Act program.

Likewise, if you are entitled to more than you received, the difference would either increase your refund or lower the amount of tax you owe.

Either way at any point during the year you can adjust your income estimate or note any pertinent life changes (for example, a birth of a child, marriage, etc.) that could affect the amount of subsidies you’re entitled to.

Falling behind on premiums can mean getting dropped

Be aware that if you don’t pay your premiums (or your share of them), you face coverage being canceled and claims going unpaid.

For enrollees who get subsidies, coverage is generally dropped after three months if premiums are not caught up. For those who pay the full premiums because they don’t qualify for subsidies, there’s only a grace period of about a month before cancellation, depending on the state.

If you end up without insurance, you can’t re-enroll through the marketplace unless you qualify for a special enrollment period.

Jeremy Renner exits surgery after suffering blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries in accident: report

ACTOR JEREMY RENNER HOSPITALIZED IN ‘CRITICAL BUT STABLE CONDITION’ FOLLOWING SNOWPLOWING ACCIDENT

Jeremy Renner suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries following a “weather related” snowplow accident on January 1, according to a new report.

People magazine reported that it received a statement from Renner’s representative, confirming the injuries that the Marvel star sustained on Sunday.

Jeremy Renner has “extensive” injuries following a “weather related” snow plow accident on January 1, according to a new report.
(Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

“We can confirm that Jeremy has suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries and has undergone surgery today, January 2nd 2023,” the statement read, according to People. “He has returned from surgery and remains in the intensive care unit in critical but stable condition.

“Jeremy’s family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible doctors and nurses looking after him, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff, Reno City Mayor Hillary Schieve and the Carano and Murdock families,” the statement continued. “They are also tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans.”

A source told People magazine on Monday that Renner’s injuries were “extensive.” The “Mayor of Kingstown” and Marvel star’s rep shared that Renner is in “critical but stable condition” and is “receiving excellent care.”

Renner was injured in an area near Mt. Rose Highway, a road linking Lake Tahoe, which straddles the Nevada-California border, and south Reno. The Washoe County (Nevada) Sheriff’s Office said late Sunday that Renner had to be flown by helicopter to a hospital for treatment.

A source told People magazine on Monday that Renner’s injuries are “extensive.” The “Mayor of Kingstown” and Marvel star remains in “critical but stable condition,” his rep told the outlet.
(Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

Renner owns a home in Washoe County, which includes Reno, and told the Reno Gazette Journal in 2019 that he chose the area because Reno was the right-sized city for him, it has majestic scenery and it allowed him and his family to ski frequently.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Renner’s rep for comment.

Renner was the only person involved in Sunday’s accident, and the sheriff’s office said in a news release that it is investigating.

“At approximately 9:00am on January 1, 2023, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a traumatic injury in the area of Mt. Rose Highway in Reno, Nevada,” the release read.

“Upon arrival, Deputies coordinated with Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and REMSA Health to arrange for medical transport of Mr. Jeremy Renner via care flight to a local area hospital,” it continued. “Mr. Renner was the only involved party in the incident.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

Following the news, stars sent their well-wishes to Renner, 51. Actor Josh Gad tweeted, “My God. Praying for @JeremyRenner and his family.”

“Guardians of the Galaxy” director and new co-chairman of DC Studios, James Gunn, wrote: “My heart is with @JeremyRenner.”

Renner plays Hawkeye, a sharp-shooting member of the superhero Avengers squad in Marvel’s sprawling movie and television universe.

He is a two-time acting Oscar nominee, scoring back-to-back nods for “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town.” Renner’s portrayal of a bomb disposal specialist in Iraq in 2009’s “The Hurt Locker” helped turn him into a household name.

“The Avengers” in 2012 cemented him as part of Marvel’s grand storytelling ambitions, with his character appearing in several sequels and getting its own Disney+ series, “Hawkeye.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Mariah Haas is a senior entertainment editor for Fox News Digital.