General News
What Trump and Biden had to say about the deadly New Orleans terror attack
President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump offered sharply different initial reactions to the news that a driver intentionally ran down New Year celebrants on Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning, killing at least 15 people and injuring 35.
Biden began his statement by reporting that he’s receiving briefings from federal officials and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and then expressed his thanks “for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury.”
Trump immediately sought to score political points with strongly worded language.
“When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true,” he posted on Truth Social.
Trump added falsely, “The crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before.”
In fact, crime has dropped sharply since the pandemic, with the number of murders declining sharply since a high in 2022, according to Jeff Asher, a New Orleans-based crime analyst.
Trump also expressed concern for the families and loved ones of the victims and also “the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department.”
Biden said federal, state and local officials are working “assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind.”
Biden added, “There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.”
Trump offered similar language, saying, “The Trump Administration will fully support the City of New Orleans as they investigate and recover from this act of pure evil!”
Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
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Read MoreNew York socialite known as ‘Catwoman’ after multiple plastic surgeries dead at 84
Jocelyne Wildenstein, the New York socialite most commonly known by the moniker “Catwoman” for her appearance due to numerous plastic surgeries, has died at 84.
The Swiss-born ex-wife of billionaire Alec Wildenstein died Tuesday in Paris from a pulmonary embolism according a statement from her companion, Lloyd Klein, to Agence France-Presse. The news was first reported by French gossip outlet Paris Match.
The former couple divorced in 1999 after more than 20 years of marriage and the birth of two children. In the divorce settlement, Jocelyne Wildenstein was granted $2.5 billion in addition to $100 million annual payments over the next 13 years. Yet her extravagant lifestyle depleted that fortune to $0 according to her 2018 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
Wildenstein was born Jocelyne Périsset in Lausanne, Switzerland on May 8, 1940. She first hit the socialite scene when she began dating Swiss film producer Cyril Piguet when she was just 17.
In 1973, Wildenstein gained her first and only film credit in “Servez-vous mesdames” (which translates in English to “Help yourself, ladies”).
She later dated another European producer, Italian Sergio Gobbi, and spent time between Africa and Europe.
Wildenstein and her future ex-husband Alec were introduced by Saudi arms dealer and socialite Adnan Khashoggi. They eloped in Las Vegas in 1978 after a brief romance. Little more than a year after tying the knot, Jocelyne and Alec underwent “his and her eyelifts,” according to several interviews given over the years. This would be the first of many procedures that led Jocelyne Wildenstein to the appearance for which she became famous.
The Wildensteins’ union came to a tumultuous end beginning in 1997 when Jocelyne says she found her husband in bed with a young Russian model. The Wildensteins maintained differing narratives on the confrontation, with Jocelyne saying Alec pulled a gun on her and Alec saying he thought his wife was an intruder.
Thus began a contentious divorce proceeding that would capture the attention of international gossip media as it dragged on for nearly two years. Wildenstein would continue to grab headlines for decades due to her lavish spending habits and the transformation of her face due to numerous cosmetic procedures.
Wildenstein is survived by her two children, Diane and Alec Jr.
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©2025 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Read MoreGator Bowl by the numbers: Ole Miss vs. Duke
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
No. 14 Ole Miss (9-3) vs. Duke (9-3)
6:30 p.m. CST Thursday (ESPN)
EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida
0 Previous games between Ole Miss and Duke.
1 Season has featured 10 victories for Duke, which would reach double-digit wins again by beating Ole Miss. In 2013, Duke posted a 10-4 record. Six of the Blue Devils’ nine victories have come by seven or fewer points this season. A victory by Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl would give the Rebels consecutive seasons with double-digit victories for the first time since 1959 and 1960. Ole Miss went 11-2 in 2023.
2 Bowls among Duke’s 87 games against SEC opponents. The Blue Devils defeated Alabama 29-26 in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 1945, and lost to Texas A&M 52-48 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31, 2013. Duke has lost its past three games against SEC opponents to fall to 37-47-3 against the league. The Blue Devils most recently defeated an SEC opponent on Oct. 25, 2008, when Duke won at Vanderbilt 10-7.
2.3 Yards per rushing attempt have been averaged by opposing ball-carriers against Ole Miss in 2024, the lowest in the nation. The Duke offense has averaged 3.2 yards per rushing attempt this season, which ranks 15th in the ACC.
3 Previous appearances for Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl. The Rebels defeated Florida 7-3 on Dec. 27, 1958, lost to Auburn 35-28 on Jan. 2, 1971, and lost to Michigan 35-3 on Jan. 1, 1991. Duke has not played in the Gator Bowl previously.
4 Receptions by Ole Miss WR Jordan Watkins have gained at least 60 yards, the most in the nation this season. The Duke defense has allowed four completions that have gained at least 60 yards, tied for the most in the ACC in 2024.
5 Victories and four losses for Ole Miss against ACC opponents, with the Rebels facing two ACC teams in the same season for the first time. Ole Miss defeated Wake Forest 40-6 on Sept. 14. The Rebels have won their past four meetings with ACC opponents. This will be Ole Miss’ second bowl meeting with an ACC member. The Rebels defeated Georgia Tech 25-17 in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30, 2013.
5 Consecutive bowl victories for Duke to even the Blue Devils’ bowl record to 8-8. Since Duke lost to Arizona State 36-31 on Dec. 27, 2014, the Blue Devils have beaten Indiana 44-41 in overtime in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 26, 2015, Northern Illinois 36-14 in the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 26, 2017, Temple 56-28 in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 27, 2018, UCF 30-13 in the Military Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022, and Troy 17-10 in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 23, 2023.
7 Passing yards for Duke’s Henry Belin IV and 3,875 passing yards for Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart in the 2024 season. They are the projected starting quarterbacks for Thursday night’s game. Belin, who has completed his only pass this season for a 7-yard gain, will step in for Maalik Murphy, who has entered the transfer portal after throwing for 2,933 yards and a school single-season record 26 TDs this season. Duke also will be without leading rusher Star Thomas. The running back also entered the transfer portal after running for 871 yards and seven TDs on 213 carries.
14 Ole Miss players have earned consensus All-American recognition, including current DT Walter Nolen for the 2024 season.
14 Of its opponents’ fumbles have been recovered by Duke this season, tied for the most in the nation entering the bowl season. Ole Miss has lost six fumbles this season.
26 Victories and 16 losses in bowls for Ole Miss. The Rebels defeated Penn State 38-25 in the Peach Bowl last season.
29 Victories and 16 losses in the Gator Bowl for SEC teams. The SEC has a 25-12 record against teams from other conferences in the Gator Bowl. Four Gator Bowls featured two SEC teams. ACC teams have an 19-14 record in the Gator Bowl. SEC teams have a 6-3 record against ACC opponents in the Gator Bowl.
38 Consecutive games with a reception for Duke WR Jordan Moore. Moore has 50 receptions for 798 yards and seven TDs in 2024. Blue Devils WR Eli Pancol has 55 receptions for 741 yards and nine TDs this season.
42 Plays from scrimmage gained at least 30 yards for Ole Miss in 2024, the most in the nation entering the bowl season. Thirty-five of the plays were passes. The Rebels also had the national lead with 10 completions that gained at least 50 yards and eight that gained at least 60.
116 Tackles for loss for Ole Miss this season, the most in the nation entering the bowl season. Duke has 110 tackles for loss in 2024, which ranked second in the nation entering the bowl season.
332 Yards are needed by Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart to become the fourth player in SEC history with 12,000 yards of total offense. With 452 rushing yards and 3,875 passing yards in 2024, Dart has averaged 360.6 yards of total offense per game this season. The SEC players with 12,000 yards of total offense are Georgia QB Aaron Murray, Missouri QB Drew Lock and Florida QB Tim Tebow.
740 Passing yards in two previous bowl appearances for Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart. Dart completed 25-of-41 passes for 361 yards with two TDs and three interceptions in a 42-25 loss to Texas Tech in the 2022 Texas Bowl and 25-of-40 passes for 379 yards with three TDs and no interceptions in a 38-25 victory over Penn State in last season’s Peach Bowl. Dart also ran for a TD in each of the games.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE SEC, GO TO OUR SEC PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
Read MoreAfter Sunday’s start, Mac Jones will face ‘the million-dollar question’
Mac Jones will start at quarterback for Jacksonville in the Jaguars’ season finale on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. After that, his football future is unknown.
“That’s always the million-dollar question for everybody,” Jones said on Wednesday. “You’re either under contract or you’re not. For me, it’s eliminating the distractions and taking it one day at a time, one play at a time, and it’ll take care of itself. I’ve had a lot of fun here.”
That doesn’t mean Jones wants to return to his hometown team for the 2025 season.
Jones is playing because Trevor Lawrence suffered a season-ending injury. Lawrence is working on a five-year, $275 million contract and will return to the starting lineup for Jacksonville next season.
Jones has arrived at the end of his rookie contract, a four-year $15.586 million deal signed after the New England Patriots selected him from Alabama at No. 15 in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“I know he would probably want that in his future – to take over a team again and be the guy,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said on Wednesday. “That’s what he was drafted to do. … Hopefully, he’s given an opportunity. See what happens over the course of, obviously, the next several months. But he’s done some good things, and I think if teams are evaluating the quarterback position, he’s definitely one that you would have to consider.”
After starting the first 43 games of his NFL career for the Patriots, Jones completed his third season with New England on the bench for the final six games. The Patriots traded Jones to Jacksonville in March.
Geno Smith with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023 and Sam Darnold with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 provide examples of former starting quarterbacks who were washed out, then returned to starting roles with other teams. But if Jones’ five-game finish for Jacksonville is an audition for his next chance as a starter, which teams is he auditioning for?
Even though 11 of the NFL’s 32 teams have at least 10 losses entering the final weekend of the regular season, there may be only around six teams looking to change starting quarterbacks this offseason.
“The chips will fall how they fall,” Jones said. “I have confidence in myself.”
Jones didn’t appear a candidate for another starting opportunity in his first relief appearance for Lawrence this season. In a 12-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 10 and a 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions on Nov. 17, Jones completed 31-of-51 passes for 249 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions.
But Jones threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes after Lawrence left a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Dec. 1, and he has completed 94-of-138 passes for 935 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions in the four games since.
Jones said he “challenged” himself to play better after Jacksonville’s open date, when the Jaguars had six games remaining on their schedule.
“What I’ve done is, after the bye week, really put my best foot forward and play better football,” Jones said. “And we’ve been really good on third down and done some things really well on offense, so, hopefully, we can build on that. And I’m going to continue to do that this week in practice.”
Jacksonville has won four games this season – two with Jones at quarterback — and the Jaguars can complete a season sweep of the Colts on Sunday. In their previous game, Jacksonville completed a season sweep of another AFC South rival by beating the Tennessee Titans 20-13, with Jones completing 15-of-22 passes for 174 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for four first downs.
“I thought Mac played, obviously, one of his better games today,” Pederson said after the contest. “I thought he did a great job of just putting the ball in play and taking what the defense gave him. Some really good scrambles early in the game to keep us on the field, helped us in our third-down conversion rate today. The touchdown pass to Brian Thomas and just doing things that we ask him to do — great performance by Mac, and he’s one of many guys that had a hand in this win, but he played really well today.”
The Jaguars and Colts kick off a noon CST Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
“It’s been fun,” Jones said of his first NFL season in his hometown. “I’ve really enjoyed it. And I’m looking forward to finishing this strong with another win.”
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
Read MoreSingle-vehicle crash in Bibb County leaves 2 dead, 2 children injured
A single-vehicle crash in Bibb County left two dead on New Year’s Eve, according to state troopers.
Authorities reported that the crash occurred around 2:52 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 when a 2008 Lexus ES 350 left the roadway, struck a ditch and hit a tree.
The crash claimed the life of driver Jedarius K. Chancey, 31, of Huntsville and Jasmine S. McGary, 27, of Selma, who was a passenger in the Lexus. A 2-year-old and a 6-year-old were also in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
The two were reported to be injured and transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.
The crash occurred on Alabama 139 near the 6 mile marker, approximately 15 miles east of Centreville.
Nothing further is available as Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
Read MoreBirmingham police officer shot at while investigating New Year’s Eve gunfire
A Birmingham police officer was fired on Wednesday during a New Year’s Eve crackdown on celebratory gunfire, exhibition driving and other crimes.
The officer and his K-9 partner were patrolling near Center Street and Graymont Avenue about 2:20 a.m. when the officer heard shots fired and believed they came from a nearby vehicle.
“Our officer didn’t think the suspect’s first shots were fired at the police,’’ said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.
Officer got behind the suspect’s vehicle near the 100 Block of Graymont West.
“The suspect fired multiple shots at our officer,’’ Fitzgerald said. “Our officer fired shots at the suspect.”
The suspect fled the area and eluded capture.
No one was injured, but the shots did damage the police cruiser.
Birmingham 911 dispatchers issued a Max Emergency call over the police radio.
Responding officers were flagged down in the 500 Block of Center Street on a report of two people shot. Officers then saw two men who were inside a vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue rushed both victims to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Homicide and Internal Affairs detectives responded to the scene.
Fitzgerald said investigators have not ruled out that the suspect who fired shots at the officer was the suspect in the double shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Read MoreArizona State managers interfere with Texas’ kicker before FG miss in Longhorns’ OT win
Texas’ Bert Auburn missed a 38-yard field goal with 2 seconds in regulation before the Longhorns beat Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime of their CFP quarterfinal in the Peach Bowl.
Auburn’s preparation for the potential game-winning kick was interfered with as Arizona State equipment managers walked through his routine. It appeared it was unintentional, but cameras caught the mishap anyway.
Texas avoided the first big upset of the College Football Playoff, hitting a fourth-and-long touchdown pass to keep the game going and beating Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime when an interception by Andrew Makuba finally ended a Peach Bowl quarterfinal classic Wednesday.
Cam Skattebo led the Sun Devils back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter and put his team ahead for the first time all day with a 3-yard touchdown run to start overtime against No. 4 Texas (13-2).
No. 10 Arizona State — a two-touchdown underdog — was on the verge of winning when Texas faced fourth-and-13 on its first overtime possession. But Quinn Ewers found Matthew Golden breaking free behind two defenders to haul in a 28-yard touchdown.
After moving to the opposite end of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Ewers threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Gunnar Helms on the very next play, followed by a 2-point conversion pass to Golden.
The Longhorns finally put Arizona State (11-3) away when Makuba picked off Sam Leavitt’s pass at the 3 to end the game.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read MoreFans back Alabama running backs, cornerbacks for Pro Bowl Games
The rosters for the Pro Bowl Games for the 2024 season will be revealed on Thursday morning. This season’s NFL all-stars are picked by fans, players and coaches, with the voting from each group counting one-third apiece toward determining AFC and NFC teams.
In fan voting, 22 players from Alabama high schools and colleges finished in the top 10 at their position, starting with Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs. The former Alabama ball-carrier collected the second-most votes from fans for this season’s Pro Bowl Games.
Gibbs led three former Alabama running backs in the top four of the fan voting and four in the top seven. Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens got the third-most votes among running backs, and he collected more than any other AFC running back.
Josh Jacobs of the Green Bay Packers placed fourth and Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) came in seventh among running backs in the fan voting.
Three players with Alabama football roots also finished in the top four of the fan voting at cornerback. Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) of the Denver Broncos received the most support, Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, Alabama) of the Ravens came in third and Carlton Davis (Auburn) of the Lions placed fourth.
The other players from Alabama high schools and colleges who finished in the top 10 in the fan voting at their position included:
Defensive end: Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama), Houston Texans, fourth.
Defensive tackle: Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama), New York Jets, seventh.
Free safety: Xavier McKinney (Alabama), Green Bay Packers, second; Reed Blankenship (West Limestone), Philadelphia Eagles, fourth; Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama), Pittsburgh Steelers, seventh.
Guard: Landon Dickerson (Alabama), Philadelphia Eagles, fifth.
Kicker: Will Reichard (Hoover, Alabama), Minnesota Vikings, seventh.
Punter: Corliss Waitman (South Alabama), Pittsburgh Steelers, 10th.
Quarterback: Bo Nix (Pinson Valley, Auburn), Denver Broncos, seventh; Jalen Hurts (Alabama), Philadelphia Eagles, 10th.
Special-teamer: Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama), Washington Commanders, second; Tremon Smith (Saks), Denver Broncos, seventh; Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State), Miami Dolphins, 10th.
Strong safety: Brian Branch (Alabama), Detroit Lions, second.
Wide receiver: George Pickens (Hoover), Pittsburgh Steelers, eighth.
The 7-on-7 flag football game featuring the Pro Bowl players will be held on Feb. 2 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, as the culmination of a multi-day AFC vs. NFC competition in which all-stars will demonstrate their football and non-football skills in a variety of competitions.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
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