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They are a lovable couple — Dr. Chris Liebrum and his wife, Cindy — known for quickly-triggered smiles, positive attitudes, deep faith and commitment to close-knit families. Married for 52 years, they have reached highest peaks and navigated life’s storms — shortening them when possible — confident of a safe arrival on the other side. They’re the kind of folks whose company is treasured. Cindy has earned “life of the party” status, laughing — even cackling — all the way, sometimes way out on limbs. Comparatively, Chris is content in the shade of trees, maybe planting something to bloom later. In short, they personify the expression heard during long ago cattle drives: “They’ll do to ride the river with.” — They’re proud of their sons, Cory and Clay, their daughters-in-law and their four grandchildren. Chris and Cindy, who met as students at Howard Payne University, carve out “family time” admirably. This was difficult to accomplish during Chris’s schedule-packed professional years of denominational leadership. Even with their mid-70s now at hand, they press on, barely slowed in “semi-retirement.” Chris works parttime for his alma mater, and still preaches often on Sundays throughout Texas. They are beloved by everyone, even friends with other religious beliefs or political leanings. I deeply value their friendship, these thoughtful, caring Christians. He is studied, his words carefully chosen when serious topics are broached. Cindy can be serious, too, but most friends can’t remember the last time she was. She’s always “at the ready” to snap pictures. Fact is, the camera strap marks formerly marking the back of her neck are slowly disappearing. Now, she values her smartphone, handy not only for “yakking” but also for photography. Grandchildren are favorite targets, as are much else that moves, or — for that matter — stands still ... — I joke with them endlessly, sometimes even jabbing a bit, and they jab back, particularly Cindy. She’s a joyful soul, but probably would be a lousy poker player. Chris, with quiet reserve and contemplation, can steer around most workaday challenges, two of which will be addressed in this column. To most people, they’ll fit in the “minutia box,” probably even at the very bottom. Neither is mentioned critically, and typically broached jokingly. He can’t pronounce “New Braunfels,” and he’s colorblind. (I don’t intend to joke about his visual condition, but he does.) — First things first. Like television newsmen who never knew they’d need to pronounce “Uvalde” often until the shootings there, Chris never thought he’d need to pronounce — or try to pronounce — ”New Braunfels”on a regular basis. Not so fast! HPU has a branch campus there, so he’s often involved in discussions that include the community’s name. In the past, he’s been able to “mumble through it,” or simply go ahead and pronounce it “New Braunsfel” or “New Braunsfels,” like many others do. I have tried endlessly to help him conquer this slight pronunciational flaw, but so far have been unsuccessful. It’s his “blind spot,” so to speak, similar to my failure to understand the difference in “imply” and “infer.” Trying to do so makes my hair hurt ... — Now, let’s jump into his world which often isn’t “black and white,” but various other shades and hues, most of which he has learned to live with. He and Cindy are theater-go’ers, treasuring attendance at live productions like “Wicked,” a Broadway hit that opened in 2003. They’ve seen it at least a half-dozen times on various stages, most recently at Dallas Summer Musicals. At intermission, he heard a lady seated behind him mention the green-colored witch, Elphaba. Puzzled, he turned to Cindy, expressing that he’d never realized the witch’s greenish hue. Chris is doubly careful at traffic lights, too. “I try to go with the flow,” he says, “And I’ve learned that the shortest measurement of time is that brief moment between the light turning green and the horn honking behind me. Remember, I told you their faults are few ...LIVE Boxing Day Test: Smith’s chance to push for century after Konstas heroicsAnthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has backed off a plan to restrict how anesthesiologists are paid amid an uproar from a trade group. The change, proposed for Connecticut, New York and Missouri, would have restructured how anesthesiologists can be charged for their work in surgeries to work more like Medicare reimbursements; they would only be paid for a certain amount of time, and if the surgery ran longer — possibly due to complications — that would not be billable. The American Society of Anesthesiologists responded with a furious press release attacking the decision. "Anesthesiologists provide individualized care to every patient, carefully assessing the patient’s health prior to the surgery, looking at existing diseases and medical conditions to determine the resources and medical expertise needed, attending to the patient during the entire procedure, resolving unexpected complications that may arise and/or extend the duration of the surgery, and working to ensure that the patient is comfortable during recovery." The American Society of Anesthesiologists claimed the policy would result in the insurer no longer paying for "anesthesia care if the surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes." ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Senate Dems consider whether Biden should ‘clear the slate’ and pardon Trump Social media erupted over the policy, as did some insurance regulators in the affected states, amid fears that this would lead to arbitrary denials of claims for people having surgeries. However, this would unlikely have occurred; it would simply cap how much anesthesiologists could bill for past a certain time. In the past, it was common practice for anesthesiologists — who are among the highest-paid medical specialists in the United States — to bill patients for the difference when insurers do this, a practice called "balance billing" or more derisively, "surprise billing." This was especially common when the anesthesiologist was not in the patient's insurance network, even when the hospital and surgeon were, something that many patients didn't even know until getting sprung with thousands in expenses. However, the recently passed No Surprises Act sharply restricted the practice. Regardless, amid the outcry, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reversed their decision in an announcement seeking to clarify the only purpose of the policy was to set a more consistent standard for how doctors are paid, Axios reported. Some commenters on social media speculated the decision might have come in part as a result of this week's shocking murder of UnitedHealth's CEO in New York City .

MUNICH (AP) — Harry Kane is the quickest player to score 50 goals in the Bundesliga after scoring a hat trick on his 43rd appearance on Friday. Kane’s three goals – including two penalties – gave Bayern a 3-0 win over Augsburg , stretching the Bavarian powerhouse’s lead to eight points ahead of the rest of the 11th round. Kane scored 36 goals in 32 league appearances last season, his first for Bayern after joining from Tottenham. It was also the first season since 2012 that Bayern failed to win the title, as Bayer Leverkusen went undefeated to snap Bayern's winning run. As well as 14 league goals this season, Kane has scored five in the Champions League and one in the German Cup. Against Augsburg, he had to be patient as Augsburg goalkeeper Nediljko Labrović and his defenders stood firm. “It was somehow typical Harry Kane,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said. “It was close in the first half, close, close, close, and then it happens, I think three goals in 15 minutes. Of course, he can do that. But for such a player, I have to say, he had a lot of chances that he could maybe make more of. Then, in an instant, everything is perfect and he can score many goals.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Sports fans who tuned into Netflix's landmark streaming Wednesday of two NFL games may have felt a bit of troubling déjà vu – at first. That's because this crucial event — signaling the entry of the industry's largest streaming service into the blockbuster business of professional football — kicked off with audio problems in the early moments of host Kay Adams' opening presentation. It was a worrying callback to problems Netflix had with its last big live event, the boxing match in November between YouTube star Jake Paul and former champ Mike Tyson when viewers struggled with blurry audio and got regularly kicked off the live stream. Fortunately, Adams' sound problems were quickly fixed, allowing Netflix to step up with a two-game programming event that felt like the streaming service's version of the Super Bowl – complete with a lushly-produced halftime show for its second game featuring pop superstar Beyoncé that could stand up to any Big Game presentation. In fact, the actual football games may have been the least impressive part of Netflix's big day, as Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs ran over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first game, 29-10 and the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Houston Texans on their home turf for the second contest, 31-2. Stacking its teams of hosts and commentators with experienced broadcasters, Netflix delivered a mostly smooth visual presentation with lots of glitzy graphics and all the information fans needed to follow the game. The connection issues that plagued the Tyson/Paul fight seemed largely absent, at least for this viewer, particularly while watching the games in slightly delayed playback. According to Netflix , more than 200 countries tuned in at some point during the Chiefs vs. Steelers contest, making it the second most popular live title on the streaming service. So, it makes sense the streamer would take advantage of the occasion to shoehorn in lots of references to other Netflix products, including a pregame interview with WWE wrestler Liv Morgan to prompt the debut of WWE Raw live events next month and realistic-looking football-shaped cakes tying into the streamer's game show Is It Cake? There were also loads of commercials, which seemed to play even for subscribers with ad-free plans, though if you watched the games via replay, you could skip past them. But the full games expired from Netflix three hours after the event; two programs offering highlights from each game's plays are available to watch on demand, and the streamer says Beyoncé's halftime show will also be offered as a standalone program to rewatch. Queen Bey, a Houston native, certainly brought the fire to her hometown for what the streamer dubbed the "Beyoncé Bowl" halftime show. Performing songs from her album Cowboy Carter for the first time – including her reboots of "Jolene" and "Blackbird" – she was a vision in white and sequins backed by a cavalcade of dancers decked out in white cowboy hats and ace collaborators like Post Malone and Shaboozey. Her daughter, Blue Ivy, even made an appearance. Beyoncé's epic live performance lasted more than 13 minutes – handily overshadowing Mariah Carey's pre-taped appearances before each game – also proving that Netflix could muster the production value and imagery to match any Super Bowl-level performer. Which was, ultimately, the most important point of the entire day – proving that the streaming service is ready to compete with the big dogs of broadcasting by offering glitch-free NFL games live to a subscriber base of more than 282 million accounts. Netflix isn't the only streamer offering live NFL games. Amazon's Prime Video has Thursday Night Football and Peacock also offers live coverage of some NFL games. But Netflix, as the largest and most profitable streaming service, has a symbolic and substantial impact when it comes to a certain kind of programming. With its plans to stream WWE Raw live events starting next month and a new deal to present the FIFA Women's World Cup, Netflix is turning toward one area of television streaming services haven't yet dominated: live sports. What that ultimately means for the future of television – and the future of sports media – we may just be starting to learn. Copyright 2024 NPRWhether you bought a ticket yourself or got some as a stocking stuffer, could that $1.15 billion Mega Millions jackpot have your name on it? The odds may be against you − like 1 in 302.6 million − but that doesn't mean you can't prepare. If there is a winner, Mega Millions jackpot would be the fifth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history, making the take-home prize a lump-sum payment of an estimated $516.1 million after taxes. How do you even begin to get ready for a windfall like that? The "smartest thing" you can do, in the event that you do win, is keep calm and carry on, financial advisers shared with USA TODAY back in March. And avoid posting any and all details of your win on social media. "If you’re lucky enough to win the lottery, keep it quiet," Rob Burnette, an Ohio-based financial adviser at Outlook Financial Center. "Get organized and make a plan. Consider staying anonymous, if it’s a possibility.” Who, if anyone, do I tell about my Mega Millions win? If you find yourself in a situation where you stand to inherit millions of dollars, the best people to get in touch with financial experts right off the bat so scammers don't get the chance to bleed you dry before you even get the chance to cash in. Holiday deals: Shop this season’s top products and sales curated by our editors. "Crooks usually try to get you to wire money for 'taxes' or 'fees,' or may try to get you to provide them with a bank account number, which they will then clean out," Mega Millions said. "No real lottery tells winners to put up their own money in order to collect a prize they have already won." No Mega Millions representative would ever call, text, or e-mail anyone about winning a prize so be especially wary of who contact you out of the blue. In certain states, you can remain anonymous if you win . Steve Azoury, owner of Azoury Financial in Troy, Michigan, who has advised many lottery winners, including a $181 million winner "who said ‘If I didn’t know you before, I don’t want to know you now.’” "Get a tax attorney and a tax accountant right off the bat and then a financial adviser,” according to Azoury. “They’ll work hand in hand to figure out the plan.” The "plan" will help you get some things squared away, such as whether you will opt to take an immediate cash payout, or if you'd prefer the cash distributed over time. The difference between the two is outlined below: The decision, though, will likely depend on your goals, your age, and what lottery rules are for beneficiaries to continue receiving payments, or if you’d likely squander a lump sum. The size of the lottery winning as well as your current and projected earnings are some things to consider, according to Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt. Get expert advice: How do I find a financial advisor? These top firms can help with financial planning. Your financial expert, or experts can also help you find a "fall guy," a person or adviser "who keeps you from giving loans to anybody, who tells people all the money’s tied up in investments, not available," Azoury said. "We have nothing available to help you out, and we’re not interested in your project.” How do I decide what to do with my Mega Millions win? Only you and your financial adviser, or advisers can help you figure out the best way to protect you and your money. Most people won't claim their prize right away, taking some time to figure out a plan that's right for them. Mega Millions claim periods, which ranges from 90 days to one year from the drawing date, varies from state to state. "Winning tickets must be redeemed in the state in which they were purchased, but lotteries typically have a claim-by-mail option for most prize levels," Mega Millions said. But it might be in your best interest to "park" the earnings until you are able to hire and meet with a financial adviser, tax accountant and attorney that's right for you. "One suggestion would be putting your winnings in a brokerage account, as many brokerage firms can spread the cash deposits across multiple banks," according to Azoury. "Within one brokerage account, up to $4 million can be insured, if single, and up to $8 million can be insured on a joint account." How much of my Mega Millions win will I take home? And when do I get it? The exact amount you stand to net will vary, depending on the state you win the Mega Millions jackpot in. Lottery-related regulations and laws are different from state to state. While there is no hard and fast timeframe for the claimed prize to make its way to you, it shouldn't take more than a "couple of weeks," Azoury said. You’ll likely be propelled into the highest federal tax bracket , if you win the lottery. The state where you live and the place where you bought the winning ticket can greatly impact what you pay in taxes and how many, if any other states you will have to file taxes in. California is one a dozen states, including Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming, that does not tax lottery winnings. “This is where a tax professional really comes in handy,” Steber says. “State taxes can be very tricky. When is the next Mega Millions drawing? And how do I play? The next drawing, where the winning numbers for the $1.15 billion jackpot will be determined, is Friday, Dec. 27 at 11 p.m. ET. Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET. Tickets are available up to 15 minutes before the drawing takes place. In order to win the jackpot, you must match all six winning numbers in a drawing. That being said, players may pick up to six numbers from two separate number pools. Five of the numbers will come from white balls whose numbers range between 1 to 70 and the last number will come from the gold Mega Ball whose numbers range between 1 and 25. Players may also select the "Easy Pick" or "Quick Pick" options, which will have the computer randomly generate six-number sequence. The " Megaplier ," a $1 add-on feature, that can increase non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times. Before each regular Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier is drawn. From a pool of 15 balls, six are marked with "3X," five are marked with "2X," three with "4X" and one with "5X." Where can I buy lottery tickets? Lottery tickets can be found and purchased from local convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores or purchased online − in a handful of states. Some airport terminals may even sell lottery tickets, too. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network , in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms. Contributing: Emily DeLetter and Fernando Cervantes; USA TODAY

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