online slots real money CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets will be without point guard LaMelo Ball for at least two weeks because of a strained left calf. Ball felt discomfort in his calf after Wednesday night’s loss to the Miami Heat and did not play against the New York Knicks on Friday. The team said he will be reevaluated on Dec. 11, which is two weeks from the date of the original injury. Ball has been hot for the Hornets, averaging 40.3 points in his last four games. He is averaging a career-best 31.1 points and 4.7 3-pointers per game for the season, which ranks second in the NBA. He also is averaging 5.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 18 starts. Ball has had a history of injury problems, mostly to his ankles, since coming to the league as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. Story continues below video The only Hornets player to ever receive a max contract extension, Ball has played in just 202 games with 182 starts in five seasons. The team also said guard Tre Mann’s lower back soreness has been diagnosed as a disk irritation. His absence from the lineup began on Nov. 23 against Milwaukee. He will continue his rehabilitation and be reevaluated in two weeks. “They are competitors and they want to be out there on the court to compete and hoop, but they also want to be out there for their teammates,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said prior to Saturday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks. "I just walked past ’Melo as I was coming in here to do media, and he’s like, ‘I’m going to take care of everything I need to do on this return to play program and I’m going to attack it with the right mindset.’ I have all the confidence in the world in our performance staff and in those guys.” AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBANHL Live Tracker: Maple Leafs vs. Capitals

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Southern sticks to season-long recipe to maintain stranglehold on Bayou ClassicMitch Marner to wear red and white Maple Leaf as Canada rounds out 4 Nations roster TORONTO — Mitch Marner will be sporting a different Maple Leaf in February. The Toronto Maple Leafs star was one of 15 players named Wednesday to round out Canada's 23-man roster for the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press Dec 4, 2024 4:26 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) keeps his eye on the puck as Tampa Bay Lightning centre Brayden Point (21) looks on during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn TORONTO — Mitch Marner will be sporting a different Maple Leaf in February. The Toronto Maple Leafs star was one of 15 players named Wednesday to round out Canada's 23-man roster for the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Joining the winger as part of an attack that already featured Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand and Brayden Point — all announced back in June — are Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers along with Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Also making the team up front are Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone, Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers and Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes. The defence corps led by Cale Makar, who was also tabbed in June, will see Colorado Avalanche teammate Devon Toews suit up in red and white, and also include the Vegas duo of Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo, Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets, Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia's Travis Sanheim. The biggest question mark for Canadian general manager Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins and the rest of the country's hockey brain trust since the selection process began has been in the crease — especially with stud netminders like Carey Price and Roberto Luongo a distant memory. Canada doesn't have the same goaltending pedigree as at past international events, but head coach Jon Cooper of Tampa will likely lean on Stanley Cup winners Jordan Binnington of the Blues and Adin Hill of the Golden Knights. Sam Montembeault of the Montreal Canadiens rounds out the puck-stopping trio. "We are thrilled to unveil the group of players who have earned the opportunity to represent Canada," Sweeney said in a statement. "We believe we have assembled a roster that features world-class talent, as well as success at the NHL and international levels. "We are confident this group will give us the best chance to accomplish our goal on the international stage." The 4 Nations tournament, which also includes the United States, Sweden and Finland, runs Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston, and will serve as an appetizer for the NHL's Olympic return in 2026. It's also the closest hockey has got to a best-on-best men's tournament since the 2016 World Cup. This showcase won't technically meet that threshold with Russia — because of its ongoing war in Ukraine — and reigning world champions Czechia not in the mix. But there should still be plenty of interest with McDavid, Crosby, U.S. star Auston Matthews and a host of other big names finally sharing the ice on the world stage. The NHL, which went to five straight Olympics between 1998 and 2014, announced at last season's all-star game players would participate at the next two Games after it skipped 2018 for business reasons and missed out in 2022 due to COVID-19. The goal of the league and NHL Players' Association is hold a World Cup in both 2028 and 2032 to get international events on a schedule of every two years. Canada opens the 4 Nations on Feb. 12 against Sweden at the Bell Centre in Montreal before facing the U.S. in the same building three nights later. The tournament then moves to Boston, where the Canadians will meet Finland on Feb 17. The teams with the two best records after the round-robin will battle in the final Feb. 20 at TD Garden. "This is an exciting time for the NHL and international hockey," Cooper said. "This event is an important part of the process as we continue to build teams that can be successful on the international stage." ___ Follow @JClipperton_CP on X. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National Sports Tyler Seguin needs hip surgery, jeopardizing his season with the Dallas Stars Dec 4, 2024 3:17 PM Golden at-bat idea brings critics to the plate: 'Absolutely stupid and ridiculous' Dec 4, 2024 3:11 PM Smith noncommittal on overriding Charter as court challenge looms over trans bills Dec 4, 2024 3:02 PM Featured Flyer

Brock Purdy participated in the start of Thursday's practice with the 49ers but the San Francisco starting quarterback was not on the field for the majority of the workout, casting doubt over his availability to play Sunday at Green Bay. Purdy is dealing with a right shoulder injury and the 49ers are also potentially without left tackle Trent Williams and Nick Bosa due to injuries. Bosa was listed as out of Thursday's practice with an oblique injury. Williams also didn't suit up Thursday. He played through an ankle injury last week after being listed as questionable. Purdy's typical Thursday post-practice media session was scrapped until Friday as the 49ers did not make any quarterback available. Kyle Allen would step in for Purdy as the starter if he can't play against the Packers. Run game coordinator Chris Foerster said the 49ers aren't where they want to be at 5-5 because they haven't won close games, not because of injuries. "Seven games left is like an eternity," Foerster said. "So much can happen. Do the math. What was our record last year? It was 12-5. I was on a 13-win team that was nowhere near as good as the team last year." With or without Purdy, Foerster said the challenge for the 49ers is not to give up the ball to a defense that has 19 takeaways. The 49ers have 13 giveaways this season. --Field Level Media

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fight broke out at midfield after Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday as Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag and were met by Buckeyes who confronted them. Police had to use pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the rivalry game. Ohio State police said in a statement “multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray.” Ohio State police will investigate the fight, according to the statement. After the Ohio State players confronted their bitter rivals at midfield, defensive end Jack Sawyer grabbed the top of the Wolverines' flag and ripped it off the pole as the brawl moved toward the Michigan bench. Eventually, police officers rushed into the ugly scene. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he understood the actions of his players. “There are some prideful guys on our team who weren't going to sit back and let that happen,” Day said. The two Ohio State players made available after the game brushed off questions about it. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings, who rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, didn't like how the Buckeyes players involved themselves in the Wolverines' postgame celebration. He called it “classless.” “For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game," he said in an on-field interview with Fox Sports. “It’s just bad for the sport, bad for college football. But at the end of the day, you know some people got to — they got to learn how to lose, man. ... We had 60 minutes, we had four quarters, to do all that fighting.” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said everybody needs to do better. “So much emotions on both sides," he said. "Rivalry games get heated, especially this one. It’s the biggest one in the country, so we got to handle that better.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Ambarella, Inc. Announces Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Financial ResultsCAMDEN, Maine — A Republican lawmaker in Maine accused of choking his wife last month won re-election by a single vote after a Thursday recount. State Rep. Lucas Lanigan turned himself in days before the election, after being charged with domestic violence aggravated assault, WCSH, an NBC affiliate in Maine, reported. According to a police affidavit obtained by WCSH, Lanigan is accused of choking his wife after she confronted him about an alleged affair. His race against Democratic challenger Patty Kidder for a state House seat representing part of Southern Maine initially ended in an apparent tie. After a hand recount, the secretary of state's office said Thursday that Lanigan had received 2,478 votes to Kidder’s 2,477, putting him over the top by a single vote. Lanigan did not respond to a request for comment from NBC News. He has denied any wrongdoing in the criminal case. On Facebook, two days after the election, Lanigan said he was fighting these "ridiculous charges." "I have thick skin but for my family enough is enough," he wrote. Lanigan’s wife later asked that the charges be dropped, saying she did not think he intended to hurt her. But prosecutors are continuing to pursue the case , saying domestic violence victims sometimes recant under pressure from abusers, according to WCSH. According to WCSH, prosecutors said she was taken to the hospital with bruises on both sides of her neck consistent with strangulation. Democrats immediately called on Lanigan to resign after he was booked for the crime, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. “The actions described in the warrant for the arrest of State Representative Lucas Lanigan for domestic violence aggravated assault are incredibly disturbing and are disqualifying for any elected official or individual seeking public office," said Maine Democratic Party Chair Bev Uhlenhake. The top Republican in the state House, Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, said that while he took the issue seriously, he wanted to let the legal system run its course. “They’re very serious charges, obviously,” Faulkingham told the Portland Press Herald . “I think that’s what led to this being a very close race. But Rep. Lanigan has due process, and this will all get sorted out in court.” Faulkingham added that the recount shows “every vote counts.” Republicans made modest gains in the Maine state legislature in this year's elections, but Democrats will retain control of both chambers. Five seats in the state House have yet to be decided, pending recounts.

ECU CB Shavon Revel Jr. declares for NFL draftMichigan, Ohio State fight broken up with police pepper spray after Wolverines stun Buckeyes 13-10

LINCOLN — A Lancaster District Court judge dismissed a challenge seeking to invalidate a pair of successful ballot measures that are slated to legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska. Judge Susan Strong ruled that, despite the claims former State Sen. John Kuehn and Secretary of State Bob Evnen made against petition circulators and notaries associated with the ballot initiatives, both measures met the legal requirements to qualify for the ballot. The case is expected to be appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court. “We appreciate the court’s time and thoughtful consideration in deciding this matter,” a statement from the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office read. “We are reviewing the decision and considering next steps.” Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana ran two petition drives to get a pair of measures on the ballot this November that together will legalize medical marijuana in the state. Voters ultimately passed both measures by wide margins, earning roughly 70% support for each. This is the third attempt Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana has made to legalize medical cannabis since 2020. That year, their initiative qualified for the ballot, but was thrown out by the Nebraska Supreme Court for containing more than one subject, leading to the campaign splitting their petitions into two measures. In 2022, both petitions fell short of the signature requirement to qualify for the ballot. Each petition needed around 86,000 valid signatures in order to qualify for the ballot, and after submitting their petitions this summer, Evnen’s office certified that both petitions garnered roughly 89,000 valid signatures. As Strong put it, this made the case against the initiative “about numbers,” with plaintiffs needing to provide evidence to invalidate enough signatures to put the petition drives below the minimum requirement to qualify for the ballot. With the evidence Kuehn and Evnen offered, they fell “well short,” Strong said. “We have long been committed to seeing this day through, and we are pleased with Judge Strong’s decision,” Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign manager Crista Eggers said in an email. “Many years of hard work have gone into this effort — from volunteers, patients and families across the state. Knowing that another mother will soon have an option for her suffering child makes it all worthwhile.” If the courts uphold the initiatives, Nebraska will join 38 other states and Washington, D.C., which have legalized medical marijuana. At the federal level, marijuana is still illegal and listed as a Schedule I drug. According to the initiatives, medical marijuana in Nebraska would be regulated by a commission that will establish criteria to approve or deny businesses applying to sell the drug before July 1, 2025. Voters pass medical marijuana measure in Nebraska, though litigation continues Nebraska voters rejected 'school choice' program. What's next for students, schools, policies? Jeffrey Funke sworn in as new chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court Norfolk Catholic players celebrate after winning the fifth and final set of a Class C2 first round state volleyball tournament match against Yutan at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Thayer Central players celebrate after winning the fourth and final set of a Class C2 first round state volleyball tournament match against Freeman at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. With results still too close to call, State Sen. Tony Vargas stands with his mother, Lidia Vargas, left, and his wife, Lauren Vargas, right, after speaking to supporters during an election night watch party at the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel in Omaha on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Louise LaFramboise holds white roses given to her by the Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard’ during their Living Tribute Ceremony for LaFramboise at the Center of Nursing Science at UNMC in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. Deb Zobel, right, honors Louise LaFramboise during the Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard’s Living Tribute Ceremony at the Center of Nursing Science at UNMC in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. Deb Zobel, right, holds the hand of Louise LaFramboise as she honors her during the Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard’s Living Tribute Ceremony at the Center of Nursing Science at UNMC in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. Milford's Sarah Reynolds (15) serves the ball during the first set of a Class C1 first round state volleyball tournament match at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. Gothenburg, bottom and Minden warm-up before the first set of a Class C1 first round state volleyball tournament match at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. Waverly celebrates their win over Bennington during the first set of a Class B first round state volleyball tournament match at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. Elkhorn North's Kaitlyn Huff (15) lifts up Elkhorn North's Ava Thompson (3) to celebrate during the first set of a Class B first round state volleyball tournament match at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. A pass bounces off Nebraska's Jacory Barney Jr. (17) before being intercepted by UCLA's Kaylin Moore (9) during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) hurdles UCLA's Ramon Henderson (11) during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. UCLA's Oluwafemi Oladejo (2) hits Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) as throws a pass during the first half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. The line for early voting at the Douglas County Election Commission in Omaha extends out of the parking lot on 122nd Avenue on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. The line for early voting at the Douglas County Election Commission in Omaha extends out of the parking lot on 122nd Avenue on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. The ball bounces off of the knee of Nebraska's Jacory Barney Jr. (17) before UCLA recovered the ball during the second half of a college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. Nebraska's Rollie Worster (24) goes up for a layup against Texas Rio Grand Valley's Cliff Davis (10) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Marcus Hardy fills out his ballot at the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation in Omaha on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Voters walk into Ronald Wilson Reagan Elementary School to vote in Omaha on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Scott Hill fills out his ballot at Metropolitan Community College Elkhorn Valley Campus in Omaha on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) goes up for a shot against Texas Rio Grand Valley's Tommy Gankhuyag (33) during the first half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunks the ball above Texas Rio Grand Valley's DK Thorn (3) during the second half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. Veterans salute during the singing of the national anthem during a Veteran's Day ceremony at Memorial Park in Omaha on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. Members of the Omaha Benson JROTC prepare for a Veteran's Day ceremony at Memorial Park in Omaha on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. Brian Prokop holds his and his fiancee Tracy Bequett’s cat Ballsac at their home in Kennard on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. The cat went missing after an EF-4 tornado destroyed most of the structures on the property, including their and Bequett’s father’s homes, in April. Six months later, Ballsac was found and returned home. Attendees salute at the Veterans Day Parade in Bellevue on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. Shamus Connor, 10, hands American flags to members of the Bellevue fire department at the Veterans Day Parade in Bellevue on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. People watch as Omaha’s official Christmas tree, a 40 foot spruce donated by Mark and Joanie Maszk, is brought in at The Durham Museum in Omaha on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. Ethan McCullough, left, and Michaela Lentsch stand under an umbrella as they look at the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree during it’s stop at the Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. Makai Hatcher shows his daughter, Mackenzie, how to put a fish hook on a line while fishing at Miller Park in Omaha on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Mackenzie is one. Makai Hatcher spends the afternoon fishing at Miller Park in Omaha on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Makai Hatcher puts a worm on a hook while fishing at Miller Park in Omaha on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Zoo employees and their family members enjoy a preview of Zoolightful at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. A worker helps to set up the Christmas tree near the Skate Ribbon at Heartland Of America Park in Omaha, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Antonio Martinez plugs Christmas lights in the Gene Leahy Mall in Omaha, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. ebamer@owh.com Twitter @ErinBamer We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Get local news delivered to your inbox!2 convicted of human smuggling after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada border

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"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.24 gifts our editors adore, all on sale for Black FridayROUND ROCK, Texas (AP) — ROUND ROCK, Texas (AP) — Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) on Tuesday reported fiscal third-quarter earnings of $1.13 billion. On a per-share basis, the Round Rock, Texas-based company said it had net income of $1.58. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $2.15 per share. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Retailers coax Black Friday shoppers into stores with big discounts and giveaways NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. have used giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts to reward shoppers who ventured out on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns for now as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it’s lost some luster. Analysts reported seeing the biggest crowds at stores that offered real savings. They say many shoppers are being cautious with their discretionary spending despite the easing of inflation. Stores are even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Online sales figures from Thanksgiving Day gave retailers a reason to remain hopeful for a lucrative end to the year. Southwest Airlines says it is ending cabin service earlier to reduce chance of injury Southwest Airlines is ending its cabin service earlier starting next month. Beginning on Dec. 4, a company spokesperson says flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. The company says it's making the changes to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries. For passengers, that means they will need to return their seats to an upright position or do other pre-landing procedures earlier than before. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, injuries have piled up over the years. Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — While retailers hope to go big this holiday season, customers may notice that the catalogs arriving in their mailboxes are smaller. Many of the millions of catalogs getting sent to U.S. homes were scaled down to save on postage and paper. Some gift purveyors are sending out postcards. In a sign of the times, the American Catalog Mailers Association rebranded itself in May as the American Commerce Marketing Association. Despite no longer carrying an extended inventory of goods, industry experts say catalogs help retailers cut through the noise and still hold their own in value because of growing digital advertising costs. Canada's Trudeau returns home after Trump meeting without assurances that tariffs are off the table WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is returning home after his meeting with Donald Trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump says the dinner talks Friday night at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida were “productive.” But he signaling no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. Trudeau spoke of “an excellent conversation” but offered no details. Trump said in a Truth Social post later Saturday that they discussed “many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address.” Trump and Republicans in Congress eye an ambitious 100-day agenda, starting with tax cuts WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans swept to power on Election Day and now control the House, the Senate and the White House, with plans for an ambitious 100-day agenda come January. Their to-do list includes extending tax breaks, cutting social programs, building the border wall to stop immigration and rolling back President Joe Biden's green energy policies. Atop that list is a plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring tax cuts that were a signature domestic achievement of Republican Donald Trump’s first term as president. It's an issue that may define his return to the White House. The ruble's in a slump. For the Kremlin, that's a two-edged sword Russia’s ruble is sagging against other currencies, complicating the Kremlin’s efforts to keep consumer inflation under control with one hand even as it overheats the economy with spending on the war against Ukraine with the other. Over time a weaker ruble could mean higher prices for imports from China, Russia's main trade partner these days. President Vladimir Putin says things are under control. One wild card is sanctions against a key Russian bank that have disrupted foreign trade payments. If Russia finds a workaround for that, the ruble could regain some of its recent losses. Iceland votes for a new parliament after political disagreements force an early election REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Icelanders are electing a new parliament after disagreements over immigration, energy policy and the economy forced Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to pull the plug on his coalition government and call early elections. This will be Iceland’s sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the North Atlantic island nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggest the country may be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales over time BOSTON (AP) — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational tobacco bans.” The bans phase out the use of tobacco products based not just on a person's age but on birth year. Lawmakers plan to file the proposal next year. If approved, the bill would set a date and ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after that date forever, eventually banning all sales. Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has approved the construction of a high-speed railway connecting the capital Hanoi in the north with the financial capital of Ho Chi Minh in the south. It is expected to cost $67 billion and will stretch 1,541 kilometers (957 miles). The new train is expected to travel at speeds of up to 350 kph (217 mph), reducing the journey from the current 30 hours to just five hours. The decision was taken by Vietnam’s National Assembly on Saturday. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and Vietnam hopes that the first trains will start operating by 2035. But the country has been beleaguered by delays to its previous infrastructure projects. Inflation rose to 2.3% in Europe. That won't stop the central bank from cutting interest rates FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new U.S. tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth. The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices rose 2.3 percent, up from 2.0% in October, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. However, worries about growth mean the Dec. 12 ECB meeting is not about whether to cut rates, but by how much. Market buzz says there could be a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%.Cartoons aren't just for kids. From the late 1990s and all through the early 21st century, TV saw a meteoric rise in animated shows aimed at adults. Channels like Comedy Central, Adult Swim, and later streaming services like Netflix and Hulu catered to a new audience who understand that animation isn't strictly for Saturday mornings. Contrary to popular knowledge, animation was an adult-oriented medium at first. Before the Hays Code in 1922, the first cartoons were actually quite risque. With the advent of television however, shows like The Flintstones (yes, really) popularized using animation and outlandish settings – in The Flintstone's case, prehistoric times – to poke fun at contemporary times. In 1989, The Simpsons premiered and became a massive hit on network television. While The Simpsons wasn't necessarily made for kids, with its jokes and references tailored to adults, its presence on network television meant it could only be so vulgar and graphic. It was only with cable television and streaming TV in the ensuing decades that explicitly made-for-adults animation flourished. From genre satires to deep interrogations of the human condition to hit anime from Japan, here are the 32 greatest animated TV shows that just aren't for the kiddos. 32. Aqua Teen Hunger Force MEATWAD! One of the most influential programs in Adult Swim history, Aqua Teen Hunger Force tells the absurd and surreal adventures of anthropomorphic fast food – pathological Master Shake, logical Frylock, and simple-minded Meatwad – who live as roommates, fight villains, and go on bizarre adventures. Today, the series is remembered for its towering influence over other adult-animated shows and even online YouTubers like The Angry Video Game Nerd and Videogamedunkey. A viral marketing campaign for the show in 2007 drew controversy in Boston when LED signs of the Mooninites inspired investigations by local authorities who shut down roads and freeways on the belief it was a terrorist bomb scare. 31. Metalocalypse The over-the-top excesses of heavy metal music and culture get roasted (with love) in Metalocalypse. In this hyperbolic black comedy, the heavy metal band Deathlok enjoys the perks of unmatched worldwide fame and fortune. But while the band is super famous with a devoted following, they're also dumb as rocks, which creates problems when the band gets up to no good. (Their concerts are also a riot, in a rather literal sense.) Comically violent that satirizes the heavy metal scene and celebrity worship, Metalocalypse slays. 30. Rick and Morty For a moment, audiences couldn't get enough of Rick and Morty. From the demented minds of Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, Rick and Morty is a sci-fi sitcom that follows nervous teenager Morty (voiced by Roiland for the first few seasons) who is often against his will whisked away by his drunk grandpa Rick (also Roiland) on adventures that take them all across time and space. Essentially an R-rated Doctor Who, Rick and Morty drew critical acclaim in its first few seasons, though the behavior of its overly zealous fanbase soured its reputation. Controversy around Roiland led to his exit from the show in its seventh season. 29. Ugly Americans Welcome to New York City... in Hell. In this overlooked gem that ran for an all-too-brief two seasons on Comedy Central, Mark Lilly (Matt Oberg) works for the Department of Integration, a government agency that helps acclimate monsters, creatures, and other demonic species into human society in Manhattan. A workplace comedy with novel worldbuilding, Ugly Americans is a satire of political correctness and government bureaucracy all wrapped up in the malaise of salaried employees just trying to get through the day. 28. Drawn Together At the height of empty calorie reality shows in the 2000s, Comedy Central unleashed Drawn Together. A satire that crosses cartoons with reality shows à la Big Brother and The Real World, Drawn Together follows a household of colorful caricatures (each a representative of a different genre or medium) who put up with each other as they live in the same home. From chauvinist superhero Captain Hero to alcoholic Toot to psychopathic anime mascot Ling-Ling, Drawn Together crams a whole lot of mischief and mayhem in its surprisingly short run of 36 episodes. 27. Star Trek: Lower Decks Almost every Star Trek series is about the main crew who command the bridge of a starship. But what about the people working, you know, in the lower decks? Star Trek: Lower Decks, which premiered in 2020, is the irreverent Star Trek show that follows the lowly support crew and ensigns aboard the USS Cerritos one year after the events of the film Star Trek: Nemesis. With a more outlandish sense of humor versus traditional live-action Star Trek programs, Lower Decks bucks tradition while making heroes out of zeroes. 26. The Venture Bros. Simultaneously the longest-running yet most compact animated show in Adult Swim history (we're talking seven seasons produced over 15 years), The Venture Bros. follows a family of scientist-adventurers who frequently find themselves in over their heads against evildoers and other challenges around the world. While the show lovingly satirizes classic '60s adventures shows like Jonny Quest and mysteries like Hardy Boys, creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer imbued the show with a philosophy of failure, stemming from the unfulfilled promises and broken dreams of the Space Age. The Venture Bros. remains renowned today for its sharp writing, unforgettable characters, and worldbuilding that synthesizes its influences into something totally fresh. 25. Inside Job What if global conspiracies were, in fact, all controlled by a shadowy organization? And what if that shadowy organization was a dead-end job? That's the hilarious conceit behind Netflix's Inside Job, a critically-acclaimed workplace comedy. Behind the doors at Cognito Inc. are its misfit employees, namely Reagan Ridley (voiced by Lizzy Caplan), an ambitious and brilliant yet socially inept robotics engineer who is reluctantly paired with a new coworker, a yes-man from Washington D.C. (Clark Duke). A colorful farce, Inside Job uses the familiar sitcom format to comically skewer our willingness to believe in anything but the truth. 24. Primal From animation auteur Genndy Tartakovsky, creator of Samurai Jack, Primal tells the ancient exploits of a Neanderthal named Spear and his uneasy partnership with a tyrannosaurus named Fang after they both suffer unimaginable loss. In Tartakovsky's imaginative fantasy, Spear and Fang survive and traverse an anachronistic world where dinosaurs, monsters, and more advanced civilizations roam the Earth. While there is a voice cast, most of the show is completely nonverbal. Living up to the legacy of Tartakovsky's Samurai Jack, Primal saw similar praise for its rich depth, artistry, and unique blend of science fiction, fantasy, history, and horror. 23. South Park One of the most successful adult animated shows ever made, Trey Parker and Matt Stone's South Park tells the surreal adventures of four Colorado school boys whose titular mountain town somehow winds up the center of the world's biggest events. Characterized by its abundant profanity, dark humor – do you know just how many times they've killed poor Kenny?! – and crude cutout animation style (which has only naturally gotten more sophisticated with the advent of computer animation), South Park has found evergreen appeal in its eagerness to cynically roast popular culture and politics. With over 320 episodes and counting, there's almost no stopping South Park, not even ManBearPig. 22. Blue Eye Samurai In this critically acclaimed historical action series, a half-white, half-Japanese onna-musha (female warrior) seeks to kill four white men, including her father, in isolationist Edo Japan. Maya Erskine stars as the blue-eyed Mizu, a bitterly cold warrior who disguises herself as a man on her bloody path to revenge. Hailed in its first season for its dazzling art style and deep characterization, Blue Eye Samurai is easily a cut above the rest. In 2024, the show won Outstanding Animated Program at the Primetime Emmys. 21. The Boondocks A bold American satire with an aesthetic resemblance to Japanese anime, The Boondocks follows the adventures of 10-year-old Huey (voiced by Regina King) after his Black family moves into an affluent white suburb. (The exact geographic location, whether it's Illinois or Maryland, is actually up for debate.) Originating from creator Aaron McGruder and his online comic strips, The Boondocks explores – and not without controversy – the often funny side of modern Black culture and political incorrectness. 20. Love, Death & Robots Following in the tradition of The Twilight Zone, Heavy Metal, and Black Mirror, Netflix's Love, Death & Robots is an anthology animation series that explores different artistic styles and storytelling genres – ranging from comedy to horror – while predominantly themed by mankind's contentious relationship to progress, technology, and the unknown. Spearheaded by Deadpool director Tim Miller and visual effects outfit Blur Studios (though every episode is handled by a number of different studios from around the world), Love, Death & Robots has stood out from the pack over its experimental filmmaking and fractured vision of humanity. A personal favorite: From Volume III, Episode 2, "Bad Traveling" directed by David Fincher. You'll never want seafood again. 19. Archer What if James Bond was an overgrown mama's boy? He'd be Sterling Archer. Created by Adam Reed and a huge hit for FX throughout the 2010s, Archer tells the misadventures of secret agent Sterling Archer (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin), whose employer at the spy agency ISIS (later CIA, on the basis of unfortunate real-world associations) also happens to be his wrathful, alcoholic mother Malory (Jessica Walter). Along with misfit coworkers, Archer takes on dangerous missions to defend America while making sure not to also blow up America. Originally an anachronistic spoof of Cold War spy fiction with modern pop culture references and humor, Archer later retooled into an anthology-esque series in the interest of changing things up. 18. Aeon Flux Predating the explosion of Japanese anime in the west, MTV unleashed the avant garde, thematically dense sci-fi series Aeon Flux in 1995. Set in a dystopian future on a barren world, Aeon Flux follows its mysterious titular assassin (voiced by Denise Poirier) who operates between two city-states separated by a border wall and frequently faces off with her rival and lover Trevor (John Rafter Lee). Created by Peter Chung, Aeon Flux took heavy artistic inspiration from anime and German Expressionism to give '90s TV junkies something they hadn't ever seen before, and frankly have never seen again. A live-action movie starring Charlize Theron hit theaters in 2005, to disappointing reviews. 17. Smiling Friends Spreading happiness can be a slog. That's the day-to-day routine of Smiling Friends, a charity whose well-intentioned but exhausted employees Charlie (voiced by Zach Hadel) and Pim (Michael Cusack) try to bring happiness to clients. With original and frequently off-putting character designs and bizarre humor that is perfectly in line with Adult Swim's established vibe, Smiling Friends – from creators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack – is a modern classic that is keeping late-night cable television interesting. 16. Blood of Zeus Japanese-inspired anime and Greek mythology clash like the titans in this gory epic created by the Parlapinedes Brothers for Netflix. Blood of Zeus traces the coming-of-age adventurers of Heron (Derek Phillips), a young demigod and offspring of Zeus who must save the world from the evil Titans after they've returned to exact vengeance on their successors, the Olympians. Billed as a story "lost to history," Blood of Zeus is a liberal reinterpretation of classic Greek tales that sets out to tell its own story of good and evil, of revolution and annihilation. Majestic and visceral, Blood of Zeus is a standout in the small but notable canon of Western-made anime. 15. Futurama A critically acclaimed giant with nearly as big a profile as The Simpsons and Family Guy, Matt Groening's Futurama is one of the greatest science-fiction sitcoms that also happens to be an adult-oriented cartoon. The show follows pizza delivery guy Philip Fry, who is cryogenically frozen on January 1, 2000 and wakes up almost a thousand years later. Now employed at the delivery company Planet Express, Fry and his coworkers – including beautiful mutant Leela (Katey Sagal) and misanthrophic android Bender (John DiMaggio) – get caught up in all kinds of wacky adventures the future has for them. Canceled twice on network TV before finding a new home on Hulu, Futurama has grown into a beloved modern classic with hilarious and heartbreaking iconic moments. 14. Undone Reality feels elastic in Undone, the first adult animated series by Amazon's Prime Video and the first-ever TV show to predominantly use the classic technique of rotoscoping. Created by Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Undone follows 28-year-old Alma (Rosa Salazar) who survives a car crash and suddenly develops time-manipulating superpowers. Alma uses her new gifts to figure out the circumstances behind the death of her father Jacob (Bob Odenkirk), whose spirit comes to Alma and serves as her guide. Beyond its highly original animation style, which often evokes the feeling of watercolor paintings, Undone is an existential and cosmic odyssey that probes the deepest depths of the human spirit. 13. Daria Smack dab during MTV's cultural dominance, the channel aired some of the greatest animated TV shows ever made. Among them is Daria, one of the most realistic portrayals of adolescence and high school in a cartoon. Spinning off from Beavis & Butt-Head, Daria follows its title character Daria Morgendorffer (voiced by Tracy Grandstaff), a cynical and sardonic teenager who meets her painfully suburban surroundings with jaded apathy. The show's simplified animation and stylistic influences from '90s indie cinema – not to mention a lack of original score in favor of pop music – gave Daria the vibe of something far more real than even The Real World. A time capsule of the late '90s and early 2000s, Daria's authenticity to the trials and tribulations of teenage life make it timeless even years later. 12. Todd McFarlane's Spawn In the early 1990s, a number of rock star comic book professionals – including Todd McFarlane – left Marvel to form their own imprint, Image Comics. One of its biggest successes was McFarlane's original comic Spawn, which launched a media franchise that included an acclaimed animated series on HBO from 1997 to 1999. Adapting the comics, Spawn tells of decorated U.S. Marine, Al Simmons (Keith David) who is betrayed by his own government and whose soul is damned to Hell. He is resurrected by the demon Malebolgia as a member of his new "Hellspawn" army, but Spawn fights for himself and to return to his beloved wife Wanda. A unique blend of occult and urban horror with adult themes and graphic content, Todd McFarlane's Spawn boasts enough dark energy to make Batman and the X-Men shake in their boots. 11. The Legend of Vox Machina Talk about a critical hit. After a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign in 2019, the tabletop gaming personalities of Critical Role saw their Dungeons & Dragons adventure, first streamed on Twitch, evolve into a hit streaming series on Prime Video. The Legend of Vox Machina retells (and remixes) Critical Role's first D&D campaign with the show's original cast reprising their misfit heroes Vox Machina, who are tasked with saving the land of Tal'Dorei from predatory vampires and destructive dragons. Overflowing with gory violence and adult-oriented humor, but at no expense to quality, The Legend of Vox Machina rolls with advantage. 10. Castlevania Sink your teeth into Netflix's Castlevania. From iconoclast producer Adi Shankar and based on the Konami video game series, Castlevania takes audiences to 15th century Romania where Dracula (Graham McTavish) reigns supreme over his army of monsters. The last living member of the Belmont Clan, Trevor (Richard Armitage) teams up with sorceress magician Sypha (Alejandra Reynoso) and Dracula's vengeful son Alucard (James Callis) to put a stake through Dracula's heart and take back the night. Acclaimed for its overall production quality, including its exciting animation, compelling characters, and gothic atmosphere, Castlevania is one hell of a good time. 9. Harley Quinn When the DC Universe streaming platform launched in 2019, The Joker's main squeeze seized the spotlight in her self-titled animated series Harley Quinn. The unexpected darling of the DC franchise follows Gotham City's clown princess of crime Harley Quinn (voiced by Kaley Cuoco) as she reclaims her womanhood after breaking free from her abusive ex, The Joker (Alan Tudyk). While an official series by DC, Harley Quinn – created by Patrick Schumacher and Justin Halpern – was boldly unafraid to take pot shots at not only DC's vast universe but also modern superhero pop culture. When it wasn't being self-referential, Harley Quinn wisely stayed true to its anti-heroine, in her story about growth and overcoming trauma while strengthening personal bonds. 8. Attack on Titan There are lots of Japanese anime that make a splash with Western audiences. In the early 2010s, no anime was bigger – one might even say, colossal – than Attack on Titan. In this acclaimed dark fantasy horror hit based on Hajime Isayama's manga, Attack on Titan takes place in an apocalyptic world where humanity lives in walled-off cities to protect themselves from people-eating giants. When the threat of the giants return, vengeful soldier Eren Yeager seeks to find the truth behind the titans including his own strange ability to become one of them. Hailed as one of the greatest anime ever made, Attack on Titan stands heads and shoulders above the rest. 7. Arcane From the world of League of Legends comes Arcane. In this steampunk fantasy from 2021, sisters Violet (Hailee Steinfeld) and Powder (Ella Purnell) survive amid the conflict between the affluent residents of Piltover and the oppressed underclass in Zaun. A mesmerizing mix of hand-drawn animation and 3D complement Arcane's compelling (and most of all, accessible) story about class warfare, love, and tragedy. Even non-fans of League of Legends have vibed to Arcane, allowing the show to enjoy prestigious recognition including numerous Annie and Emmy awards. 6. Scavengers Reign An imaginative science fiction epic originally made for the then-named HBO Max platform, Scavengers Reign succeeds on the merits of its sheer originality, deep introspection, and eye-pleasing animation. Created by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner, the show follows the survivors of a damaged interstellar cargo ship who survive the elements on a strange, undiscovered planet. As the surviving crew work to continue their voyage, they are drawn into the planet and its mysteries, which at times traps them in their own distant memories. Sitting somewhere between a BBC nature documentary and Lost, Scavengers Reign is simply one of the most gorgeous adult-oriented animated shows ever crafted. 5. Neon Genesis Evangelion Never mind all those "Get in the robot, Shinji!" memes – Neon Genesis Evangelion is perhaps one of the greatest if not most important Japanese anime of all time. Created by Hideaki Anno, Neon Genesis Evangelion centers around anxious teenager Shinji, who moves to Tokyo-3 at the behest of his estranged father who oversees the paramilitary force Nerv. Set over a decade after a cataclysmic event, Shinji is forced into piloting a giant mech machine, Evangelion Unit-01, and battle extraterrestrial monsters called Angels. Replete with Freudian psychology and Christian symbolism, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a masterpiece for both its medium and genre – a serious coming-of-age drama wrapped in the heavy metal casing of a mech to serve as Anno's own condemnation against the arrested development of shonen anime and its audience. 4. Beavis & Butt-Head Is Beavis & Butt-Head actually one of the best animated shows ever? Eh-hehehehe. Uhh . Whether it's actually good or not is irrelevant, because Mike Judge's Beavis & Butt-Head is enviably brilliant in making the absolute most of a basic premise. The show follows two teenage idiot slackers who spend their days embarking on low-stakes adventures and watching music videos (on MTV, where else?). While contemporary critics bemoaned its dim-witted simplicity, the show has enjoyed acclaim for its endless cleverness and slapstick humor. (Seriously, the show gets so much mileage out of grunty giggles and good timing.) Between its multiple revivals and two movies, Beavis & Butt-Head have done so much without really doing anything at all. 3. Invincible The pages of Robert Kirkman's coming-of-age superhero epic come to life (kind of) in the Prime Video smash Invincible. Based on Kirkman's comic book series, Invincible chronicles teen superhero Mark Grayson (Steven Yuen), whose father is the world's greatest hero Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). After Mark's powers manifest, however, he discovers the true nature of his father, which forces Mark to stand against one of his own. Created by Kirkman, with Simon Racioppa as showrunner and Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg among its executive producers, Invincible earns its name as an untouchable superhero epic that balances family drama with high-stakes planetary politics. 2. Cowboy Bebop Three, two, one, let's jam . One of the most acclaimed anime shows of all time, Cowboy Bebop is renowned for its stylish characters and pastiche of science fiction, cowboy Westerns, and film noir. In a future where space travel is common, bounty hunters Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, and Faye Valentine (and later, hacker Ed with corgi pup Ein) zigzag from planet to planet picking up freelance jobs to stay afloat. An overarching story is Spike's dark past with a criminal syndicate and a love triangle between rival Vicious and his lover Julia. Created by Hajime Yatate and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, Cowboy Bebop was a major success on both sides of the Pacific, with Cowboy Bebop specifically appealing to viewers who were too old for other hit imports like Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon. 1. BoJack Horseman A social satire that balances mental illness, guilt, and addictions with nonstop animal puns and visual gags, Netflix's BoJack Horseman revolves around its title character, an anthropomorphic horse (voiced by Will Arnett) far past his glory days as a wholesome dad on a 1990s TV sitcom. Surrounded by eccentric characters like roommate Todd (Aaron Paul), his high-strung agent Princess Carolyn (Amy Sedaris), and biographer Diane Nguyen (Alison Brie), BoJack Horseman struggles to overcome his insecurities while pursuing a career revival. The show, created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, was unafraid to tackle hard subject matter – from trauma to depression – but it never forgot being a cartoon, with some of the most hilarious running bits ever on a show. (You've got to hear Diane's ringtones.) BoJack Horseman may want nothing more than to be a star, but his series was truly a critical darling throughout its six seasons on Netflix.

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AP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. ESTNEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire , New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Thompson was shot at least once in the back and once in the calf, Tisch said. The shooter, who wore a jacket, face mask and large backpack, fled through Midtown on foot before pedaling an electric bike into Central Park a few blocks away, police said. The assailant remained at large Wednesday afternoon, sparking a search that included police drones, helicopters and dogs. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.” Police issued a poster showing a surveillance image of the man pointing what appeared to be a gun and another image that appeared to show the same person on a bicycle. Minutes before the shooting, he stopped at a nearby Starbucks, according to additional surveillance photos released by police on Wednesday afternoon. They offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. The killing shook a part of New York City that's normally quiet at that hour, happening about four blocks from where tens of thousands of people were set to gather for Wednesday night’s tree lighting. Police promised extra security for the event. The hotel is also a short walk from other tourist sites, including the Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall, and is often dense with office workers and visitors on weekday mornings. Many security cameras are nearby. “We’re encouraging New Yorkers to go about their daily lives and their daily business but to be alert,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said. Police initially said the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. But a spokesperson for the program’s operator, Lyft, said police officials informed the company Wednesday afternoon that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet. Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. “I’m afraid that we — some of you may know we’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” a company official told attendees, according to a transcript. “And as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today. ... I’m sure you’ll understand.” Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on the social platform X that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.” “This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote. Associated Press writers Tom Murphy in Indianapolis, Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this story.