Prince Albert News

NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted on charges they took bribes from sports bettors to throw certain types of pitches, including tossing balls instead of strikes to ensure successful bets. According to the indictment unsealed Sunday in federal court in Brooklyn, the highly paid hurlers took several thousand dollars in payoffs to help two unnamed gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 on in-game prop bets on the speed and outcome of certain pitches. Clase, the Guardians’ former closer, and Ortiz, a starter, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July, when Major League Baseball started investigated what it said was unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched. Some of the games in question were in April, May and June. Ortiz, 26, was arrested by the FBI on Sunday at Boston Logan International Airport. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday. Clase, 27, is not yet in custody, officials said. Ortiz and Clase “betrayed America’s pastime,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said. “Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.” Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, said in a statement that his client was innocent and “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.” Georgalis said Ortiz’s defense team had previously documented for prosecutors that the payments and money transfers between him and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for lawful activities. “There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning. Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court,” Georgalis said, calling the government’s case “weak and circumstantial.” A lawyer for Clase did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The players union, the Major League Baseball Players Association, had no comment, spokesperson Silvia Alvarez said. Unusual betting activity prompted investigation Major League Baseball said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating unusual betting activity and “has fully cooperated” with authorities. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” a league statement said. In a statement, the Guardians said: “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action, We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.” Clase and Ortiz are both charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison in event of a conviction. In one example cited in the indictment, Clase allegedly invited a bettor to a game against the Boston Red Sox in April and spoke with him by phone just before taking the mound. Four minutes later, the indictment said, the bettor and his associates won $11,000 on a wager that Clase would toss a certain pitch slower than 97.95 mph (157.63 kph). In May, the indictment said, Clase agreed to throw a ball at a certain point in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the batter swung, resulting in a strike, costing the bettors $4,000 in wagers. After the game, which the Guardians won, Clase sent text messages to one of the bettors with images of a man hanging himself with toilet paper and a sad puppy dog face, the indictment said. Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, had a $4.5 million salary in 2025, the fourth season of a $20 million, five-year contract. The three-time AL save leader began providing the bettors with information about his pitches in 2023 but didn’t ask for payoffs until this year, prosecutors said. They said Ortiz, who had a $782,600 salary this year, got in on the scheme in June and is accused of rigging pitches in games against the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals. Dozens of pro athletes have been charged in gambling sweeps The charges are the latest bombshell developments in a federal crackdown on betting in professional sports. Last month, more than 30 people, including prominent basketball figures such as Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, were arrested in a gambling sweep that rocked the NBA. Sports betting scandals have long been a concern, but a May 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling led to a wave of gambling incidents involving athletes and officials. The ruling struck down a federal ban on sports betting in most states and opened the doors for online sportsbooks to take a prominent space in the sports ecosystem. Major League Baseball has been monitoring gambling more closely since the ruling. The league suspended five players in June 2024, including a lifetime ban for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano, who it said placed 387 bets on baseball totaling more than $150,000 with a legal sportsbook. Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired in February for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games, and for intentionally deleting electronic messages pertinent to the league’s investigation. _____ Associated Press reporters Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C., and Ron Blum in New York contributed to this report. Michael R. Sisak, The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted on charges they took bribes from sports bettors to throw certain types of pitches, including tossing balls instead of strikes to ensure successful bets. According to the indictment unsealed Sunday in federal court in Brooklyn, the highly paid hurlers took several thousand dollars in payoffs to help two unnamed gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 on in-game prop bets on the speed and outcome of certain pitches. Clase, the Guardians’ former closer, and Ortiz, a starter, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July, when Major League Baseball started investigated what it said was unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched. Some of the games in question were in April, May and June. Ortiz, 26, was arrested by the FBI on Sunday at Boston Logan International Airport. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday. Clase, 27, is not yet in custody, officials said. Ortiz and Clase “betrayed America’s pastime,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said. “Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.” Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, said in a statement that his client was innocent and “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.” Georgalis said Ortiz’s defense team had previously documented for prosecutors that the payments and money transfers between him and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for lawful activities. “There is no credible evidence Luis knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning. Luis looks forward to fighting these charges in court,” Georgalis said, calling the government’s case “weak and circumstantial.” A lawyer for Clase did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The players union, the Major League Baseball Players Association, had no comment, spokesperson Silvia Alvarez said. Unusual betting activity prompted investigation Major League Baseball said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating unusual betting activity and “has fully cooperated” with authorities. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” a league statement said. In a statement, the Guardians said: “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action, We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.” Clase and Ortiz are both charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison in event of a conviction. In one example cited in the indictment, Clase allegedly invited a bettor to a game against the Boston Red Sox in April and spoke with him by phone just before taking the mound. Four minutes later, the indictment said, the bettor and his associates won $11,000 on a wager that Clase would toss a certain pitch slower than 97.95 mph (157.63 kph). In May, the indictment said, Clase agreed to throw a ball at a certain point in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the batter swung, resulting in a strike, costing the bettors $4,000 in wagers. After the game, which the Guardians won, Clase sent text messages to one of the bettors with images of a man hanging himself with toilet paper and a sad puppy dog face, the indictment said. Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, had a $4.5 million salary in 2025, the fourth season of a $20 million, five-year contract. The three-time AL save leader began providing the bettors with information about his pitches in 2023 but didn’t ask for payoffs until this year, prosecutors said. They said Ortiz, who had a $782,600 salary this year, got in on the scheme in June and is accused of rigging pitches in games against the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals. Dozens of pro athletes have been charged in gambling sweeps The charges are the latest bombshell developments in a federal crackdown on betting in professional sports. Last month, more than 30 people, including prominent basketball figures such as Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, were arrested in a gambling sweep that rocked the NBA. Sports betting scandals have long been a concern, but a May 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling led to a wave of gambling incidents involving athletes and officials. The ruling struck down a federal ban on sports betting in most states and opened the doors for online sportsbooks to take a prominent space in the sports ecosystem. Major League Baseball has been monitoring gambling more closely since the ruling. The league suspended five players in June 2024, including a lifetime ban for San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano, who it said placed 387 bets on baseball totaling more than $150,000 with a legal sportsbook. Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired in February for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games, and for intentionally deleting electronic messages pertinent to the league’s investigation. _____ Associated Press reporters Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C., and Ron Blum in New York contributed to this report. Michael R. Sisak, The Associated Press

OTTAWA — When Nancy Payne's son was killed in Afghanistan in 2006, his superior told the Lansdowne, Ont., mother that her son should never have been there in the first place. "They knew that they had somebody good. He could have gone a lot, a lot further had he not gone to Afghanistan," Payne recalled. "Yeah, that's what his boss said: 'I shouldn't have let him go cause he had great potential.'" Cpl. Randy Joseph Payne was killed in action on April 22, 2006, while serving as a member of the military’s “close protection team” — a unit tasked with safeguarding VIPs, like the prime minister, or chief of defence staff. Randy had been guarding Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, now retired, at the time he was killed, only three months into his deployment, and two years after he joined the Armed Forces as a military police officer. "He loved what he was doing," Payne said. "You know, that was Randy. All the excitement and the adrenalin, yeah, that was him." Fraser wasn’t with the unit when a roadside bomb struck their armoured vehicle, known as a G-wagon, while they were returning to Kandahar Airfield. Randy was one of four soldiers killed in the explosion. It was the deadliest attack on Canadian Forces in four years at the time. Randy was the 15th Canadian soldier to be killed at the time. “General Fraser had left by helicopter the night before. So the next day, Randy and the crew were heading back to the base in Kandahar,” Payne recalled. “So I think the people that did it, the Taliban, thought that Fraser was in the vehicle that Randy was driving, and Fraser had taken off the night before. So they took out four innocent people.” On Tuesday, Nancy will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on behalf of all mothers of Canadian soldiers who have died in combat. Earlier this month, she was named this year's national Silver Cross Mother by the Royal Canadian Legion. Each year the legion recognizes a mother of a soldier who has died to represent all mothers who have had a child die while serving in the military. "It's a great, humbling feeling for sure that they entrusted this to me," she said. "It's a great honour for sure." Along with the wreath-laying, she's had a full schedule in the national capital meeting with dignitaries and attending events. "I'm not young anymore so it'll be a challenge, for sure," she said, lightheartedly. Nancy has laid a wreath at a local Remembrance Day ceremony every year since Randy was killed, but this year will be the first in a long while she'll also attend with her husband, as they usually attend different ceremonies in their region. “We spread ourselves around so we’re not both at the same one, so we’re out and about in the community,” Nancy said. The Payne family comes from a long line of service to the Canadian Armed Forces. Her husband, David, served 30 years in the CAF infantry, her other son Chris had a 20-year career in the military, and her uncle served in the Second World War. Even Randy's son is now a combat engineer with the CAF. When Nancy has laid her wreaths, she said she reflects on what it must have been like for the members of her family to go to war. "Especially in the last hours, minutes, what they went through," she said. "And then I think of Randy, of course, what it was like for them." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. Nick Murray, The Canadian Press

TORONTO — The second leg of the Northern Super League semifinal between Montreal Roses FC and AFC Toronto was postponed Sunday due to inclement weather. The game was rescheduled for Monday evening at York Lions Stadium, the league said in a statement. The Toronto area was hit with significant snowfall on Sunday. AFC Toronto took the opening leg 2-0. The semifinal winner will face Vancouver Rise FC on Saturday in the inaugural NSL Final at BMO Field. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. The Canadian Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,100 flights on Sunday as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air traffic across the nation could “slow to a trickle” if the federal government shutdown lingers into the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday season. The slowdown at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports is now in its third day and beginning to cause more widespread disruptions. The FAA last week ordered flight cuts at the nation’s busiest airports as some air traffic controllers, who have gone unpaid for nearly a month, have stopped showing up for work. In addition, some 7,000 flight delays were reported on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks air travel disruptions. More than 1,000 flights were canceled Friday, and more than 1,500 on Saturday. The FAA reductions started Friday at 4% and will increase to 10% by Nov. 14. They are in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time and will impact all commercial airlines. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta had the most cancellations Sunday, with more than 570, followed by Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, with at least 265. In Georgia, weather could also be a factor, with the National Weather Service office in Atlanta warning of widespread freezing conditions through Tuesday. The FAA said staffing shortages at Newark and LaGuardia Airport in New York were leading to average departure delays of about 75 minutes. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Michigan was mostly empty Sunday morning, with minimal wait times at security checkpoints as delays and cancellations filled the departures and arrivals boards. Earlier Sunday, Duffy warned that U.S. air traffic could decline significantly if the shutdown persists. He said additional flight cuts — perhaps up to 20% — might be needed, particularly after controllers receive no pay for a second straight pay period. “More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day, the further they go without a paycheck,” Duffy told “Fox News Sunday." And he prepared Americans for what they could face during the busy Thanksgiving holiday. “As I look two weeks out, as we get closer to Thanksgiving travel, I think what’s going to happen is you’re going to have air travel slow to a trickle as everyone wants to travel to see their families,” Duffy said. With “very few” controllers working, "you’ll have a few flights taking off and landing" and thousands of cancellations, he said. “You’re going to have massive disruption. I think a lot of angry Americans. I think we have to be honest about where this is going. It doesn’t get better,” Duffy said. "It gets worse until these air traffic controllers are going to be paid.” The government has been short of air traffic controllers for years, and multiple presidential administrations have tried to convince retirement-age controllers to remain on the job. Duffy said the shutdown has exacerbated the problem, leading some air traffic controllers to speed up their retirements. “Up to 15 or 20 a day are retiring,” Duffy said on CNN. Duffy said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth texted him with an offer to lend military air traffic controllers, but it’s unclear whether the staff is certified to work on civilian systems. Duffy denied Democratic charges that the flight cancellations are a political tactic, saying they were necessary due to increasing near-misses from an overtaxed system. “I needed to take action to keep people safe,” Duffy said. “I’m doing what I can in a mess that Democrats have put in my lap.” Airlines for America, a trade group representing U.S. carriers, said air traffic control staffing-related delays exceeded 3,000 hours on Saturday, the highest of the shutdown, and that staffing problems contributed to 71% of delay time. From Oct. 1 to Nov. 7, controller shortages have disrupted more than 4 million passengers on U.S. carriers, according to Airlines for America. The Associated Press

GRAZ — Canadian ice dancers Jamie Fournier and Everest Zhu earned silver on Sunday at the Icechallenge figure skating meet. Fournier, from Montreal, and Zhu, from Waterloo, Ont., had a total score of 101.59 in the free dance competition. Americans Eva Pate and Logan Bye won gold (105.94) and Italy's Leia Dozzi and Pietro Papetti took bronze (101.24). Ice dancers Laurence Briere of Carignan, Que., and Julien Levesque of Boucherville, Que., won gold in the junior free dance with a total score of 86.37. Mia Lee Mayer and Atl Ongay-Perez of Germany took silver (78.47) and Angelina Cucherat and Leopold Hernandez-Dacquin of France picked up bronze (77.07). Canada won eight medals over the five-day competition. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. The Canadian Press

Within a small community where there are a few more than a dozen homes and the local gathering place is the hotel bar, a thick line of yellow police tape surrounds a property where a well-known couple lived. On Wednesday, Nov.5, at approximately 1:20 p.m., Nipawin RCMP received a request for a wellness check at a residence in Snowden. Officers responded and located 69-year-old Diane Searcy deceased. Diane’s longtime husband 68-year-old Kevin Searcy, has since been charged with second degree murder. A woman who lives nearby and who identified herself as a close friend of the couple, told paNOW they had moved to Snowden a few years ago from Calgary seeking peace and safety. Around that same time, Diane was diagnosed with dementia and Kevin was her primary care giver. “It’s just a tragedy. I don’t think there’s any malice involved in that at all. It wasn’t hatred,” the woman explained. The police tape surrounds the entire property. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff) Recalling a recent Thanksgiving, the friend stated the couple appeared to have a great time, driving around on their quads. “They were together forever…like 30 years, and he loved her beyond belief because they’d walk up here, always holding hands. He had never let her go.” Whatever may have happened in the house, the friend said Kevin could have asked for help. “There’s facilities, and that’s what everybody can’t get over in this town. Like, why? There’s so much help out there.” A picture of the couple in 2010. (Facebook) Another person close to the couple, told paNOW Diane had been in hospital recently and no one had seen her in weeks. They believed a family member called in for the wellness check. A woman, commenting on social media, stated she has known the couple her entire life and said this is a beautiful family, full of love. She encouraged people not to comment or gossip on a situation where they don’t have all the information. “My heart goes out to all of them. I can’t imagine how awful this is. Kevin took incredible care of Diane. He loved her. She loved him. Dementia is awful, but this is truly damaging to a beautiful family who nothing but loved and cared for each other for many decades. I am thinking of you all and sending huge, massive hugs and all the support possible,” she wrote. At his first court appearance on Friday, Kevin Searcy was remanded to Dec. 10. — nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com On X: @nigelmaxwell

SAN PEDRO DE LA PAZ — Canada's Sophia Howell reached the World Triathlon Cup podium for the first time Sunday after a third-place finish in the sprint-distance race. Howell, from Airdrie, Alta., finished the 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike ride and five-kilometre run in one hour one minute 12 seconds. “I’m so excited," said the 23-year-old Howell. "I didn’t expect this today so I’m over the moon." Howell was three seconds behind Jeanne Lehair of Luxembourg and nine seconds behind champion Miriam Casillas García of Spain. Emy Legault of L'Ile Perrot, Que., was 12th. In the men's race, Charlottetown's Martin Sobey was the top Canadian in 14th. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. The Canadian Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Two Major League Baseball pitchers were indicted Sunday on charges they took bribes to give sports bettors advance notice of the types of pitches they'd throw and intentionally tossed balls instead of strikes to ensure successful bets. Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both of whom pitched for the Cleveland Guardians, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July while Major League Baseball investigated unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched. Clase, 27, and Ortiz, 26, were both charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison in the event of a conviction. Ortiz was arrested by the FBI on Sunday morning at Boston Logan International Airport. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday. Major League Baseball said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating the unusual betting activity and “has fully cooperated” with authorities. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” its statement said. In a statement, the Guardians said: “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action, We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.” A lawyer for Ortiz declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press and a lawyer for Clase did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Two Major League Baseball pitchers were indicted Sunday on charges they took bribes to give sports bettors advance notice of the types of pitches they'd throw and intentionally tossed balls instead of strikes to ensure successful bets. Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both of whom pitched for the Cleveland Guardians, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July while Major League Baseball investigated unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched. Clase, 27, and Ortiz, 26, were both charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison in the event of a conviction. Ortiz was arrested by the FBI on Sunday morning at Boston Logan International Airport. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday. Major League Baseball said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating the unusual betting activity and “has fully cooperated” with authorities. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” its statement said. In a statement, the Guardians said: “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action, We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.” A lawyer for Ortiz declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press and a lawyer for Clase did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The Associated Press

The Grey Cup spotlight will be on Davis Alexander this week in Winnipeg. The Montreal quarterback takes an unblemished 13-0 career record as a CFL starter into the Alouettes' Grey Cup showdown with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Nov. 16. But all eyes will be on the charismatic American leading up to the big game after he tweaked his left hamstring in the Alouettes' 19-16 win over Hamilton in the East Division final Saturday. Alexander twice spent time on the injured list with the injury that limited him to just seven games in his first full season as Montreal's starter. The Alouettes were 7-0 under Alexander but 3-8 in games he didn't start. "Davis has played with this injury for a few games, he played the majority of our training camp with it," said Montreal head coach Jason Maas. "I know he knows how to deal with it but it remains to be seen how bad it is. "If he does not go, we'll still have the same expectation on our team, which is to go in and win." There's no doubt in Alexander's mind that he'll play. When he tweaked the hamstring in the fourth quarter against the Tiger-Cats, Maas instructed backup McLeod Bethel-Thompson to begin warming up only to have Alexander emphatically state he wasn't coming out of the game. Alexander is 11-0 during the regular season for Montreal: the best start ever to a CFL career. He has won both of his post-season starts. Montreal and Saskatchewan will meet Sunday for the third time in the Grey Cup. The Alouettes defeated the Riders in 2009 (28-27) and 2010 (21-18). Alexander didn't enjoy his best outing versus Hamilton, completing 19 of 26 passes for 210 yards with a TD and interception while rushing seven times for a team-high 64 yards. But he didn't scramble on Montreal’s seven-play, 36-yard final drive, completing two of three passes for 28 yards. "That's a really good question, I couldn't answer that for you," Alexander said when asked if he could've run on the drive. "I didn't play the cleanest game … but I don't have to be Superman for this team to win. "Whether people believe that or not, I hope now they do. This is a full unit, it's one heartbeat. We talk about this all the time … we're as resilient as it comes." Maas said if Alexander's mobility is limited against Saskatchewan, Montreal will adjust accordingly on offence. "When you have that hindrance, then you have to trust the offence and the offence is built with answers," said Maas, a former CFL quarterback. "We'd have to come up with a gameplan that plays to what he's able to do. "I don't care if the other team knows that or not, it would be based on us executing. I know he (Alexander) is fully capable of playing in that pocket and making good decisions and chopping the ball down to a bunch of guys that I believe can make plays on our offence." Maas will make his second Grey Cup appearance as a head coach. He won twice as a player with Edmonton (2003, '05) and as an assistant with Toronto (2012). Saskatchewan's Corey Mace will make his Grey Cup debut as a head coach. He won a championship as a defensive lineman with Calgary (2014) and two as an assistant with the Stampeders (defensive line coach in 2018) and Toronto (defensive co-ordinator in 2022). If Alexander starts Sunday, he'll face Saskatchewan for the first time this season. The teams split their two regular-season meetings, each winning on the road as Bethel-Thompson got both starts for Montreal. Saskatchewan won the first meeting 34-6 in Montreal on Aug. 2 but the Alouettes claimed a 48-31 shootout victory in Regina on Sept. 13. Bethel-Thompson threw for 379 yards and three TDs with two going to Canadian Tyson Philpot, who had nine catches for 238 yards. Stevie Scott III rushed for 125 yards on 19 carries (6.6-yard average). Saskatchewan makes its first Grey Cup appearance since 2013 when it defeated Hamilton 45-23 in Regina. On Saturday, Trevor Harris's three-yard TD pass to Tommy Nield with 11 seconds remaining rallied the Riders past the B.C. Lions 24-21 in the West Division final. Harris finished 26 for 38 passing for 305 yards and two touchdowns. Running back A.J. Ouellette - who won a Grey Cup with Toronto in 2022 - ran 17 times for 113 yards. Harris, 39, is chasing a third Grey Cup championship after earning rings with Toronto (2012) and Ottawa (2016). Harris also started for the Redblacks in their 27-16 loss to Calgary in the '18 CFL title game. Alexander, 27, would make his first Grey Cup appearance. This is Montreal's second time in the game since 2023, when it downed Winnipeg 28-24. Montreal will chase its ninth Grey Cup championship overall. Saskatchewan comes in having won four titles. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2025. Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Tagliabue, who helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions, died Sunday from heart failure. He was 84. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tagliabue’s family informed the league of his death in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Tagliabue, who had developed Parkinson’s disease, was commissioner after Pete Rozelle from 1989 to 2006. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of a special centennial class in 2020. Current Commissioner Roger Goodell succeeded Tagliabue. “Paul was the ultimate steward of the game — tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL," Goodell said in a statement. “I am forever grateful and proud to have Paul as my friend and mentor. I cherished the innumerable hours we spent together where he helped shape me as an executive but also as a man, husband and father." News of Tagliabue's death came shortly before seven games kicked off Sunday. The Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings held a moment of silence for Tagliabue and Marshawn Kneeland, the Dallas Cowboys' defensive tackle who died on Thursday. Tagliabue oversaw a myriad of new stadiums and negotiated television contracts that added billions of dollars to the league's bank account. Under him, there were no labor stoppages. During his time, Los Angeles lost two teams and Cleveland another, migrating to Baltimore before being replaced by an expansion franchise. Los Angeles eventually regained two teams. Tagliabue implemented a policy on substance abuse that was considered the strongest in all major sports. He also established the "Rooney Rule," in which all teams with coaching vacancies must interview minority candidates. It has since been expanded to include front-office and league executive positions. When he took office in 1989, the NFL had just hired its first Black head coach of the modern era. By the time Tagliabue stepped down in 2006, there were seven minority head coaches in the league. In one of his pivotal moments, Tagliabue called off NFL games the weekend after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It was one of the few times the public compared him favorably to Rozelle, who proceeded with the games the Sunday after President John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. A key presidential aide had advised Rozelle that the NFL should play, a decision that was one of the commissioner’s great regrets. Tagliabue certainly had his detractors, notably over concussions. The issue has plagued the NFL for decades, though team owners had a major role in the lack of progress in dealing with head trauma. In 2017, Tagliabue apologized for remarks he made decades ago about concussions in football, acknowledging he didn’t have the proper data at the time in 1994. He called concussions “one of those pack-journalism issues” and contended the number of concussions “is relatively small; the problem is the journalist issue.” “Obviously,” he said on Talk of Fame Network, “I do regret those remarks. Looking back, it was not sensible language to use to express my thoughts at the time. My language was intemperate, and it led to a serious misunderstanding. “My intention at the time was to make a point which could have been made fairly simply: that there was a need for better data. There was a need for more reliable information about concussions and uniformity in terms of how they were being defined in terms of severity.” While concussion recognition, research and treatment lagged for much of Tagliabue’s tenure, his work on the labor front was exemplary. As one of his first decisions, Tagliabue reached out to the players’ union, then run by Gene Upshaw, a Hall of Fame player and former star for Al Davis’ Raiders. Tagliabue had insisted he be directly involved in all labor negotiations, basically rendering useless the Management Council of club executives that had handled such duties for nearly two decades. It was a wise decision. “When Paul was named commissioner after that seven-month search in 1989, that’s when the league got back on track,” said Joe Browne, who spent 50 years as an NFL executive and was a confidant of Rozelle and Tagliabue. “Paul had insisted during his negotiations for the position that final control over matters such as labor and all commercial business dealings had to rest in the commissioner’s office. The owners agreed and that was a large step forward toward the tremendous rebound we had as a league — an expanded league — in the ’90s and beyond.” Tagliabue forged a solid relationship with Upshaw. In breaking with the contentious dealings between the league and the NFL Players Association, Tagliabue and Upshaw kept negotiations respectful and centered on what would benefit both sides. Compromise was key, Upshaw always said — although the union often was criticized for being too accommodating. Tagliabue had been the NFL’s Washington lawyer, a partner in the prestigious firm of Covington and Burling. He was chosen as commissioner in October 1989 over New Orleans general manager Jim Finks after a bitter fight highlighting the differences between the NFL’s old guard and newer owners. Yet during his reign as commissioner, which ended in the spring of 2006 after pushing through a highly contested labor agreement, he managed to unite those divided owners and, in fact, relied more on the old-timers who supported him than on Jerry Jones and many of the younger owners. Tagliabue was born on Nov. 24, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the 6-foot-5 captain of the basketball team at Georgetown and graduated in 1962 as one of the school’s leading rebounders at the time — his career average later listed just below that of Patrick Ewing. He was president of his class and a Rhodes scholar finalist. Three years later, he graduated from NYU Law School and subsequently worked as a lawyer in the Defense Department before joining Covington & Burling. He eventually took over the NFL account, establishing a close relationship with Rozelle and other NFL officials during a series of legal actions in the 1970s and 1980s. Tagliabue was reserved by nature and it sometimes led to coolness with the media, which had embraced Rozelle, an affable former public relations man. Even after he left office, Tagliabue did not measure up in that regard with Goodell, who began his NFL career in the public relations department. But after 9/11, Tagliabue showed a different side, particularly toward league employees who had lost loved ones in the attacks. He accompanied Ed Tighe, an NFL Management Council lawyer whose wife died that day, to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a few blocks from the NFL office. Art Shell, a Hall of Fame player, became the NFL’s first modern-day Black head coach with the Raiders. He got to see Tagliabue up close and thought him utterly suited for his job. “After my coaching career was over, I had the privilege of working directly with Paul in the league office,” Shell said, “His philosophy on almost every issue was, ‘If it’s broke, fix it. And if it’s not broke, fix it anyway.’ “He always challenged us to find better ways of doing things. Paul never lost sight of his responsibility to do what was right for the game. He was the perfect choice as NFL commissioner.” Tagliabue is survived by his wife Chandler, son Drew, and daughter Emily. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Barry Wilner And Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Tagliabue, who helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions, died Sunday from heart failure. He was 84. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tagliabue’s family informed the league of his death in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Tagliabue, who had developed Parkinson’s disease, was commissioner after Pete Rozelle from 1989 to 2006. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of a special centennial class in 2020. Current Commissioner Roger Goodell succeeded Tagliabue. “Paul was the ultimate steward of the game — tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL," Goodell said in a statement. “I am forever grateful and proud to have Paul as my friend and mentor. I cherished the innumerable hours we spent together where he helped shape me as an executive but also as a man, husband and father." News of Tagliabue's death came shortly before seven games kicked off Sunday. The Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings held a moment of silence for Tagliabue and Marshawn Kneeland, the Dallas Cowboys' defensive tackle who died on Thursday. Tagliabue oversaw a myriad of new stadiums and negotiated television contracts that added billions of dollars to the league's bank account. Under him, there were no labor stoppages. During his time, Los Angeles lost two teams and Cleveland another, migrating to Baltimore before being replaced by an expansion franchise. Los Angeles eventually regained two teams. Tagliabue implemented a policy on substance abuse that was considered the strongest in all major sports. He also established the "Rooney Rule," in which all teams with coaching vacancies must interview minority candidates. It has since been expanded to include front-office and league executive positions. When he took office in 1989, the NFL had just hired its first Black head coach of the modern era. By the time Tagliabue stepped down in 2006, there were seven minority head coaches in the league. In one of his pivotal moments, Tagliabue called off NFL games the weekend after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It was one of the few times the public compared him favorably to Rozelle, who proceeded with the games the Sunday after President John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. A key presidential aide had advised Rozelle that the NFL should play, a decision that was one of the commissioner’s great regrets. Tagliabue certainly had his detractors, notably over concussions. The issue has plagued the NFL for decades, though team owners had a major role in the lack of progress in dealing with head trauma. In 2017, Tagliabue apologized for remarks he made decades ago about concussions in football, acknowledging he didn’t have the proper data at the time in 1994. He called concussions “one of those pack-journalism issues” and contended the number of concussions “is relatively small; the problem is the journalist issue.” “Obviously,” he said on Talk of Fame Network, “I do regret those remarks. Looking back, it was not sensible language to use to express my thoughts at the time. My language was intemperate, and it led to a serious misunderstanding. “My intention at the time was to make a point which could have been made fairly simply: that there was a need for better data. There was a need for more reliable information about concussions and uniformity in terms of how they were being defined in terms of severity.” While concussion recognition, research and treatment lagged for much of Tagliabue’s tenure, his work on the labor front was exemplary. As one of his first decisions, Tagliabue reached out to the players’ union, then run by Gene Upshaw, a Hall of Fame player and former star for Al Davis’ Raiders. Tagliabue had insisted he be directly involved in all labor negotiations, basically rendering useless the Management Council of club executives that had handled such duties for nearly two decades. It was a wise decision. “When Paul was named commissioner after that seven-month search in 1989, that’s when the league got back on track,” said Joe Browne, who spent 50 years as an NFL executive and was a confidant of Rozelle and Tagliabue. “Paul had insisted during his negotiations for the position that final control over matters such as labor and all commercial business dealings had to rest in the commissioner’s office. The owners agreed and that was a large step forward toward the tremendous rebound we had as a league — an expanded league — in the ’90s and beyond.” Tagliabue forged a solid relationship with Upshaw. In breaking with the contentious dealings between the league and the NFL Players Association, Tagliabue and Upshaw kept negotiations respectful and centered on what would benefit both sides. Compromise was key, Upshaw always said — although the union often was criticized for being too accommodating. Tagliabue had been the NFL’s Washington lawyer, a partner in the prestigious firm of Covington and Burling. He was chosen as commissioner in October 1989 over New Orleans general manager Jim Finks after a bitter fight highlighting the differences between the NFL’s old guard and newer owners. Yet during his reign as commissioner, which ended in the spring of 2006 after pushing through a highly contested labor agreement, he managed to unite those divided owners and, in fact, relied more on the old-timers who supported him than on Jerry Jones and many of the younger owners. Tagliabue was born on Nov. 24, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the 6-foot-5 captain of the basketball team at Georgetown and graduated in 1962 as one of the school’s leading rebounders at the time — his career average later listed just below that of Patrick Ewing. He was president of his class and a Rhodes scholar finalist. Three years later, he graduated from NYU Law School and subsequently worked as a lawyer in the Defense Department before joining Covington & Burling. He eventually took over the NFL account, establishing a close relationship with Rozelle and other NFL officials during a series of legal actions in the 1970s and 1980s. Tagliabue was reserved by nature and it sometimes led to coolness with the media, which had embraced Rozelle, an affable former public relations man. Even after he left office, Tagliabue did not measure up in that regard with Goodell, who began his NFL career in the public relations department. But after 9/11, Tagliabue showed a different side, particularly toward league employees who had lost loved ones in the attacks. He accompanied Ed Tighe, an NFL Management Council lawyer whose wife died that day, to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a few blocks from the NFL office. Art Shell, a Hall of Fame player, became the NFL’s first modern-day Black head coach with the Raiders. He got to see Tagliabue up close and thought him utterly suited for his job. “After my coaching career was over, I had the privilege of working directly with Paul in the league office,” Shell said, “His philosophy on almost every issue was, ‘If it’s broke, fix it. And if it’s not broke, fix it anyway.’ “He always challenged us to find better ways of doing things. Paul never lost sight of his responsibility to do what was right for the game. He was the perfect choice as NFL commissioner.” Tagliabue is survived by his wife Chandler, son Drew, and daughter Emily. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Barry Wilner And Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press

SAO PAULO (AP) — McLaren driver Lando Norris extended his lead in the F1 drivers’ championship after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, with his main rival and teammate Oscar Piastri again failing to make the podium. Norris, who also won Saturday’s sprint race and started from pole position, earned his first win at Interlagos with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen second and third, respectively. Norris now has 390 points in the standings, with Piastri’s fifth place leaving him 24 points behind with three more races to go. Norris won his seventh race of the season, the same number as Piastri. Asked after the race how he managed to bounce back in the championship, Norris replied: “Just ignore everyone who talked crap about you.” He added, “Still a long way to go (in the drivers' championship), this could change so quickly.” There are three races left in the season. ___ AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing Mauricio Savarese, The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Tagliabue, who helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions, died Sunday from heart failure. He was 84. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tagliabue’s family informed the league of his death in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Tagliabue, who had developed Parkinson’s disease, was commissioner after Pete Rozelle from 1989 to 2006. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of a special centennial class in 2020. Current Commissioner Roger Goodell succeeded Tagliabue. “Paul was the ultimate steward of the game — tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL," Goodell said in a statement. “I am forever grateful and proud to have Paul as my friend and mentor. I cherished the innumerable hours we spent together where he helped shape me as an executive but also as a man, husband and father." Tagliabue oversaw a myriad of new stadiums and negotiated television contracts that added billions of dollars to the league's bank account. Under him, there were no labor stoppages. During his time, Los Angeles lost two teams and Cleveland another, migrating to Baltimore before being replaced by an expansion franchise. Tagliabue implemented a policy on substance abuse that was considered the strongest in all major sports. He also established the "Rooney Rule," in which all teams with coaching vacancies must interview minority candidates. It has since been expanded to include front-office and league executive positions. When he took office in 1989, the NFL had just gotten its first Black head coach of the modern era. By the time Tagliabue stepped down in 2006, there were seven minority head coaches in the league. In one of his pivotal moments, Tagliabue called off NFL games the weekend after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It was one of the few times the public compared him favorably to Rozelle, who proceeded with the games the Sunday after John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. A key presidential aide had advised Rozelle that the NFL should play, a decision that was one of the commissioner’s great regrets. Tagliabue certainly had his detractors, notably over concussions. The issue has plagued the NFL for decades, though team owners had a major role in the lack of progress in dealing with head trauma. In 2017, Tagliabue apologized for remarks he made decades ago about concussions in football, acknowledging he didn’t have the proper data at the time in 1994. He called concussions “one of those pack-journalism issues” and contended the number of concussions “is relatively small; the problem is the journalist issue.” “Obviously,” he said on Talk of Fame Network, “I do regret those remarks. Looking back, it was not sensible language to use to express my thoughts at the time. My language was intemperate, and it led to serious misunderstanding. “My intention at the time was to make a point which could have been made fairly simply: that there was a need for better data. There was a need for more reliable information about concussions and uniformity in terms of how they were being defined in terms of severity.” While concussion recognition, research and treatment lagged for much of Tagliabue’s tenure, his work on the labor front was exemplary. As one of his first decisions, Tagliabue reached out to the players’ union, then run by Gene Upshaw, a Hall of Fame player and former star for Al Davis’ Raiders. Tagliabue had insisted he be directly involved in all labor negotiations, basically rendering useless the Management Council of club executives that had handled such duties for nearly two decades. It was a wise decision. “When Paul was named commissioner after that seven-month search in 1989, that’s when the league got back on track,” said Joe Browne, who spent 50 years as an NFL executive and was a confidant of Rozelle and Tagliabue. “Paul had insisted during his negotiations for the position that final control over matters such as labor and all commercial business dealings had to rest in the commissioner’s office. The owners agreed and that was a large step forward toward the tremendous rebound we had as a league — an expanded league — in the ’90s and beyond.” Tagliabue forged a solid relationship with Upshaw. In breaking with the contentious dealings between the league and the NFL Players Association, Tagliabue and Upshaw kept negotiations respectful and centered on what would benefit both sides. Compromise was key, Upshaw always said — although the union often was criticized for being too accommodating. Tagliabue had been the NFL’s Washington lawyer, a partner in the prestigious firm of Covington and Burling. He was chosen as commissioner in October 1989 over New Orleans general manager Jim Finks after a bitter fight highlighting the differences between the NFL’s old guard and newer owners. Yet during his reign as commissioner, which ended in the spring of 2006 after pushing through a highly contested labor agreement, he managed to unite those divided owners and, in fact, relied more on the old-timers who supported him than on Jerry Jones and many of the younger owners. Tagliabue was born on Nov. 24, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the 6-foot-5 captain of the basketball team at Georgetown and graduated in 1962 as one of the school’s leading rebounders at the time — his career average later listed just below that of Patrick Ewing. He was president of his class and a Rhodes scholar finalist. Three years later, he graduated from NYU Law School and subsequently worked as a lawyer in the Defense Department before joining Covington & Burling. He eventually took over the NFL account, establishing a close relationship with Rozelle and other NFL officials during a series of legal actions in the 1970s and 1980s. Tagliabue was reserved by nature and it sometimes led to coolness with the media, which had embraced Rozelle, an affable former public relations man. Even after he left office, Tagliabue did not measure up in that regard with Goodell, who began his NFL career in the public relations department. But after 9/11, Tagliabue showed a different side, particularly toward league employees who had lost loved ones in the attacks. He accompanied Ed Tighe, an NFL Management Council lawyer whose wife died that day, to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a few blocks from the NFL office. Art Shell, a Hall of Fame player, became the NFL’s first modern-day Black head coach with the Raiders. He got to see Tagliabue up close and thought him utterly suited for his job. “After my coaching career was over, I had the privilege of working directly with Paul in the league office,” Shell said, “His philosophy on almost every issue was, ‘If it’s broke, fix it. And if it’s not broke, fix it anyway.’ “He always challenged us to find better ways of doing things. Paul never lost sight of his responsibility to do what was right for the game. He was the perfect choice as NFL commissioner.” Tagliabue is survived by his wife Chandler, son Drew, and daughter Emily. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Barry Wilner And Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Tagliabue, who helped bring labor peace and riches to the NFL during his 17 years as commissioner but was criticized for not taking stronger action on concussions, died Sunday from heart failure. He was 84. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tagliabue’s family informed the league of his death in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Tagliabue, who had developed Parkinson’s disease, was commissioner after Pete Rozelle from 1989 to 2006. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of a special centennial class in 2020. Current Commissioner Roger Goodell succeeded Tagliabue. “Paul was the ultimate steward of the game — tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL," Goodell said in a statement. “I am forever grateful and proud to have Paul as my friend and mentor. I cherished the innumerable hours we spent together where he helped shape me as an executive but also as a man, husband and father." Tagliabue oversaw a myriad of new stadiums and negotiated television contracts that added billions of dollars to the league's bank account. Under him, there were no labor stoppages. During his time, Los Angeles lost two teams and Cleveland another, migrating to Baltimore before being replaced by an expansion franchise. Tagliabue implemented a policy on substance abuse that was considered the strongest in all major sports. He also established the "Rooney Rule," in which all teams with coaching vacancies must interview minority candidates. It has since been expanded to include front-office and league executive positions. When he took office in 1989, the NFL had just gotten its first Black head coach of the modern era. By the time Tagliabue stepped down in 2006, there were seven minority head coaches in the league. In one of his pivotal moments, Tagliabue called off NFL games the weekend after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It was one of the few times the public compared him favorably to Rozelle, who proceeded with the games the Sunday after John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. A key presidential aide had advised Rozelle that the NFL should play, a decision that was one of the commissioner’s great regrets. Tagliabue certainly had his detractors, notably over concussions. The issue has plagued the NFL for decades, though team owners had a major role in the lack of progress in dealing with head trauma. In 2017, Tagliabue apologized for remarks he made decades ago about concussions in football, acknowledging he didn’t have the proper data at the time in 1994. He called concussions “one of those pack-journalism issues” and contended the number of concussions “is relatively small; the problem is the journalist issue.” “Obviously,” he said on Talk of Fame Network, “I do regret those remarks. Looking back, it was not sensible language to use to express my thoughts at the time. My language was intemperate, and it led to serious misunderstanding. “My intention at the time was to make a point which could have been made fairly simply: that there was a need for better data. There was a need for more reliable information about concussions and uniformity in terms of how they were being defined in terms of severity.” While concussion recognition, research and treatment lagged for much of Tagliabue’s tenure, his work on the labor front was exemplary. As one of his first decisions, Tagliabue reached out to the players’ union, then run by Gene Upshaw, a Hall of Fame player and former star for Al Davis’ Raiders. Tagliabue had insisted he be directly involved in all labor negotiations, basically rendering useless the Management Council of club executives that had handled such duties for nearly two decades. It was a wise decision. “When Paul was named commissioner after that seven-month search in 1989, that’s when the league got back on track,” said Joe Browne, who spent 50 years as an NFL executive and was a confidant of Rozelle and Tagliabue. “Paul had insisted during his negotiations for the position that final control over matters such as labor and all commercial business dealings had to rest in the commissioner’s office. The owners agreed and that was a large step forward toward the tremendous rebound we had as a league — an expanded league — in the ’90s and beyond.” Tagliabue forged a solid relationship with Upshaw. In breaking with the contentious dealings between the league and the NFL Players Association, Tagliabue and Upshaw kept negotiations respectful and centered on what would benefit both sides. Compromise was key, Upshaw always said — although the union often was criticized for being too accommodating. Tagliabue had been the NFL’s Washington lawyer, a partner in the prestigious firm of Covington and Burling. He was chosen as commissioner in October 1989 over New Orleans general manager Jim Finks after a bitter fight highlighting the differences between the NFL’s old guard and newer owners. Yet during his reign as commissioner, which ended in the spring of 2006 after pushing through a highly contested labor agreement, he managed to unite those divided owners and, in fact, relied more on the old-timers who supported him than on Jerry Jones and many of the younger owners. Tagliabue was born on Nov. 24, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the 6-foot-5 captain of the basketball team at Georgetown and graduated in 1962 as one of the school’s leading rebounders at the time — his career average later listed just below that of Patrick Ewing. He was president of his class and a Rhodes scholar finalist. Three years later, he graduated from NYU Law School and subsequently worked as a lawyer in the Defense Department before joining Covington & Burling. He eventually took over the NFL account, establishing a close relationship with Rozelle and other NFL officials during a series of legal actions in the 1970s and 1980s. Tagliabue was reserved by nature and it sometimes led to coolness with the media, which had embraced Rozelle, an affable former public relations man. Even after he left office, Tagliabue did not measure up in that regard with Goodell, who began his NFL career in the public relations department. But after 9/11, Tagliabue showed a different side, particularly toward league employees who had lost loved ones in the attacks. He accompanied Ed Tighe, an NFL Management Council lawyer whose wife died that day, to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a few blocks from the NFL office. Art Shell, a Hall of Fame player, became the NFL’s first modern-day Black head coach with the Raiders. He got to see Tagliabue up close and thought him utterly suited for his job. “After my coaching career was over, I had the privilege of working directly with Paul in the league office,” Shell said, “His philosophy on almost every issue was, ‘If it’s broke, fix it. And if it’s not broke, fix it anyway.’ “He always challenged us to find better ways of doing things. Paul never lost sight of his responsibility to do what was right for the game. He was the perfect choice as NFL commissioner.” Tagliabue is survived by his wife Chandler, son Drew, and daughter Emily. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Barry Wilner And Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press

SAO PAULO (AP) — McLaren driver Lando Norris extended his lead in the F1 drivers’ championship after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, with his main rival and teammate Oscar Piastri again failing to make the podium. Norris, who also won Saturday’s sprint race and started from pole position, earned his first win at Interlagos with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen second and third, respectively. Norris now has 390 points in the standings, with Piastri’s fifth place leaving him 24 points behind with three more races to go. Montreal's Lance Stroll was 16th. ___ AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing Mauricio Savarese, The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — The head of the BBC resigned Sunday after criticism of the broadcaster’s editing of a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump. The BBC said that Director-General Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness both announced their resignations on Sunday. Britain’s public broadcaster has been criticized for editing a speech Trump made on Jan. 6, 2021, before protesters attacked the Capitol in Washington. Critics said that the way the speech was edited for a BBC documentary was misleading and cut out a section where Trump said that he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully. In a letter to staff, Davie said quitting the job after five years “is entirely my decision.” “Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as director-general I have to take ultimate responsibility,” Davie said. He said that he was “working through exact timings with the Board to allow for an orderly transition to a successor over the coming months.” Turness said that the controversy about the Trump documentary “has reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC — an institution that I love. As the CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, the buck stops with me.” Pressure on the broadcaster’s top executives has been growing since the Daily Telegraph newspaper published parts of a dossier complied by Michael Prescott, who had been hired to advise the BBC on standards and guidelines. As well as the Trump edit, it criticized the BBC’s coverage of transgender issues and raised concerns of anti-Israel bias in the BBC’s Arabic service. The Associated Press

VICTORIA — An animal sanctuary in B.C.'s interior says it is facing a "heart-breaking" experience after discovering a positive case of H5N1, also known as avian flu. Critteraid based in Summerland B.C. says in a social media post dated Nov. 7 that its team and volunteers are "devastated" following the discovery because their animals are at the centre of everything, and "the emotional weight of this moment is immense." Critteraid says on its website that it provides a home for a variety of rescue animals with 54 animals listed on its website. They include house pets, barnyard animals such as pigs, goats and cows, as well as ducks and chickens. The post says that the situation has required "immediate action" and "coordination" with Interior Health, veterinary professionals and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the organization promises to handle the situation with transparency and accuracy. The post goes on to say that staff and volunteers are "simply consumed with this horror" and that the "situation is still active and regulated." The announcement comes shortly after the cull and disposal of what CFIA says were 314 ostriches at Universal Ostrich farm near Edgewood, B.C. Neither CFIA nor Critteraid were immediately available to comment on the case, but Critteraid says in its post that it might not be able to respond to questions right now, because its full attention is on the sanctuary and the animals. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9. 2025. Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press

President Donald Trump's administration is demanding states “undo” full SNAP benefits paid out under judges' orders last week, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings, marking the latest swing in a seesawing legal battle over the anti-hunger program used by 42 million Americans. The demand from the U.S. Department of Agriculture came as more than two dozen states warned of “catastrophic operational disruptions” if the Trump administration does not reimburse them for those SNAP benefits they authorized before the Supreme Court's stay. Nonprofits and Democratic attorneys general sued to force the Trump administration to maintain the program in November. They won the favorable rulings last week, leading to the swift release of benefits to millions in several states. But, even before it won a stay on those rulings through an appeal to the Supreme Court on Friday night, the Trump administration balked at reimbursing states for the initial round of SNAP payments. Wisconsin, for example, loaded benefits onto cards for 700,000 residents, but after the U.S. Treasury froze its reimbursements to the state, it anticipates running out of money by Monday, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' administration warned in a lengthy statement on Sunday. The lack of money could leave vendors unpaid and trigger escalating legal claims, the states warned. “States could face demands to return hundreds of millions of dollars in the aggregate,” the filing at the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals says. That situation "would risk catastrophic operational disruptions for the States, with a consequent cascade of harms for their residents,” the filing concludes. That filing arrived as the Department of Agriculture on Saturday told states it would now consider any payments made last week to be “unauthorized.” “To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized,” Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary of Agriculture, wrote to state SNAP directors. “Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025.” Evers issued a quick response to the Trump administration’s demand. “No,” the governor said in a statement. “Pursuant to and consistent with an active court order, Wisconsin legally loaded benefits to cards, ensuring nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including nearly 270,000 kids, had access to basic food and groceries," Evers said. “After we did so, the Trump Administration assured Wisconsin and other states that they were actively working to implement full SNAP benefits for November and would ‘complete the processes necessary to make funds available.’ They have failed to do so to date." Scott Bauer And Nicholas Riccardi, The Associated Press