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Alabama woman with double uterus prepares to give birth to her ‘miracle’ twins

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Kelsey Hatcher, 32, is just days away from giving birth to her twin daughters. And if that’s not exciting enough, the babies will be delivered from two different uteruses. 

Hatcher has a rare condition called uterus didelphys, which affects about 0.3% of the population.

The Alabama mother of three children — soon to be five — shared an update on her “one in 50 million” pregnancy with Fox News Digital.

ALABAMA WOMAN WITH TWO UTERUSES IS PREGNANT WITH TWINS, ONE IN EACH WOMB: ‘1 IN 50 MILLION’ CHANCE

“Everything is still going extremely well with the pregnancy,” Hatcher told Fox News Digital in an email exchange.  

“The babies are growing right on track and even my doctors are slightly stunned at how well we are all doing.”

Hatcher has a rare condition called uterus didelphys, which affects about 0.3% of the population. (Caleb Shaver/Kelsey Hatcher)

Hatcher is feeling quite a bit of discomfort as the babies grow, she noted. 

“Two babies estimated at around 7 pounds [each] is a lot,” she said. “However, I’m trying to stay positive and just enjoy the last few days/weeks of pregnancy knowing this is my very last time.”

“The babies are growing right on track and even my doctors are slightly stunned at how well we are all doing.”

Hatcher, who works as a massage therapist and fitness coach, is already a mother to Raelynn (6), River (4) and Rhemy (2), all of whom were born via “normal” pregnancies.

SINGLE DAD RECEIVES KIDNEY DONATION FROM TOTAL STRANGER WHO REPLIED ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Hatcher and her husband still plan to have a traditional, natural delivery.

“We are waiting until right at the 40-week mark to give my body ample time to go into labor on its own, but if not, we will do an induction,” she said. “A cesarean is our last resort at the moment.”

In the event an induction is needed, it will occur on Dec. 18 or 19, Hatcher said, to allow the mom and the new babies to be back at home with the other children in time for Christmas.

Kelsey Hatcher

Hatcher shared a photo of her pregnant belly with each baby growing in its own uterus. (Kelsey Hatcher/Instagram)

Overall, the pregnancy has been smooth and uneventful, other than the nature of the pregnancy itself, she told Fox News Digital.

“I am surprised I have been able to make it to 38 weeks without any complications at all and still be healthy,” she said.

“A lot of it will be a day-to-day learning curve for us.”

The most difficult aspect has been preparing financially for a family of seven, Hatcher noted. 

“I am self-employed with no pay for maternity leave, so we have been trying to prepare and save as best as we can for the time off and for the unknown of how this delivery will be different than my previous three,” she said.

Kelsey Hatcher

Overall, the pregnancy has been smooth and uneventful, other than the nature of the pregnancy itself, Hatcher told Fox News Digital. (Kelsey Hatcher)

With her previous pregnancies, Hatcher has been able to return to work part-time fairly quickly — but given the uncertain delivery with the twins, there is a chance she will need more time off than normal. 

“We do have plenty of family and friends who are willing to help in the first few months as we navigate the transition,” she said.

ONE FAMILY DONATES FOUR KIDNEYS TO SAVE A NEW YORK MAN’S LIFE: ‘DEFIED ALL ODDS’

“Besides trying to mentally prepare for the transition, we have made sure to set up our house the best way we can to accommodate,” Hatcher added. 

“A lot of it will be a day-to-day learning curve for us.”

Kelsey Hatcher

The odds of any given woman having this type of pregnancy are about one in 50 million, as an OB/GYN at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston told Scientific American. (Kelsey Hatcher/Instagram)

Shweta Patel, M.D., assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of OBGYN, who is also Hatcher’s obstetrician, described the pregnancy as “very surprising.”

She told Fox News Digital, “It’s rare enough to have a uterine didelphys, more commonly known as a double uterus, but even more rare to have a pregnancy in each uterus.”

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“I had to see the images of the ultrasound myself to believe it.”

Since the babies were conceived with two separate eggs and two separate sperm, they will be considered fraternal twins, the doctor confirmed.

Kelsey Hatcher

“I am surprised I have been able to make it to 38 weeks without any complications at all and still be healthy,” Hatcher said. (Kelsey Hatcher/Instagram)

The risks associated with Hatcher’s rare pregnancy are the same as with any other twin pregnancy.

Thus far, her prenatal doctors’ appointments have gone well. 

Earlier this week, the babies passed their most recent biophysical profile (BPP) and are looking healthy.

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The twins’ estimated weights are 6 lb., 2 oz. and 6 lb., 10 oz.

The odds of any given woman having this type of pregnancy are about one in 50 million, as an OB/GYN at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston told Scientific American.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Get your work done faster with this pro tip

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AI still has a long way to go, but I’ll tell you one thing: Writing with your voice is getting a heck of a lot easier. 

Maybe you dictate text messages, but there’s so much more you can do if you start dictating for your work, too. I’ll show you how, plus I’ve got some tips to make your spoken words shine on the page.

Want a new iPhone 15 (valued at $799) for free? We’re giving one away. Enter now for your chance to win!

DO THIS IMPORTANT WI-FI CHECK AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR

Depending on your operating system, version, software and the direction of the wind (just kidding), these dictation commands may or may not work. But most will, and they’re definitely worth trying.

  • Insert punctuation by saying them explicitly, like “Kim exclamation point” for “Kim!” To insert a word that’s also punctuation, such as “comma” or “period,” say “literal comma” or “literal period.”
  • “New line” or “New paragraph” will start a new thought or section. Say “Go to” or “Go after” and a word to move the cursor before or after that word.
  • To correct the last thing you said, say “Correct that.”
  • “Select that” will select the last thing you said.
  • Say “Caps” and a word to capitalize the first letter of that word.
  • Say “Select” and a word or phrase to select it, or say “Cut,” “Copy” or “Paste” to edit your doc.
  • To format your text, say “Bold,” “Italicize,” “Decrease font size” or “Increase font size,” for instance. Saying “Highlight” plus a color will highlight your text in that color.
  • Create lists by saying, “Create a bulleted list” or “Create a numbered list.”

Choose your system or program

typing hands

In this photo Illustration, hands type on a computer keyboard Jan. 26, 2016, in Berlin, Germany.  (Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)

For Word: Open a new or existing document and go to Home > Dictate while signed into Microsoft 365 on a mic-enabled device. Wait for the “Dictate” button to turn on and start listening. Start speaking to see text appear on the screen. Easy-peasy!

For Outlook: While signed into Microsoft 365 on a mic-enabled device, start a new email (or reply to an existing one), select the body of the message, then go to the Message tab and select Dictate. Wait for the “Dictate” button to turn on and start listening. Start speaking to see text appear on the screen.

For Google Docs: In the Chrome browser, open a Google Doc. Click Tools, then Voice typing. A microphone box appears. When you’re ready to speak, click the microphone. When you’re done, click the microphone again.

EVERYDAY TECH HACKS: FROM PHONE SHORTCUTS TO WEBCAM MAGIC

For Windows 10: Open a document, email or other file you want to dictate within, then hold down the Windows key and press H to trigger the dictation toolbar. You can now dictate text. When finished, press the Windows key + H to turn off dictation.

For Windows 11: Press the Windows key + H on your keyboard. Next, press the microphone icon on the window that appears. To stop your dictation, say “Stop listening” or press the microphone button again on the voice-typing menu.

For MacOS: In an app, click your cursor where you want the dictated text to appear. Press the microphone button if available in the row of function keys or choose Edit > Start Dictation. Press the Dictation keyboard shortcut or the Escape key when you’re done.

A man uses a computer

Working on a laptop (James Sheppard/Future via Getty Images)

One last pro tip

Pro tip: I won’t name names, but someone in my life (OK, fine, it’s my husband) gets super frustrated with smart assistants and talks too loudly to them. That just makes it worse! Use your “inside voice” for the best results.

Keep your tech-know going 

My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.

PODCAST PICK: IRS tax change, Golden Bachelor’s shady resume & reliable weather apps

PRODUCTION - 02 September 2021, Berlin: ILLUSTRATION - A man types on a keyboard of a laptop. Photo: Fabian Sommer/dpa

A man types on a laptop Sept. 2, 2021, in Berlin.  (Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Plus, pilot Jon Kotwicki bought three old (and super huge) planes to turn into Airbnbs. Hear how he did it. Nearly 4,000 car dealers are pleading for delays in EV regulations — here’s why. And Airbnb is banking on the solar eclipse. Also, I’ll tell you what the kids want for Christmas.

Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando.”

Sound like a tech pro, even if you’re not! Award-winning popular host Kim Komando is your secret weapon. Listen on 425+ radio stations or get the podcast. 

And join over 400,000 people who get her free 5-minute daily email newsletter.

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Olympic hockey players must wear neck guards after IIHF ruling in wake of Adam Johnson’s death

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The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announced earlier this week that its players at all levels must wear neck guards during tournament play, including the Olympics.

The decision comes roughly six weeks after Adam Johnson, a former member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, died after a skate slashed his throat during a game in England.

It remains to be determined when the rule will go into effect, as the equipment is not yet readily available.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Olympic hockey players will now be mandated to wear neck guards during play. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

“The IIHF remains in close contact with its suppliers to ensure they are able to respond to the current high demand,” the organization said. “Until the rule officially goes into effect, the IIHF continues to strongly recommend that neck laceration protectors are worn by all players performing in an IIHF competition.”

The English Ice Hockey Association, which governs the sport below the Elite League where Johnson played, reacted to his death by requiring all players in England to wear neck guards beginning in 2024. Similar to the IIHF, the mandate was not immediate because of supply issues.

Flower tributes for Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson

Flower tributes to Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson are seen outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England, on Nov. 18. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

PENGUINS GOALIE TRISTAN JARRY JOINS RARE COMPANY AFTER SCORING UNLIKELY GOAL

Although not mandatory in the National Hockey League, several players have recently worn protection, including USA hockey hero and Washington Capitals right winger TJ Oshie.

“NHL guys, I think it’s super important that they know it’s going to be available,” Oshie said. “We’re grown men. If you don’t want to do it, you don’t. At least now, middle of the season, I don’t know if it’s necessary to mandate it, but you can make your own choices. I made my choice for my kids. I want to stick around for them. Just trying to decrease the chance of injury.”

Johnson’s death is currently being investigated by authorities, which led to a suspect being arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Adam Johnson skates

Pittsburgh Penguins center Adam Johnson warms up before the preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Sept. 20, 2017. (Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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The IIHF initially only had neck protection mandates for under-20 and under-18 tournaments.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

LSU’s Olivia Dunne ‘taking a break from slaying’ amid finals week

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Olivia Dunne is still a regular college student, believe it or not.

The LSU gymnast is wrapping up the first semester of her senior year, but first she has to take her finals.

Finals week is always stressful. So, perhaps Dunne doesn’t have much time for TikTok.

The 21-year-old seemed to hint at that in her latest TikTok post Thursday.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

LSU Tigers gymnast Olivia Dunne during a meet against the Florida Gators Feb. 17, 2023, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge. (John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In a video she captioned “Back to slaying soon,” Dunne added a graphic to the video that said, “POV: it’s finals week.” 

“Right now, I’m not depressed. I’m just having a little break from slaying. I’m just having a little break from slaying, and I’m gonna go back to slaying soon, so don’t you worry,” Dunne said, mouthing words from another video while gripping a container of ice cream.

Dunne was mouthing the words from a video previously recorded by TikTok star Isaac HP. Kylie Jenner also used his audio in a recent TikTok.

Dunne revealed last month she no longer attends classes in person because of a frightening incident.

“I had a scare once with a message that I got about a class I was going to, and I was like, you know what, it’s not worth it,” she said. “It was a threat. It seemed like they knew where I was at and what class, and I just decided better (to be) safe than sorry.”

Olivia Dunne flips

LSU Tigers gymnast Olivia Dunne warms up with her team during the NCAA Women’s National Gymnastics Tournament Championship at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, April 15, 2023. (Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports)

DEION SANDERS’ EX-FIANCÉE POSTS MESSAGE AFTER BREAKUP: ‘SENDING EVERYONE LOVE!’

Dunne first mentioned she no longer attended in-person classes in an interview with Elle magazine. However, NJ.com cited a 2021 police report when it reported she received a threatening message from someone who said they would “shoot up” the school. There was no arrest made after an investigation.

Olivia Dunne fans

Fans hold signs for Olivia Dunne of LSU during a PAC-12 meet against Utah at Jon M. Huntsman Center Jan. 6, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

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Dunne also revealed the LSU gymnastics team has heightened security because of her popularity, especially after overzealous Dunne fans at the University of Utah created a ruckus when the Tigers were at the school for a meet in January. Dunne had to urge her massive social media fan base to be “respectful.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Vikings’ Greg Joseph to wear ‘I Stand With Israel’ cleats during next game

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Greg Joseph has been raising money to provide aid in Israel since the terrorist attacks there in October, and he’ll be furthering his efforts this weekend.

The Minnesota Vikings kicker began his “Kicks for Israel” campaign Oct. 17, 10 days after the Hamas attacks. 

Joseph is Jewish and has said his religion has “absolutely” guided him throughout his life. He attended high school at the Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, Florida.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Placekicker Greg Joseph (1) of the Minnesota Vikings kicks a 31-yard field goal against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter of a game at Empower Field at Mile High Nov. 19, 2023, in Denver, Colo. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The kicker is donating $54 for every extra point he makes, and $180 for every field goal, with all the funds going directly to “emergency food and essential supplies to those who have been displaced through the humanitarian Non-Profit Organization Leket Israel.”

As the NFL continues its Cause for Cleats initiative, Joseph will be representing his faith.

Joseph’s cleats will include the Star of David and the phrase “I Stand With Israel.”

Israel cleats

Greg Joseph will wear these cleats Sunday (Stadium Kick)

The Vikings did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the cleats.

Joseph’s “Kicks for Israel” campaign has raised over $7,000.

The Israel Defense Forces said Friday “a heavy barrage of rockets was just launched at Tel Aviv and central Israel.”

EX-VIKINGS STAR SAYS JUSTIN JEFFERSON’S RETURN COULD TURN THINGS AROUND

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said Friday the ongoing Israel-Hamas war has led to the “largest single loss of life” in the history of his organization.

Guterres once again reiterated a call for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

“There is a high risk of the total collapse of the humanitarian support system in Gaza, which would have devastating consequences. We anticipate that would result in a complete breakdown of public order and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt,” Guterres said. “I fear the consequences could be devastating for the security of the entire region.”

Greg Joseph's cleats

Another view of Greg Joseph’s cleats (Stadium Kick)

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Joseph is in his fifth NFL season. He also kicked for the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans previously. This is his third year in Minnesota.

Fox News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report.

Steelers’ George Pickens ripped after frustration boil over on Steelers sidelines upset loss to Patriots

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Pittsburgh Steelers star George Pickens was visibly frustrated on Thursday during what ended up being a three-point loss to the struggling New England Patriots.

The Steelers offensive production has been widely discussed this season, prompting longtime head coach Mike Tomlin to move on from offensive coordinator Matt Canada earlier this season. Mitch Trubisky filled in for the injured Kenny Pickett, but the offensive woes continued. Pittsburgh only managed to score 18 points and produced less than 50 yards of total offense around the midway point of the second quarter.

Pickens did not have his best game on Thursday and finished the game with 19 receiving yards. After Pickens showed a lackluster effort during a running play, Tomlin appeared to deliver some “choice words” to the receiver.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

George Pickens, #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers, looks on from the sideline against the Tennessee Titans at Acrisure Stadium on Nov. 2, 2023 in Pittsburgh. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

“Tomlin, I think, has some choice words for Pickens,” play-by-play announcer Al Michaels said during the broadcast.

“Yeah, he’s just communicating how important it is for him to show some maturity and keep fighting,” commentator Kirk Herbstreit responded.

STEELERS’ KENNY PICKETT EXPECTED TO MISS TIME AS ANKLE INJURY NEEDS SURGERY: REPORTS

Herbstreit also suggested that Pickens’ teammates would not be happy with the receiver’s lack of effort on a play where he knew he was not getting the football.

“He’s kind of taking the play off,” Herbstreit said. “I think it sends a message to me, to your team. I look at receivers when it comes to their willingness to block and the effort that they’re willing to put forth.

“It kind of represents the pulse of the team. Bad look.”

George Pickens goes over Ronald Darby

George Pickens, #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers, catches a pass over Ronald Darby #28 of the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 8, 2023 in Pittsburgh. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Pickens caught five of the six passes that were thrown toward him, but the one pass he did not catch resulted in an interception.

After the Steelers failed to convert on a play in the red zone, Pickens was clearly frustrated as he put his head down as he stood in the yellow paint in the end zone. 

Cameras also showed Pickens having a possible heated exchange with some of his teammates on the Steelers sideline.

Fellow Steelers reciever Diontae Johnson said he tried to help Pickens “keep his head in the game.”

“He’s probably frustrated. My job is just to continue to tell him to keep his head in the game,” Johnson said after the 21-18 loss. “You never know when your opportunity is going to come, and you can’t let one bad play define you.

“So I’m always there for him, trying to keep his head in the game and keep his energy up, at the same time we need him. If your energy is down and the ball comes your way, you may not to be able to make a play. But he’ll be fine.”

George Pickens runs off field

George Pickens, #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers, in action during the first half of a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on Aug. 20, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)

Johnson also recently faced criticism for his apparent lack of effort during games. In the first quarter of Week 12, Pickett handed the ball off to Jaylin Warren. Warren fumbled the ball, and Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II recovered it. 

FROM OUTKICK: NFL QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL CONTINUES SPINNING WITH ZACH WILSON, JOE FLACCO, JOSH DOBBS, TREVOR LAWRENCE AFFECTED

NFL fans watching the Steelers-Bengals game quickly noticed that Johnson did not block on the run and acted nonchalant as Turner recovered the fumble.

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The Steelers’ playoff hopes took a significant hit on Thursday, as the team has now dropped back-to-back games. Pittsburgh will try and get back in the win column in Week 15, when they play the surging Colts in a special slate of Saturday games.

Missouri head coach ‘bothered’ by CFP committee citing Jordan Travis’ injury in playoff decision

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Add Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz to the list of people around college football who were bothered by Florida State being left out of the College Football Playoff. 

The Seminoles were selected behind Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama on Sunday, missing out on the CFP despite going 13-0 and winning the ACC title. 

Florida State players pose after defeating Louisville in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

The snub set off a title wave of criticism from people around the sport, as an undefeated Power 5 conference champion has never missed out on the playoffs. 

ROB GRONKOWSKI EXPLAINS WHY CFP LEAVING OUT FLORIDA STATE WAS ‘RIGHT MOVE’ BY SELECTION COMMITTEE

The committee cited the season-ending injury to Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis as the reason why the Seminoles were not one of the four best teams at the end of the season, despite Mike Norvell’s team defeating in-state rival Florida and then 10-win Louisville in the ACC Championship Game with backup quarterbacks.

“Florida State is a different team without Jordan Travis,” CFP selection committee chair Boo Corrigan said. “One of the things we do consider is player availability, and our job is to rank the best teams, and in the final decision looking at that, it was Alabama at 4 and Florida State at 5.”

Drinkwitz discussed the CFP selection committee’s decision to leave out Florida State due to the injury to Travis.

“If we’re going to really have hard conversations, let me ask you this – If a team in the playoff has a star player injured, are they going to be removed from the playoff, and then we put Florida State back in? That to me was complete nonsensical rationalization,” Drinkwitz said on SiriusXM College Sports Radio.

Eli Drinkwitz coaches against Arkansas

Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz on the sidelines during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Nov. 24, 2023 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 48-14. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“And I know I’m an SEC guy, but that one bothered me a whole lot. And to then to not factor in maybe a team having an unfair advantage in some of their games. It just seemed like to me, we were picking and choosing what lens we were going to look through.”

The Seminoles reacted harshly to the snub, with Norvell releasing a scathing statement on the CFP committee’s decision to leave them out.

“I am disgusted and infuriated with the committee’s decision today to have what was earned on the field taken away because a small group of people decided they knew better than the results of the game,” Norvell said.

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“What is the point of playing games? Do you tell players it is okay to quit if someone goes down? Do you not play a senior on Senior Day for fear of injury? Where is the motivation to schedule challenging non-conference games? We are not only an undefeated P5 conference champion, but we also played two P5 non-conference games away from home and won both of them.

Jordan Travis carted off

Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis, #13, waves to fans while being carted off after an injury against the North Alabama Lions during the first quarter at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. (Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports)

“I don’t understand how we are supposed to think this is an acceptable way to evaluate a team.”

Missouri will face Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. 

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

Millions of US adults have chronic fatigue syndrome, CDC reports

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  • A new CDC report estimates that the number of U.S. adults with chronic fatigue syndrome is approximately 3.3 million.
  • The CDC’s estimate is larger than previous studies, which health officials say is influenced by long COVID patients.
  • The cause is unknown, but research suggests a prolonged immune system reaction to infection.

Health officials on Friday released the first nationally representative estimate of how many U.S. adults have chronic fatigue syndrome: 3.3 million.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s number is larger than previous studies have suggested, and is likely boosted by some of the patients with long COVID. The condition clearly “is not a rare illness,” said the CDC’s Dr. Elizabeth Unger, one of the report’s co-authors.

Chronic fatigue is characterized by at least six months of severe exhaustion not helped by bed rest. Patients also report pain, brain fog and other symptoms that can get worse after exercise, work or other activity. There is no cure, and no blood test or scan to enable a quick diagnosis.

CDC’S COMMENTS ON TODAY’S PNEUMONIA OUTBREAKS VS. THE EARLY COVID CASES, AS COMPARED BY EXPERTS

Doctors have not been able to pin down a cause, although research suggests it is a body’s prolonged overreaction to an infection or other jolt to the immune system.

Nancy Rose, who contracted COVID-19 in 2021 and exhibits long-haul symptoms including brain fog and memory difficulties, pauses while organizing her desk space on Jan. 25, 2022, in Port Jefferson, N.Y. U.S. health officials estimate 3.3 million Americans have chronic fatigue syndrome — a bigger number than previous studies have suggested, and one likely boosted by patients with long COVID, according to results released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Dec. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

The condition rose to prominence nearly 40 years ago, when clusters of cases were reported in Incline Village, Nevada, and Lyndonville, New York. Some doctors dismissed it as psychosomatic and called it “yuppie flu.”

Some physicians still hold that opinion, experts and patients say.

Doctors “called me a hypochondriac and said it was just anxiety and depression,” said Hannah Powell, a 26-year-old Utah woman who went undiagnosed for five years.

COVID VACCINATION RATES ‘ALARMINGLY’ LOW AMONG NURSING HOME STAFF, CDC SAYS: ‘A REAL DANGER’

The new CDC report is based on a survey of 57,000 U.S. adults in 2021 and 2022. Participants were asked if a doctor or other health-care professional had ever told them they had myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome, and whether they still have it. About 1.3% said yes to both questions.

That translated to about 3.3 million U.S. adults, CDC officials said.

Among the other findings: The syndrome was more common in women than men, and in white people compared with some other racial and ethnic groups. Those findings are consistent with earlier, smaller studies.

However, the findings also contradicted long-held perceptions that chronic fatigue syndrome is a rich white woman’s disease.

There was less of a gap between women and men than some previous studies suggested, and there was hardly any difference between white and Black people. The study also found that a higher percentage of poor people said they had it than affluent people.

Those misperceptions may stem from the fact that patients who are diagnosed and treated “traditionally tend to have a little more access to health care, and maybe are a little more believed when they say they’re fatigued and continue to be fatigued and can’t go to work,” said Dr. Brayden Yellman, a specialist at the Bateman Horne Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The report relied on patients’ memories, without verifying their diagnoses through medical records.

That could lead to some overcounting, but experts believe only a fraction of the people with chronic fatigue syndrome are diagnosed, said Dr. Daniel Clauw, director of the University of Michigan’s Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center.

“It’s never, in the U.S., become a clinically popular diagnosis to give because there’s no drugs approved for it. There’s no treatment guidelines for it,” Clauw said

The tally likely includes some patients with long COVID who were suffering from prolonged exhaustion, CDC officials said.

Long COVID is broadly defined as chronic health problems weeks, months or years after an acute COVID-19 infection. Symptoms vary, but a subset of patients have the same problems seen in people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

COVID AND FLU VACCINE RATES ARE DECLINING FOR US HEALTH CARE WORKERS, CDC REPORTS: ‘DISTURBING TREND’

“We think it’s the same illness,” Yellman said. But long COVID is more widely accepted by doctors, and is being diagnosed much more quickly, he said.

Powell, one of Yellman’s patients, was a high school athlete who came down with an illness during a trip to Belize before senior year. Doctors thought it was malaria, and she seemed to recover. But she developed a persistent exhaustion, had trouble sleeping and had recurrent vomiting. She gradually had to stop playing sports, and had trouble doing schoolwork, she said.

After five years, she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and began to achieve some stability through regular infusions of fluids and medications. She graduated from the University of Utah and now works for an organization that helps domestic violence victims.

Getting care is still a struggle, she said.

“When I go to the ER or to another doctor’s visit, instead of saying I have chronic fatigue syndrome, I usually say I have long COVID,” Powell said. “And I am believed almost immediately.”

Video shows terrifying moments Las Vegas police evacuate building

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A video shows terrified people being directed to evacuate a University of Nevada, Las Vegas building as police responded to an active shooter on Wednesday.

Crowds of students ran for their lives after a gunman attacked the campus on Wednesday morning, killing three people and critically wounding a fourth. 

Police later identified the gunman as 67-year-old Anthony James Polito, a resident of nearby Henderson, Nevada. Authorities say Polito had applied for several jobs at various colleges and universities in Nevada but was rejected each time. 

Polito was killed by police during a shootout Wednesday. 

LAS VEGAS POLICE IDENTIFY SUSPECT, VICTIMS, IN UNLV SHOOTING THAT LEFT 3 DEAD AND ONE INJURED

Sheriff Kevin McMahill said during a press conference on Thursday, they identified the suspect as Anthony James Polito, 67. McMahill said that Polito was a resident of nearby Henderson, Nevada, and applied “numerous” times for jobs with several higher education institutions in Nevada, and was denied each time. (Las Vegas Metro Police Department)

Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters Thursday that Polito had a list of targets at the school and more than 150 rounds of ammunition. The list included faculty at his former place of employment in Eastern Carolina University in North Carolina.

“None of the individuals on the target list became a victim,” McMahill said, adding that police have contacted everyone on the suspect’s list, except for one person who is on a flight.

Polito also mailed 22 letters to various university employees across the country with no return address, one of which had a white powdery substance inside, McMahill said.

When Polito’s home was searched after the shooting, detectives found a chair with a downward-pointing arrow to a document similar to a will and testament. Authorities also said Polito appeared to be struggling financially, as detectives found an eviction notice taped to the door of his apartment. 

‘ACTIVE SHOOTER’ AT UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS WITH ‘MULTIPLE VICTIMS;’ SUSPECT DEAD

Police respond to the active shooter situation at UNLV

Law enforcement officers head into the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus after reports of an active shooter on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Investigators have not yet announced a motive in the shooting.

Terrified students and professors cowered in classrooms and offices as the gunman roamed the top three floors of UNLV’s five-story Lee Business School around lunchtime Wednesday.

The horror began about 15 minutes after Polito arrived at UNLV in a 2007 Lexus at around 11:30 a.m., McMahill said. Police received the first reports of an active shooting at 11:45 a.m.

Everything happened in about 10 minutes. Polito made his way through the building and killed three people: Patricia Navarro, an assistant professor at UNLV’s accounting department; Cha Jan Chang, a professor at the university’s business school; and a third unidentified victim. A fourth victim was injured and is in life-threatening condition, McMahill said. 

UNLV SHOOTING SUSPECT WAS PROFESSOR WHO HAD APPLIED FOR JOB: AP SOURCE

Patricia Navarro smiling

Patricia Navarro, an assistant professor at UNLV’s accounting department, was killed in the incident, officials said. (UNLV)

Police stopped the attack at around 11:55 a.m., when two police detectives confronted Polito outside the building as he left the business school. The detectives fired their weapons at the alleged shooter, leaving the suspect dead. 

Officials said that Polito used a Taurus 9mm handgun, purchased legally in 2022, adding that 11 magazines were with the individual when he came to campus.

Cha Jan Chang in a professional picture

Cha Jan Chang, a professor at the university’s business school, was also killed. (UNLV)

UNLV is home to some 30,000 students. The sheriff said students had been gathered outside the building and in the student union to eat and play games during the attack. If police had not intervened and stopped the attacker, “it could have been countless additional lives taken,” McMahill said. 

It is unclear how long Polito has resided in the Las Vegas area. A statement from East Carolina University said he had resigned as a tenured professor there, The Associated Press reported.

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Paul Whittington, one of Polito’s former students, told The Associated Press in an interview that that Polito seemed obsessed with anonymous student reviews left at the end of each semester.

He said that Polito told the class that he remembered the faces of students who gave him bad reviews and would express that he was sure who they were and where they sat, pointing at seats in the classroom. 

“He always talked about the negative feedback he got,” Whittington said, recalling his time in Polito’s intro to operations management class in 2014. “He didn’t get a lot of it, but there would always be one student every semester, or at least one student every class, that would give a negative review. And he fixated on those.”

Fox News Digital’s Adam Sabes and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

How the Apple Watch could rescue your next restaurant bill

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Though many features of the Apple Watch have already been shared since it first launched, here’s an extra tip that might help every time you dine out.

Most diners will agree that one of the most stressful parts of dining out, especially in larger groups, is figuring out the proper tip and splitting the bill fairly at the end of a meal. 

Your Apple Watch, however, can easily and discreetly turn you into an impartial hero right at the dinner table.

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Apple Watch 1

Apple Watch with tip button in calculator app highlighted in red. (Apple )

MORE: 7 LUCKY PEOPLE PROVE APPLE WATCH CAN SAVE LIVES

How to calculate a tip on an Apple Watch

A friend’s grandmother coined the phrase I often employ upon encountering a moment when others get stingy when the bill hits the restaurant table: “Cheap is not sexy.” While tipping etiquette has been hotly debated over the past few years, using the Apple Watch to calculate a tip will ease the process, regardless of your tipping philosophy.

For an Apple Watch running watchOS 10:

  • Open the calculator app on your Apple Watch
  • Enter the total amount of the bill before the tip. As an example, let’s say it’s $40
  • Press the ‘Tip’ button, and it will automatically calculate a 20% tip, which is $8 in this case
  • Don’t feel like tipping 20%? Want to tip more or less? You can adjust the tip percentage from 1%-100% by simply turning the digital crown to the desired percentage
  • You will both get the amount you want to tip and the bill total, including the tip, which in this example is $48, so you can easily jot it down on your receipt

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU TIP? AMERICANS SOUND OFF AS TIPPING CULTURE CONTINUES TO EXPAND

apple watch 2

Steps for calculating a tip on Apple Watch. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: IS TECHNOLOGY MAKING YOU OVERTIP?

How to calculate the tip & split the bill on an Apple Watch

If the stress of figuring out the tip at the end of the meal isn’t enough, there is another layer of stress if you then need to split the bill. With an Apple Watch, however, you can both calculate the tip and split the bill evenly with ease.

For an Apple Watch running watchOS 10:

  • Open the calculator app on your Apple Watch.
  • Enter the total amount of the bill before the tip. As an example, let’s say it’s $125.43
  • Press the ‘Tip’ button, and it will automatically calculate a 20% tip. In this case, this tip is $25.09
  • If you want to adjust the default 20% tip, you can adjust the percentage from 1%-100% by simply turning the digital crown to the desired percentage
  • Press ‘People’ and use the digital crown to adjust the number of people you need to split the bill equally with. In this case, let’s say it’s four people
  • Directly under the total amount of the bill (in smaller font), it will give you the amount each person should pay. So, in this example, each person would pay $37.63
apple watch 3

Steps to calculate the tip and split the bill on an Apple Watch. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

While not available in all regions, and no one can guarantee that your dining partners will want to split the bill evenly, this trick on the Apple Watch can make the process faster and easier.

AMERICANS ARE GETTING TIRED OF TIPPING, SURVEY SHOWS. HERE’S WHY

APPLE watch 4

Apple Watch with digital crown being turned on. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson )

MORE: APPLE WATCH SERIES 9 VS. ULTRA 2: WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU BUY?

Kurt’s key takeaways

The Apple Watch continues to provide new and easy ways to handle life’s most important as well as sometimes stressful tasks. With a couple of taps, you can easily calculate the tip and split a bill discreetly.

How do you decide how much to tip when you dine out? Do you follow a standard percentage, or do you adjust it based on the service or other factors? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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