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55x casino WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - In the early days of 2013, an American man, dressed in ragged clothing, dodged between houses in the streets of Damascus’ upscale Mazzeh neighborhood looking for a civilian to take him to safety after more than five months of captivity in the concrete cells of a local prison. The man, journalist Austin Tice, was taken captive during a reporting trip to Syria in August 2012. A former Marine, he had managed to slip out of his cell, one current and three former U.S. officials and a person with knowledge of the event told Reuters. All were granted anonymity to speak freely about sensitive U.S. intelligence. Tice’s 2013 escape, reported here for the first time, was the first public sighting of the American after he disappeared, the officials said. Tice is now the focus of a massive manhunt following the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad this week after 13 years of civil war. Rebels, led by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have since released thousands of people from prisons in Damascus where Assad held political opponents, ordinary civilians and foreigners. The American has not yet been found. There are no credible hints of his whereabouts but also no clear evidence that he is dead, a U.S. official said. U.S. officials say that Tice's 2013 escape from prison, where he was believed to have been held by a pro-government militia, is the strongest evidence the U.S. government has to suggest that forces loyal to Assad held Tice. This has over the years allowed American officials to pressure the Assad government directly about the matter. The White House declined to comment for this story. The CIA, Office of the Director for National Intelligence and the FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. When Tice escaped, he was spotted by people living in the Mazzeh neighborhood, wandering the street. He entered the house of a well-known Syrian family, the name of which is being withheld for security reasons, a person familiar with the escape said. Tice was recaptured soon after his escape, one current and one former U.S. official said. U.S. officials believe it is likely that Tice was taken after his escape by forces who answered directly to Assad. One person with knowledge of the escape said Tice was potentially passed back and forth between several different government intelligence agencies in the following years. The administration of former President Barack Obama received another tip in 2016 that Tice had been taken to a hospital in Damascus to receive care for an unknown illness, in what would be his second known sighting, a U.S. official and a person familiar with the tip said. But current U.S. officials are not as confident in that report as they are in his 2013 escape. Over the years, Tice's family - which has led the charge in trying to find him - has spoken publicly of their frustration with the U.S. government, saying it has not prioritized Tice's release. They are now gathered in Washington in the hope they can soon celebrate his freedom. The family declined a request for comment. “We believe he’s alive. We think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence of that yet,” U.S. president Joe Biden said last Sunday, fueling optimism about Tice’s fate. Over the last 12 years, U.S. agencies, including the FBI, the State Department and the CIA, have gathered thousands of tips about Tice. Most are nearly impossible to verify. Tice, who worked as a freelance reporter for the Washington Post and McClatchy, was one of the first U.S. journalists to make it into Syria after the outbreak of the civil war. In August 2012, during fighting in Aleppo, he was taken captive. Weeks later, a YouTube video was published showing Tice blindfolded, hands tied behind his back. He was led up a hill by armed men in what appeared to be Afghan garb and shouting "God is great" in an apparent bid to blame Islamist rebels for his capture although the video only gained attention when it was posted on a Facebook page associated with Assad supporters. Tice can be heard reciting a prayer, in Arabic, before saying in English: "Oh Jesus, oh Jesus." There are varying accounts of what happened to Tice in 2012, including who initially took him and where he was moved. Other journalists were taken captive around the same time. But as time passed and other reporters were freed, details about Tice remained scarce. The Obama administration had obtained intelligence that he was either in the hands of an extremist rebel faction or the Syrian government, two of the former officials said. But it had no way of verifying the information. Over the past decade, some U.S. officials and press advocates have lost faith in the assessment that Tice is alive in part because there has been no new, credible evidence to confirm his status. Others have maintained a sense of optimism, including some in the incoming Trump administration. In 2019, Trump administration officials, including Kash Patel, then a U.S. presidential aide and counterterrorism adviser, and Roger Carstens, special envoy for hostage affairs, traveled to Damascus to meet with Syrian officials about Tice. Current and former U.S. officials said the Syrian government refused to offer proof of life and demanded the U.S. reverse its Syria policy and withdraw U.S. troops from the country in return for opening negotiations about Tice. The Biden administration has maintained contact with the Syrian government since then, but Assad's officials were unwilling to negotiate until the U.S. agreed to their demands. On Dec. 6, Austin Tice's mother Deborah and her family told a press conference that a U.S. government-vetted source had recently confirmed that Tice was alive and was being treated well. “He is being cared for, and he is well,” Deborah Tice said. But in the hours after the conference, U.S. officials working on Tice’s case said they did not have any new information and that they were caught off guard by his mother's statements. This week, Carstens traveled to Beirut to coordinate the search for Tice. Other officials are also in the region, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Barbara Leaf, the head of the State Department’s Near East bureau. “We’re determined to find him and bring him home to his family and loved ones,” Blinken told reporters Thursday. Almost a week after Assad’s ouster, some U.S. officials fear that Tice could have been killed during a recent round of Israeli airstrikes. Officials are also concerned that if Tice was being held underground in a cell, he may have run out of breathable air as Assad's forces shut off the electricity in many of the prisons in Damascus before the president fled. This week, reports emerged that an American man had been seen in Damascus, raising hopes that Tice had been freed. But it wasn’t Tice. On Thursday, news broke that Missouri resident Travis Timmerman had been found after having been freed from prison by the rebels. Timmerman said he had traveled into Syria for a spiritual mission earlier this year and was arrested for entering the country illegally. Sign up here. Reporting by Erin Banco in New York and Jonathan Landay in Washington; Editing by Don Durfee, Heather Timmons and Alistair Bell Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

At the invitation of JD Vance, Daniel Penny will join the vice president-elect and Donald Trump at Saturday’s Army-Navy football game in Maryland. Penny, the 24-year-old Marine veteran who was found not guilty this week in the choking death of Jordan Neely, is seen by many as a hero for the courage he showed to protect a subway full of civilians from Neely, who apparently had serious mental problems and was threatening to kill someone. Vance said of Penny via Xwitter Friday: “Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone.” Vance is referring to District Attorney Alvin Bragg whose abuse of office is like nothing we’ve seen since the Democrat party instituted Jim Crow in the South. Vance added, “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.” In addition to Trump and Vance, according to various news reports, Penny will join Elon Musk, Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), and U.S. Senator-elect David McCormick (R-PA) in Trump’s suite at the stadium. What Trump and Vance are doing here is not only an act of decency towards a man abused and persecuted by his own government, but as we have seen Trump do for over a decade now, he is once again showing a canny instinct for where the culture is and then leading the way. Trump did this with the border. He did this with law and order. He did this with the NFL kneeling nonsense. He did this with the trans nonsense. He did this by not hiding his wealth (the way Mitt Romney did). The corporate media always try to make common sense into a third-rail issue. Don’t embrace this, they say . Don’t criticize that. And Trump not only embraces this third rail, but he reverses the polarity and burns the media and Democrats because he understands the culture better and cannot be emotionally blackmailed or bullied into backing off. Pre-Trump, Daniel Penny, even after his acquittal, would still be made radioactive by the media smearing him as a racist. Trump and Vance simply refuse to go along with this nonsense. They see Penny as a selfless hero who risked his own safety for others. His payback? A villain named Alvin Bragg turned a hero into a political piñata. Few people understand what that’s like more than Trump, and with the corporate media influence dying and Trump now the biggest cultural influencer on the planet, he’s sticking his finger in the media’s eye, in Bragg’s eye, and the left’s eye with this righteous gesture. This is one more sign that the regime media’s ability to influence, bully, and intimidate the behavior of our politicians is over. Trump is showing the way and it is truly liberating. FREE-FREE-FREE for the holidays: an autographed bookplate if you purchase John Nolte’s first and last novel, BORROWED TIME, between now and December 20. After you’ve made the purchase, email your request to JJMNOLTE at HOTMAIL dot COM with an address and any personalization requests. For example, something like; “To Rachel Levine: The sexiest man alive.” Borrowed Time , is winning five-star raves from everyday readers. You can read an excerpt here and an in-depth review here . Also available in hardcover and on Kindle and Audiobook ."The View" co-host Ana Navarro took shots at President-elect Donald Trump being on the cover of Time Magazine and named the publication’s "Person of The Year." "The View" co-host Ana Navarro took shots at President-elect Donald Trump being on the cover of Time magazine as the publication’s " Person of The Year ," noting historic villains had received the recognitionas well. The anti-Trump commentator said the title isn’t necessarily an honor considering that former Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and other notorious figures have been on the cover. "It's not always been great people that have been on the cover of Time, right? It’s been people like Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler and [Nikita] Khrushchev and [Ayatollah] Khomeini, so he's in that kind of company, as well," she snarked. Navarro’s digs came after Trump was named Time’s "Person of The Year" on Thursday, a title the long-running magazine has bestowed on the winner of that year's presidential election in every race since George W. Bush in 2000. Trump was also named Person of the Year in 2016 when he first won the White House. INCOMING TRUMP PRESS SECRETARY PROMISES MORE PRESS ACCESS, SLAMS BIDEN'S ‘DERELICTION OF DUTY’ "The View" co-host Ana Navarro trashed President-elect Trump's Time Magazine cover, saying Hitler, Stalin, and other evil men of history have been on it. The publication noted Trump's political comeback and realignment of the electoral map with his win over Kamala Harris, saying, "Trump is once again at the center of the world, and in as strong a position as he has ever been." Navarro ridiculed Trump for reportedly having a fake Time cover featuring himself displayed in several of his clubs. The fake covers, which The Washington Post reported that Trump had prior to starting his political career, featured a main coverline praising his reality TV success with "The Apprentice." CLICK HERE FOR MORE NEWS ABOUT MEDIA AND CULTURE President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a reception at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) after being named Time’s "Person of the Year" for the second time on December 12, 2024 in New York City. Trump followed the event by ringing the opening bell on the trading floor. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) "At least this is a real Time mag cover, because you remember he used to keep a fake Time Magazine cover – that he used to keep in his country clubs," she said. Navarro brought up the infamous authoritarian leaders that had been on Time covers at one point or another. Hitler was named "Person of The Year" in 1938, former Soviet Union dictator Joseph Stalin received the title in 1939, and the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, did in 1979. Yet other recent Persons of the Year include former President Barack Obama (2008 and 2012), Pope Francis (2013) and pop star Taylor Swift last year. The Washington Post's Philip Bump said Trump's designation this year had an asterisk because it was expected the president-elect would get it. "One appeal of giving the award to the winner of the presidential election is that you have tens of millions of people who just expressed their support for this person with their votes — tens of millions of people who might be willing to shell out a few bucks for a commemoration of their and his success," he wrote. President-elect Donald Trump has been named Time Person of the Year for a second time. (Peter Kramer/NBC via Getty Images) Fox News Digital’s David Rutz contributed to this report. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Gabriel Hays is an associate editor for Fox News Digital.

Former information minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has likened the current political climate to a "stock exchange of politics", where uncertainty looms large. Speaking to the media outside an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, Rashid said he was sceptical about the ongoing negotiations between the government and the opposition. "The nation hopes for fruitful talks, but it seems unlikely that this will lead to a resolution." "If a judicial commission is not formed and political detainees are not released, internatioanal pressure on Pakistan will increase." He added that the public was disillusioned and sought the government's ouster. Commenting on the dire socio-economic situation, Rashid lamented, "Today, prisons are overcrowded, and the poor are being crushed under the burden of this government, which lacks any solid footing". He urged the government not to turn the negotiations into a farce. He called for a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9 and November 26, which he believes would alleviate global scrutiny. "I still call for a general amnesty," Rashid asserted, adding that the government was already struggling under international pressure and further economic collapse seemed imminent. Referring to his personal legal battles, he said, "There are so many cases filed against me that I've grown tired of them". "I have a connection with just one individual, and I'm trying to uphold that relationship," he said in an apparent reference to PTI founding chairman Imran Khan. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourOfficers from the Metropolitan Police were called at 8.17pm on November 22 with reports of an incident in Oxlow Lane. At the scene, a member of staff was found having been injured. The staff member was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Two 16-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm, with one needing hospital treatment. They were then both taken to a police station and have since been released with no further action. A Met Police spokesperson said: "Police were called at 20:17hrs on Friday, 22 November to reports of a staff member being attacked a commercial premises in Oxlow Lane, Dagenham. "Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended. "The victim was taken to hospital with non life-threating injuries. READ MORE: Police in Barking given extra powers to tackle anti-social behaviour "Two boys aged 16 were arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm. One was taken to hospital for non life-threatening injuries. "They were then both taken to an east London police station and were subsequently released with no further action." The London Ambulance Service has been contacted for a comment.

In May 2021, Andrew Pettit and I took on what would prove to be one of the hardest challenges of our lives when we bought our home-town club, Grimsby Town. The difficulty wasn't just in turning the club around, it was in grappling with an economic system that simply doesn't work. Most importantly, and unlike the business world we come from, the stakeholders are not abstracted customers but our family, friends and the wider community of which we are part. Football isn't just a game, it offers a sense of history, rootedness and connection far beyond what happens for 90 minutes on any given Saturday. It's a crucible for human stories, a reflection of society and an arena where ambition, frustration, identity and community collide. This sense of identity is not only shaped by who we are but by what we oppose. Opposition, in sport and in life, can provide clarity and purpose, but the way in which we engage with those we oppose defines us. Holding different views or challenging authority is essential for progress in our politics as well. When opposition descends into "othering", it diminishes everyone. It's not just harmful to those we target but it erodes our own humanity. This perspective is what led to me buying into the club and helping with the other community projects in our town and it has now influenced my decision to venture into politics. Over the past decade, the divisiveness of political debate has disturbed and frustrated me. The ability to build a better future depends on how well we can come together, even when we disagree. Football and politics share a profound paradox because they demand results in the present while striving for transformation in the future. In football, this tension shapes how we approach every match and decision. Success and failure are often found in those small pauses in our breath that deliver the joy of promotion, the agony of relegation, the ecstasy of a last-minute winner. But when we inhale deeply, we feel the whole history... Jason Stockwood

Speaker decides to step down

The Vegas Golden Knights go head-to-head with the Montreal Canadiens for the first time this seasonThe Memphis Tigers made two technical free throws in the final minute of their overtime victory over UConn Huskies. The Memphis Tigers won the game by, well, two points in a 99-97 final. But UConn head coach Dan Hurley doesn't believe his technical foul cost his team the game. "I think it was the s--ty calls," he said, per Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. "I would expect to come to play in an event, and I don't know too many back-to-back national championship teams that get that type of a whistle." He also said he believes the technical was issued because he fell to the ground protesting an over-the-back call on an offensive rebound, adding "what I gave the cameras today was Oppenheimer" when discussing how he comes across on camera. "That was a joke," Hurley said of the technical, per Brendan Marks of The Athletic. "I mean, I just watched it ... I had a lot of issues with what went on in the game ... For that call to be made at that point in the game is a complete joke." He didn't stop there when complaining about the whistle: This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .

Germany's Merkel recalls Putin's 'power games' and contrasting US presidents in her memoirss the college football season reaches its thrilling conclusion, the Trophy debate has become a hot topic, with dominating the conversation. star , never one to shy away from controversy, has now added his voice to the mix. Parsons, fresh off helping his team secure a much-needed 34-26 victory over the Washington , took to social media to deliver his fiery take. The Cowboys' defensive leader didn't mince words, claiming, "We shouldn't even be discussing the Heisman!!! is the Heisman winner!!" The statement raised eyebrows, not only because of its boldness but also because Hunter remains the favorite for the prestigious award, boasting impressive odds of -400 compared to Jeanty's +400. Still, ' declaration has sparked a heated debate among fans and analysts alike. The ' win on Sunday was a pivotal moment in their season, snapping a five-game losing streak and temporarily silencing speculation about tanking for better draft prospects. Despite Parsons' insistence that Dallas wouldn't throw games for draft capital, questions linger about the team's future moves. With early mock drafts suggesting Jeanty could be a realistic pick for the , Parsons' endorsement carries added weight. The Boise State running back has shown tremendous promise and would fill a significant need for Dallas. However, Hunter's unique two-way abilities as both a cornerback and receiver could make him an irresistible option for any team drafting higher. Will Dallas embrace the tank? The ' draft strategy remains uncertain. If their Thanksgiving clash against the New York Giants results in another win, it could take them out of the running for top-tier prospects like Hunter. On the other hand, a poor finish to the season might position them to land the star, whose versatility has been lauded as a once-in-a-generation talent. As the NFL season pushes toward its postseason and college football nears its climactic awards ceremony, all eyes will be on how these narratives unfold. For now, Micah Parsons' passionate endorsement has ensured that Jeanty remains in the spotlight-and perhaps on the Cowboys' radar come draft day.

Vikings staying on track and in control behind Sam Darnold's composure and confidence

American Airlines is boarding flights again after the FAA lifted its nationwide groundstopBreakthrough T1D Play has raised $5M for diabetes researchSupreme Court will take up a challenge related to California's tough vehicle emissions standards WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will take up a business-backed appeal that could make it easier to challenge federal regulations, acting in a dispute related to California’s nation-leading standards for vehicle emissions. The justices agreed Friday to hear an appeal filed by fuel producers who object to a waiver granted to California in 2022 by the Environmental Protection Agency during Joe Biden’s presidency. The waiver allows California to set more stringent emissions limits than the national standard. The case won’t be argued until the spring, when the Trump administration is certain to take a more industry-friendly approach to the issue. Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship' A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and best avoid an artificial intelligence ‘dictatorship’ is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing conversion into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. OpenAI is filing its response Friday. OpenAI's Altman will donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. China signals it's prepared to double down on support for the economy as Trump tariffs loom BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese leaders met this week to plot economic policy for the coming year and sketched out plans to raise government spending and relax Beijing's monetary policy. Analysts said the broad-brush plans from the annual Central Economic Work Conference were more of a recap of current policy than ambitious new initiatives at a time when the outlook is clouded by the President-elect Donald Trump's threats to sharply raise tariffs once he takes office. The ruling Communist Party did commit to raising China's deficit and to doing more to encourage consumer spending by bringing wage increases in line with the pace of economic growth. Here's a look at China's main priorities and their potential implications. Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed after a bumpy week Stock indexes closed mixed on Wall Street at the end of a rare bumpy week. The S&P 500 ended little changed Friday. The benchmark index reached its latest in a string of records a week ago. It lost ground for the week following three weeks of gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%. The Nasdaq composite edged up 0.1%. Broadcom surged after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged after raising its revenue forecast. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. Next Week: Retail sales, Fed policy update, existing home sales The Commerce Department releases its monthly snapshot of U.S. retail sales Tuesday. Federal Reserve officials wrap up a two-day meeting and issue an interest rate policy update Wednesday. The National Association of Realtors issues its latest update on U.S. home sales Thursday.

ANGLETON Students at Angleton High School lined up in the hallways to cheer the football team Friday as they left for the Class 5A, Division 1 state semifinals against the Smithson Valley Rangers. The last time Angleton High School went to the state semifinals was in 2017. The marching band led the way from the gymnasium to the auditorium with the drill team and cheerleaders behind. The football team followed with their equipment bags in tow, greeting friends and teachers as they walked. “My dad was a high school football coach,” social studies teacher Monica Kotrla said. “I don’t think a lot of people realize how much they’re away from their own kids.” The coaches and players have worked hard on their journey to the state tournament with support from their families, friends and community. “It’s times like this where I’m reminded we still are a small community, and they still care about our kids,” Kotrla said. Every teacher knows at least one player and is excited for all the students — on the team or not — to experience the celebrations. It’s a representation of Angleton High School’s Purple Pride. “To see the young men, who I’ve had as freshmen, and now they’re juniors and seniors, it’s just overwhelming because you think — are they gonna do it? They’re gonna do it,” freshman world geography teacher Sandra O’Bryan said. O’Bryan is glad the community has continued to show support for everyone involved with the football team, including the band, drill team, cheerleaders and students. “I just feel like Angleton is so hyped for this football game,” sophomore Angelina Pham said. “The community’s just come together and supporting this football team along the way.” The energy filled the high school as students and staff rallied behind the team as they prepared for Saturday’s game at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium in Waco. The experience has been amazing in how it’s brought everyone together to bring out the spirit of Angleton’s Purple Pride, senior Cirena Rackley said. “It’s really fun because you see everyone coming together like that, that you don’t normally see,” she said. The broader Angleton community had the players and coaches for their own rally at Gulf of Coast Auto, filling every available space to be able to join the sendoff. Those in attendance created a sea of purple, including under a tent where a group of loved ones sold Wildcat merchandise to all who wanted it. “Let’s Go Wildcats,” said Shelle Petteway. “Round five. Eat them up ’Cats.” She and her group were rooting for Maurice Hightower in particular. The shouts of celebration and encouragement were soon drowned out by the head of the procession, led by Angleton Volunteer Fire Department Ladder 1. Full lights and sirens lit the way as Engine 2 followed, eliciting giggles as one of the firefighters, dressed as The Grinch, hung out the window to wave. Someone let off their confetti cannons, leading to a chain reaction from everyone else who had brought one. The smell of burned powder temporarily overpowered the smell of Kenjo’s BBQ from the food truck parked nearby. Next to Kenjo’s stood Shalonda Jackson Grear and her family, all dressed in supporting colors, with the youngest holding a handful of purple balloons. As a parent who attends all the football sendoffs and celebrations, she was all smiles as she talked about how excited she was for the game. “I’m No. 58’s mom, Kawarren Scott; best friend, Brynden Mack, No. 13,” Grear said. “I just want to send them a big shout out and tell them good luck, and we’re gonna leave here with it and come back with it and wait for them to go to Dallas.” Three Angleton EMS vehicles later and the main event drove past. The Angleton Wildcats cruised though in two charter buses with blacked-out windows. For many of the players, it would be the last time they would see their friends and families until after the big game. Many had brought posters, wanting to make sure their support was known even when their voices wouldn’t be enough. One group of girls chaperoned by a supportive mom had put effort into glittering their posters supporting their favorite players. They, like much of their student body, are invested in the game. They’re especially excited following the plays that managed to save Angleton from what looked like losses and turn them into the biggest wins of the season. “These past two games, especially the last game, we were really bad,” Keira Cook said. “So when we did get that win, it was just really exciting. Seeing that win was impossible, it was amazing.” She and her friends, including Faith Villareal, had watched the game together. Villareal never lost hope, she said. “I mean, me personally, I’m an all-time Angleton Wildcat,” Villareal said. “So me in the stands, I mean, yeah, I did have a little think, like, ‘man, we’re gonna win? We’re against the refs and the football players.’ But, at the same time, she’s over here next to me saying ‘we’re gonna lose, we’re gonna lose’ and I was like, ‘No, we got this, We are gonna win.’” “I was scared we weren’t gonna be able to beat the refs, just because it was bad call after bad call, so I was scared,” Cook said. “I knew our boys were gonna pull through and we were gonna win, and I have the same expectations for tomorrow,” Villareal said. Multiple police and constable police vehicles, lights flashing, completed the parade. “I’m just so proud of the kids, how hard they’re working, how much they’re willing to sacrifice to put Angleton on the map,” said Shelby De Los Santos, who teaches U.S. history and is the junior varsity cheer sponsor. “The whole mood is just fun. The pride is unreal.” As an Angleton alumni, the whole experience has been exciting, she said. De Los Santos will be leaving around 7 a.m. Saturday to head to Waco and cheer the Wildcats. “It’s been such an incredible milestone not only for the football team but, when I look at all the students and the parents that are moving behind them, so far, it’s been a journey for everyone,” Principal Anthony Smedley said. When the Angleton football went to the semifinals in 2017, Smedley was the assistant principal. “It’s good to see it happen again,” he said. “We want to celebrate all together, not only the school but the entire community.” Those who can’t make it to Waco but still want to see the game can do so under the covered service area at the Gulf Coast Auto Park, 3000 Highway 288 in Angleton. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m.