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U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway speaks at the unavailing of his portrait.

U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway speaks at the unavailing of his portrait.

U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway speaks at the unavailing of his portrait.

U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway speaks at the unavailing of his portrait.

Do a job worthy of the peoples trust in you.

Reacting to the news of Mike Conaways decision to retire from Congress, a Texas Tribune reporter wrote, His retirement is a major blow to the state's clout within the Republican conference.

Conaway leaves Washington as the ranking member and former chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and had served as chair of House Ethics Committee. The same Tribune reported noted that Conaways decision was somewhat of a surprise to some delegation insiders; Conaway was on track to take GOP leadership of the House Intelligence Committee in the coming years.

But in July, Conaway said it was time to go. He leaves after winning his first election in 2005; the district was drawn up after then-Speaker of the Texas House Tom Craddick insisted on a district where Midland-Odessa would be a main population area.

His goal in representing the nearly 30 counties of District 11 was to do a job worthy of the peoples trust in you.

For years, many Conaway detractors seemed focused on the Troubled Asset ReliefProgram vote from 2008, which he said was the vote he lost the most sleep over. The CPA said in retrospect, it was one of those few, few times where I had to vote my conscience and vote my own experience and my own understanding of the circumstances versus what I was being encouraged to do from back home. He said that money spent on TARP has been earned back by and collected by the Fed.

If the TARP vote really impacted constituents faith in their representative, it was hard to tell. He never received less than 70.36 percent of the vote in a Republican primary after the 2008 vote and never less than 78.64 percent of the vote in a general election.

Conaway more recently earned distinction for his work as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee including passage of the 2018 Farm Bill -- and as the person who led the House investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. Conaway said he is proud that his committee was the first to finish and that not one of our conclusions was refuted by any of that other work that was done.

There will be much to unpack from Conaways time in Washington. He said this week he is confident that San Angelo Republican August Pfluger has the ability to represent the district well.

As for the immediate future, he and Suzanne will spend time in Seacrest Beach, Florida where they have a home and then return to Midland.

He said that somehow his resume showed up down here and I'm getting offers to drive a Coca-Cola truck route or be a security guy at the mall. So, I've got a bright future.

The following is a question-and-answer between Stewart Doreen of the Midland Reporter-Telegram and Mike Conaway.

MRT: What was your welcome-to-Congress moment?

CONAWAY: Suzanne and I had flown up for the swearing-in like theyre doing right now. And we get off the plane there in D.C. and there's a young Marine lieutenant standing there a Marine poster kid. And he says, Mr. Conaway, please come with me, and my wife looks at me, and shes got these big, wide eyes. He's a handsome little guy. And so, he marches us down from the gate to the terminal, we collect our bags, and then they escort us into downtown. And she actually said, How did he know who we are? Bob Ney, at the time, was chairman of the house Admin Committee, and he had worked out an arrangement with the Department of Defense to have each new member greeted at Reagan Airport like that. And so, I guess that was probably my first thought of, Wow, I may be in the big time after all.

MRT: What will you miss about serving in Congress?

CONAWAY: I just love the job. It's multifaceted, obviously, and it's hard to pick anything most, but my team that I've been able to put in place over all these 16 years, and it's been relatively stable. I've had some great people come and go. But these young men and women -- and they are young compared to me, I'm a little codger -- they are some of the finest that our nation has produced. They're loyal, they're dedicated, they're patriotic, super intelligent. And I've had them on my personal staff, the Ethics Committee staff and then, of course, the Ag Committee staff and, I think I will miss working with them day to day the most. Sue and I have been blessed with a really good family, and we've been able to add to that family over these 16 years with some young folks that we basically in our hearts adopted his family because they're just some of the best this country's ever produced, so I'll miss them. I'll miss town-hall meetings and working with constituents, being back in the district and making the rounds. I really missed that this past year because we didn't get to do nearly as much of that as I wanted to or that I normally certainly would have done. Then, its just doing the job. It's been a terrific run, and about half of me hates to see it come to a close and half that wants to make my wife happy.

MRT: What was your favorite perk of being a congressman?

CONAWAY: For the first probably 10 years, there was a parking lot at DCA (Reagan National Airport) that members of the House, the Senate and diplomats could use. It was right there by the door. You just drive right in, park and walk into the airport. And then they began this multi-year remodeling project for DCA, and they took all that away. That was probably the perk that was the best because you could just drive right in, get out and your car would be there when you came back the next week. I guess the day-to-day thing, was just being able to go through security without having to strip down and toss all your stuff in the bucket. That's a pretty good perk as well, just being able to go anywhere on campus that you wanted to go without having to go through security.

MRT: What was the one vote that created the most sleepless nights for you?

CONAWAY: The TARP vote is the only one that comes to mind, and I voted correctly on that. The one vote that I wish I had back was the Budget Control Act of 2011. But the TARP vote probably gave me the most trouble, because you know, the folks back in West Texas during that financial meltdown really weren't affected by it all that much. And I was getting this immense pressure to vote against it. And I've been in banking for six-plus years. And I knew the system was legitimately under immense pressure. The commercial paper market was about to collapse -- there were some really bad things happening -- and I knew in my heart that the right thing to do was to vote for it, but I was getting this pressure from back home to vote against it.

Voting for it was the right policy way to go, but it was one of those few, few times where I had to vote my conscience and vote my own experience and my own understanding of the circumstances versus what I was being encouraged to do from back home. I remember the first time we voted on it, I voted against it. And we all came home for a couple of days, and I got ticker-tape parades and people patting me on the back and all this kind of stuff. But I knew in my heart of hearts, that when it came back up, we would have changed it and fixed to the point where I was going to vote for it, so I was really torn that whole weekend back home. Everybody was bragging on me and all this kind of good stuff. But that's the one that gave me the most trouble from a Do what everybody's telling you to do or Did you do what you know is right. And in my heart, I know what I did was right. All that money that was spent on TARP has been earned back by and collected by the Fed. So net, it's been positive, but there are still a lot of folks who disagree with my analysis, most of whom didn't really have any deep understanding of banking, they just didn't want the federal government intruding like that. And I understand that, but, but like I said, I've been in banking long enough to know, this was a real deal and that I needed to support it.

MRT: Any regrets about what didn't get accomplished?

CONAWAY: Well, yeah, we didnt balance the budget the entire time I was there and no balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. There are lots of things out there that people talk about doing to our Constitution, but a balanced budget amendment is head and shoulders above anything else you could ever do. You made a brief reference to the increase in debt while I was there and the numbers speak for themselves, and I was a part of all those zillion decisions that got us to this point, but not being able to have better fiscal discipline to the system -- and that's just shared responsibility, no single member is going to be able to fix that deal. I mentioned that one vote that I do regret -- the Budget Control Act of 2011. (Former Republican Speaker of the House John) Boehner sold us the idea that this special committee could come up with enough cuts to mandatory spending to make it work and that it would be so terrible to institute sequestration, that we wouldn't do it that it would be the sword of Damocles that would make us get there, that would make us address mandatory spending, which is where the bulk of the problem lies. And it didn't work. The special committees ideas didn't pass, and so sequestration kicked in, and it did immense harm to the Department of Defense over those years and still has. Thats the one bill I've voted for that I wish I hadnt. It's interesting, most of the folks who cling to sequestration and budget caps and other things out that were around in 2011 voted against that bill. And it now they cling to it like the Holy Grail.

MRT: What's the one thing you're most proud of accomplishing during your time in Washington?

CONAWAY: To do the work in D.C., and it takes 217 friends -- plus the speaker has to be one of those friends -- and the 60 over in the Senate, the president and that kind of stuff. Getting stuff done in D.C. is a tall order, but back home, the work that has been done by my constituent service team in the six offices that we have, every day somebody's life in the district was made just a little less difficult by the great work my team was doing -- whether it's income taxes, IRS, Social Security or VA or INS or need a passport immediately, all those kind of things that people have to have happen, my guys just were exemplary at it. I'm most proud of that body of work that contributed in no small part -- to me getting to 75 and 80 percent of the vote every time. It was just the great work my team back home was doing. The work they've done over the past 16 years is what I'm proud of the most.

Legislatively, it would be of course the Farm Bill of 2018 as the biggest deal that I got to get done, but there was a crop insurance issue that I led the fight on in 2015, getting cotton back under the Farm Bill the way it should have been, that happened before the 2018 Farm Bill. I'm proud of the report that we got done on the Intelligence Committee on the Russia investigation. It doesnt get a lot of play these days, but if you go back and look at it, not one conclusion was refuted by any of the other folks out there. Yeah, I was a little worried about it when we did our first and it came out pretty darn quickly. In comparison, Mueller had unlimited money and 40-plus investigators, and the Senate's just now finishing up their work, so I was a little concerned that they might find something that we didn't or find something that we should have found that we didnt. And not one of our conclusions was refuted by any of that other work that was done. So, I'm really proud of what we get done on the on the Russia investigation report.

MRT: One of the defining characteristics of your time representing District 11 is that it would have been impossible for someone to state where you were from inside District 11 based on your representation in Washington. In fact, it can be argued that you had a greater impact on the agriculturally dependent parts of the district than Midland-Odessa. Describe what it meant for you to represent the entire region like District 11.

CONAWAY: Part of it is, I made a pact with myself that I would do two public events in every county in the district every year where people would have public access to me. And back when I had Mentone and Orla, we would go out there twice a year. There would be all 67 votes out there. We just made sure I went to every county, because you could look at the district, and if you're just a pure politician, say, OK, I need to spend all my time in Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, maybe Brownwood, and maybe Hood County or maybe Granbury. And I can ignore the rest of those folks, because they quite frankly can't sway the deal. The other thing that did I didn't want anybody to say is the only time Conaway ever shows up around here is when he's asking for the vote. That happens a lot. A lot about my colleagues they'll show up a month out from the primary, a month out from the general and that is the first time they had been back to that place in two years. I never wanted anybody to be able to say that. In my view, it was just part of doing the job. And then when I became chairman of Ag, I watched other Ag leaders be very parochial. I felt like as chairman of Ag, I represented all of it, not just cotton in West Texas, but all of it. And so, I worked really hard to make sure that I was going places I needed to go.

MRT: It was said that this district was created for Midland-Odessa, that the representative would be from Midland-Odessa. Did that create any pressure in any way for you?

CONAWAY: I didn't feel any. The pressure I felt would have happened no matter what and that was to do a good job. Do a job worthy of people's trust in you and worthy of that regardless whether a person lived in Midland-Odessa or Brownwood or wherever it was, but I didnt sense anything. There were some comments that (the district) was drawn for Mike Conaway, but that was just serendipitous. You know, Id just run in that special (election) to replace Larry Combest at exact same time the redistricting part was going on, and I just happened to be at the right spot at the right time. But you're right -- (Tom) Craddick said openly there will not be a new map unless there is a district that Midland-Odessa can be competitive in -- not that win it, but competitive. I benefited from that, but I had to be at the right spot at the right time.

MRT: Has conservatism changed from 2004 to today?

CONAWAY: I think so. It was more fiscal conservative in 2004-05 when I first got there. I remember we would agonize over $100 million here and there, and now, they're throwing $460 billion at this $2,000 check thing with hardly any analysis at all. And it's gonna go to folks who are totally, totally unaffected by COVID. And they're going to get four grand to the family. That would have never happened with Tom Delay out there. We simply would never have done that kind of a shotgun approach. He would have tailored it to the folks who lost their jobs and that are legitimately impacted by what's going on. Theres not a federal employee who has missed a paycheck, but those making less than ($75,000) are going to get a $2,000 bonus, and I'm not sure if that makes sense. Because it doesnt. The life issues are probably the most defining between conservative and not. That line is sharper today than it has been. I think we're more polarized now than we were when I first got there. Maybe it's just because, we know more about partial-birth abortions today than we did in 2004, at least I do. And all the heinous things that goes on around late-term abortion that some of my colleagues vehemently defend the violence in the womb. And so, yeah, I think it's different. It's morphed into a less, fiscally conservative than it was in 2005.

MRT: Which is made it more difficult to effectively represent District 11, cable news, talk radio or social media?

CONAWAY: Social media, hands down. You know, talk radio and cable news, they have a bit of a governor on them. I mean, you can't publish in your newspaper, something you know to be untrue or something that you've gotten that you have not tried to find the truth on. Well, social media has no governor, no filter and no restraint on it whatsoever. And so, you get these crazy conspiracy theories that pop up out of nowhere, and you start asking Wheres that come from and they say social media. Well, who is the knucklehead sitting in his mother's basement that pitched that conspiracy idea and does he have any credentials at all? I think social media is tougher. We are better today at finding those who are using divisive tools than ever, and I think social media is the most divisive tool we have.

MRT: What is the impact of Donald Trump on the Republican Party?

CONAWAY: Well, obviously, from the votes he got its positive because he got more votes than any Republican ever got and he's also broadened the tent. Like I said were probably not as fiscally concerned as we previously had been. You know it was disappointing that he really didn't want to take up Medicare or any of the big financial drivers that the leadership is going to have to come out of the White House to actually fix the mandatory spending problems that we have. And he didn't seem to be as concerned about that as Republican leaders in the past have been. I think hes had impact that will make it easier to spend money we don't have than maybe under previous presidents.

MRT: Why is August Pfluger the right person to lead District 11 into the future?

CONAWAY: Well, one, he out-worked anybody else in the field. I didn't endorse anybody, but I offered to help everyone of them, and August took me up on it. And he would say, Hey, who do I need to talk to in this county or this town and I gave him a list of names and would have given anybody a list of names. And I'd go back by there and somebody was like Hey, I just talked to August Pfluger or Hey, Im about to talk to August Pfluger. So, he outworked everybody else in the race by head and shoulders. And it showed because he won without a runoff. That work ethic that he demonstrated there looked similar to the work ethic that I tried to put in for 16 years, making the rounds and doing the job that was supposed to get done. Second off, he's a super smart guy. Hes got a good background in the military. And that's becoming less representative in Congress. So, it's good that to have a veteran -- I'm a veteran, he's a career veteran its good to have that perspective in Congress as well. And he's just good people a good, decent God-fearing man with a terrific family. And so, I've got really, really high hopes and expectations for him to surpass whatever it is I might have been able to do in these 16 years during his term.

MRT: What advice have you offered him about being the representative of an entire district?

CONAWAY: Well, that was it. That's it. The folks in Mason County, all 5,000 or 6,000 deserve your attention as much as the folks in Tom Green County. And they need to be able to see and talk to you and have the access as those in counties where you get most of your votes. Make sure you're making the rounds. And then, if I was on the phone with you right now -- based on my last walking off that floor Monday night after my final vote -- would be to just savor every single moment. Because nobody gets to go forever.

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Do a job worthy of the peoples trust in you. - Midland Reporter-Telegram

Never before has your home's style and functionality felt more important than in 2020. We've all become a lot more acquainted with our living spaces thanks to the pandemic, and many have undertaken remodeling projects as a result.

What will we be seeing more of in the new year? Zillow has put together a list of the top home trends for 2021, and on it you'll find everything from "Zoom rooms" to vacation-like amenities to a fancier place to cultivate that sourdough starter.

Intergenerational livingYoung adults and grandparents alike have found themselves moving back in with family for financial and health reasons, so new construction is progressing with that in mind.

According to Generations United, about one in six Americans currently live in multigenerational households, and this year, the share of young people moving back home reached all-time highs.

Katie Detwiler, chief experience officer at Pennsylvania home builder Berks Homes, says there are more requests than ever for a finished basement with a full bathroom, as well as bedroom additions.

Gourmet kitchensIf we've not all become successful amateur cooks this year, then at least we tried and learned what does and doesn't work in our current kitchens.

A previous Zillow survey finds 41 percent of people value a well-equipped kitchen more than before as a result of social distancing recommendations, and more people want the space to show off their new culinary skills in the next year.

"We've seen an increase in requests for gourmet kitchens," says Detwiler. "This includes bigger cabinets and island additions so homeowners have the space they need to cook their gourmet meals."

"Zoom rooms"Think of it as a home office: upgraded. A Zillow survey found that Americans working from home say they would consider a move for a dedicated office space, if they were to continue working remotely at least occasionally.

As of November, the number of listings mentioned "home office" or "Zoom room" increased by 48.5 percent compared to the same time last year. Berks Homes also says requests for an at-home study in lieu of existing living space more than doubled this year.

"Homecation" amenitiesWith lots of time and nowhere to go, homeowners are coming up with creative solutions to create vacation vibes right at home. "Pool" was the top Zillow keyword search term in 2020; "waterfront" and "dock" also landed in the top 10.

Additionally, homeowners may be looking for big and small ways to create a luxury experience at home, from upgrading to a spa-like bathtub or relaxing rain shower. Zillow research found listings that mentioned a free-standing tub typically sold for 5.5 percent more than expected, while the listing keyword "spa-inspired" contributed to a 1.8 percent price premium.

The rise of remote work will also allow more homeowners to turn their favorite vacation destination into their hometown. Page views of for-sale listings in areas typically considered vacation destinations such as Key West, the Jersey Shore, and Cape Cod are up nearly 50 percent compared to last year.

Backyard oasisA Zillow survey from the Harris Poll found that 41 percent of people say they value a large outdoor space more as a result of social distancing recommendations.

Homes mentioning "fire pit" in the listing sold for 2.8 percent more than similar homes, and "outdoor kitchen" sold for 4.5 percent more. Smart sprinkler systems and outdoor lighting are other features that add a contemporary flare to a backyard but also help your home sell up to 15 days faster than expected.

Smart and safe techIt's more vital than ever that our homes stay as germ-free as possible, and smart home technology has saved the day with products like touchless appliances, self-cleaning toilets, and bidets. And while a lot of these products are niche right now, Zillow predicts they will evolve to become the standard in home design.

"Our tech-driven appliances, solid surfaces, and smart fixtures have come to the rescue," says Kerrie Kelly, Zillow home design expert and founder of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab. "Features like voice-activated faucets, robotic vacuums, and electronic assistant-controlled lights have updated the traditional tasks of cooking and cleaning by incorporating thoughtful innovation into home products."

Smart home technology is becoming increasingly appealing to buyers. A Zillow analysis found that listings mentioning a smart light in their description sold seven days faster than expected, and listings mentioning a smart thermostat sold six days faster.

Pet-friendly livingThe flexibility of remote work gave many people the opportunity to be home all day, and in turn, made it easier to add a new best friend to their family. According to a Nielsen survey, 20 percent of respondents in July said they adopted one or more dogs or cats between March and June, up from less than 5 percent over the same time last year.

A 2020 Zillow analysis found for-sale listings mentioning a pet shower or dog wash in their listing description sold for 5.1 percent more than similar homes, while listings mentioning a fenced backyard in their description sold 6.8 days faster than expected.

More new constructionTraffic for new construction homes has increased significantly on Zillow, up 82 percent in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter a year ago, signaling an increasing number of shoppers interested in personalizing their home's features and living in a new, clean space.

A 2020 Zillow survey found more than a quarter of buyers who bought a new construction home did so to customize home features, while 37 percent chose new construction because everything in the home was new and never used.

More:
Home and design experts look ahead to what will be trendy in Dallas for 2021 - CultureMap Dallas

CD Projekt Red announced that it would release a free DLC update in "early 2021." Here are three simples features it needs to add.

CD Projekt Red announced thatCyberpunk 2077will receive a free DLC additionin "early 2021." The Polish developer didn't reveal anything other than the update's vague release window on December 29, but it might have a lot planned for the coming year. Cyberpunk 2077'sfree DLC's landing page stated that it "starts to hit Night City" in the first few months of 2021, which suggest the content will be a rolling series of updates, much like what was added toThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

CDPR had previously teased its plans for a complimentaryDLCpackbeforeCyberpunk 2077'scontroversial and buggyrelease on December 10. Since then the developer has focused on shipping a steady stream offixes to address the game's most flagrant hitches.Players who have already sunk tens, if not hundreds, of hours exploring Night City now have new features and improvements to look forward to, but what will Cyberpunk's free DLC include?

Related: What Cyberpunk 2077's Best Starting Area Is

CDPR hasn't unveiledwhat it's cooking up for the update just yet, but theinitial addition will likely be on the lighter side and won't change the overarching narrative of the title. The company is planninga premiumCyberpunk 2077 expansionfurther down the line that will take players "deeper into the world of Cyberpunk 2077, offering substantial, story-driven content." Don't expect a monumental facelift to Night City in early 2021, but there are still plenty of small changes CDPR canmake to improve its latest title's immersiveness and replayability.

For a world that's obsessed with cybernetic body modifications, it's ludicrous that players can't change theirCyberpunkcharacter's hairstyle and facial hair after the character creation menu. Ripperdocsseem like the perfect merchants to offer these styling services and they should also extend their expertise to makeup, eye-color, teeth, and most, if not all, of V's physical traits.

CDPRadded barbers intoThe Witcher 3as part of a free DLC update, so it's likely this feature will eventually make it intoCyberpunk 2077. If players can embed a Mantis Bladeinto V's arm, they should be able to change their in-game appearance whenever they want.

More:
Cyberpunk 2077 DLC: What CDPR Needs To Add First | Screen Rant - Screen Rant

Jared C. TiltonGetty Images

They said it couldnt be done back in April.

In the midst of the COVID-19 shutdown, NASCAR officials were deep in the complicated work of trying to save the 2020 season. It wasnt just enough for league president Steve Phelps to complete a partial season. The industry needed to reach 38 televised Cup Series events.

Without the full slate, teams would not receive the complete allotment of NASCARs broadcast money and couldnt afford to send cars to tracks. The sanctioning body would not meet the terms of its TV agreements.

Two months and nine weeks passed without a green flag. The completion of a full season that ended short of Thanksgiving felt like a near impossibility. There were just too many moving parts to navigate.

The tracks owned by either NASCAR itself or Speedway Motorsports Inc. provided flexibility, but the Cup Series was also contractually obligated to compete at independent venues Indianapolis, Pocono and Dover.

A self-inflicted complication was that NASCAR also wanted to complete the regular season in time to contest the 10 Cup Series playoff races as originally scheduled.

To do so, NASCAR and its TV partners would need to mutually agree to several midweek races, which would also be complicated by the eventual resumption of the stick and ball season. At one point during the summer, a major first happened when the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and NASCAR all contested events at the same time.

Talk about crowded airwaves.

And yet, NASCAR was able to become the first major televised sport to return from the shutdown, accomplishing all of its goals with a regular season that largely ran in Sunday-Wednesday-Sunday intervals from May to September.

That asked a lot from fans, officials, competitors, broadcasters and the independent media.

Certain states wouldnt permit fans, and some like California or New York, wouldnt allow events whatsoever. To contain costs, additional races were added close to home at Charlotte and Darlington. The All-Star Race was moved from Charlotte to Bristol because Tennessee permitted up to 30,000 fans. Watkins Glen was replaced with the Daytona Road Course.

It worked.

NASCAR completed a full regular season, teams got paid, and the playoffs took place as scheduled. The campaign ended with the divisions most popular driver (Chase Elliott) winning three of the final five races to capture his first championship.

He won when it mattered the most, upsetting historic seasons by Denny Hamlin (7 wins) and Kevin Harvick (9 wins) to capitalize on the playoff format.

The 2021 schedule was released to much fanfare. There are several new teams on the grid at the expense of several veteran departures.

AD 2020 was a frustrating year for numerous reasons but NASCAR ended it with a considerable amount of momentum.

In no particular order, here are the stories from the 2020 NASCAR season that well be talking about for years to come.

The 2020 Season Was Completed

For nine weeks, and after just four races to start the season, NASCAR was shut down by COVID-19 in exchange for the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series. In the meanwhile, series officials were at work putting together a schedule for all three national tours that essentially amounted to one-day shows without practice or qualifying sessions.

NASCAR scheduled doubleheaders for Michigan and Dover, alongside the pre-scheduled one at Pocono -- in addition to the points races at Charlotte and Darlington for cost containment purposes.

When Watkins Glen couldnt happen, NASCAR pivoted to add a replacement race on the Daytona International Speedway Road Course. Chicagoland, Sonoma and Richmond were canceled in exchange for the races in the Carolinas a byproduct of the flexibility of NASCAR and SMI owning a majority of the dates.

"I believe (we were) the only sport that finished a full season," Phelps said. "The NFL is obviously in the midst of theirs. We are hopeful that they continue with their progress and finish their season. But as of now, as of tomorrow, we're the only major sport that finished a full season. (Im) certainly proud of that."

Out With the Old, In With the New

The NASCAR Cup Series ownership pool is about to get younger and more diverse.

Consider the stalwarts of ownership before we look at the fresh faces: Chip Ganassi is 62. Gene Haas is 68. Rick Hendrick is 71. Jack Roush is 78. Joe Gibbs is 80. Roger Penske is 83.

Sure, some of these teams will be inherited by their next-generation successors, but the Cup Series needed a fresh coat of paint, and it will get it next season following a considerable amount of ownership turnover in advance of the Next-Gen cars debut in 2022.

Archie St. Hilaire (61) has sold his ownership charter for Go Fas Racing to the new Live Fast Motorsports team owned by BJ McLeod (37) and Matt Tifft (24) with McLeod behind the wheel. Justin Marks (39) has launched Team Trackhouse with an ambitious diversity and education platform with Daniel Suarez behind the wheel.

NASCAR spotter and executive turned sports agent Jeff Dickerson (45) will expand his Spire Motorsports entry into a two-car effort after purchasing the charter owned by Leavine Family Racing owner Bob Leavine (76).

And, of course, the most notable additions to the ownership landscape are Denny Hamlin (40) and Michael Jordan (57) with the launch of 23XI Racing for driver Bubba Wallace

Bubba Wallace and Social Activism

Few things in NASCAR are transcendent these days, but Bubba Wallace generated headlines across sports, pop culture and the mainstream this summer for his increased activity and leadership within the social activism realm.

Wallace is the only full-time Black driver across all three NASCAR national touring divisions and the first since Wendell Scott from 1961-1973. He called for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag this summer, which it did, and raced at Martinsville Speedway in June with a #BlackLivesMatter scheme.

At Talladega in June, NASCAR officials found a garage pull-down rope fastened as a noose within the stall that housed his Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Chevrolet. An FBI investigation determined that the rope was tied that way since the previous race in October, when it contained another car, and determined that a hate crime had not been committed.

"Whether it was tied sometime throughout 2019, the fall race there, someone did it with whatever intent they had," Wallace said. "We werent in that garage stall at that time, so we cant say it was directed toward me, which is good. It wasnt directed toward me or my family.

"But somebody still knows how to tie a noose and whether they did it as a bad joke or not, who knows? But it was good for the public to see. It still wont change some peoples mind of it being a hoax, but it is what it is."

Michael Jordan and 23XI Racing

Jimmie Johnson's (Sort Of) Retirement

Its not a goodbye, but its essentially a see you over there kind of thing.

Thats the best way to describe the retirement of NASCAR Cup Series living legend Jimmie Johnson. After seven championships, 83 wins and two decades of dominance, Johnson is simply trying something different.

Johnson has signed a two-year deal to race on the road and street courses in IndyCar with Chip Ganassi Racing and has teased an openness to attempt the Indianapolis 500, too.

Meanwhile, the 2020 season wasnt the send-off everyone had imagined when Johnson first announced his retirement. The pandemic began four weeks into the season, and tracks were forced to say goodbye the best way they could, even if most had little to no fans.

Johnson didnt win a race and he missed the playoffs by six points. He was forced to miss the Brickyard 400 due to a positive COVID-19 test and that was likely enough to derail his championship hopes.

There were other disappointments too, like a disqualification for a technical infraction in the Coca-Cola 600 that cost the No. 48 team 45 points after a second-place finish. He also crashed from the lead in the first race back from the shutdown at Darlington. He was fifth-place in points at the time.

He ended his full-time career with a fifth-place run at Phoenix.

"I thought I hit bottom a few times, and there was a bottom a little lower than what I envisioned," Johnson said. "I felt like on track there was mistakes that I made, and we had issues, times where the team made mistakes, had bad luck on track, supposedly had COVID and missed the Brickyard 400. There were just many lows that kept rolling. When I thought that was it, there was another low. I just had to figure out how to put a smile on my face."

The Wildly Different 2021 Schedule

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule looks radically different than any that has come before it.

To start, there will be seven races on road courses next year, more than double the amount from the previous two seasons and the most since there were four on the 1964 schedule.

Three of these races will take place on new venues or configurations: Circuit of the Americas, Road America and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, which replaces the Brickyard 400 on the tracks legendary oval layout.

But wait, theres more!

For the first time in 50 years, the NASCAR Cup Series will also contest a race on dirt. The annual spring event at Bristol will see its high banked concrete surface temporarily covered in clay for a doubleheader with the Truck Series.

The last of the new additions is a return to the Nashville region, home to one of NASCARs strongest and most loyal audiences, with a tripleheader at Nashville Superspeedway.

Absent from the schedule are Chicagoland Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Texas Motor Speedway will only host one points paying race but gains the All-Star Race from Charlotte Motor Speedway.

"We said back early in 2018 that we wanted to evolve the schedule," said NASCAR Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O'Donnell. "2020 was going to be a year where we could make some moves within the portfolio of races we had. You're going to see some really bold changes from NASCAR in 2021 and beyond. We believe we've delivered on that."

Kyle Busch's Championship Hangover

It has been a long time since the previous years champion suffered a hangover, but thats exactly what happened to Kyle Busch in 2020.

The two-time champion won just once, and that triumph came after he had been eliminated from the playoffs.

Worse yet, he called when he would be eliminated. Busch finished eighth in the standings, his worst such result since 2014. His average finish of 13.8 was his worst since 2010. He had won 26 races in the previous five seasons combined.

As a result, Busch will be given a new crew chief in Ben Beshore, with Adam Stevens (the architect of his two championships) moving over to the No. 20 team to work with Christopher Bell.

"We obviously weren't good enough," Busch said. "We weren't able to capitalize and do what we needed to do ... [My team members] give full effort, man. There's no quit. But it just hasn't quite lined up for us this year."

Ryan Newman's Daytona 500 Crash

Ryan Newman will contest the full Cup Series schedule for a 20th time in 2021, but he isnt sure how thats possible.

The Rocket Man believes he should have died at the end of the 2020 Daytona 500.

He was involved in a crash coming to the checkered flag of the Great American Race when he was turned sideways into the wall, flipped upside down and then hit on the drivers side door by an oncoming Corey Lajoie.

He was rushed to the hospital for what was later described as a bruised brain, where he left two days later holding the hands of his two daughters, a surprise to everyone. Newman called it a miracle and a testament to NASCARs safety initiatives.

He missed just three races as the COVID-19 pandemic shut the season down for two months just three weeks after his injury. He was cleared for competition by May.

"Its great to be alive," Newman said. "If you looked at my car, its a miracle."

Kyle Larson's Slur, Exile and Return

Kyle Larson has experienced a remarkable journey, both professionally and personally, during the 2020 season.

Through the first month of the season, Larson had guided the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 team to seventh in the championship standings and looked to be a consistent threat to contend in his final season before reaching free agency.

Then came the COVID-19 shutdown and Larsons casual usage of a racial slur during an iRacing broadcast. Within two days, every major sponsor on the No. 42 threatened to withdraw support of the team until Larson was removed. Thus, Ganassi fired and replaced him with the retired Matt Kenseth. NASCAR indefinitely suspended the 28-year-old.

Larson went on to enjoy one of the most remarkable dirt seasons of all-time, winning over 50 features within the confines of a Sprint Car, Midget and Super Late Model. Simultaneously, Larson increased his work with several inner-city youth and diversity foundations as penance for what transpired.

He was reinstated by NASCAR in October and was signed by Hendrick Motorsports for the 2021 season. He will continue working with NASCAR on diversity programs as per the conditions of his reinstatement.

"I definitely think theres probably a lot of people out there that have concern about me," Larson said. "Its not something that happens overnight.

"I think its something that takes time. I think people, as they get to spend more time around me or get to see what Im doing off the racetrack, outside the race car and get to really learn who I am, I think thats when the forgiveness will be there and people will have a more open mind to forgive me.

"I know that takes time. Its still been such a short time since this all happened that I still have a lot of my reputation to rebuild. I look forward to being around Mr. (Hendrick) and learn a lot off of him because hes probably one of the if not the most respected people in the garage area. It will take time, but I think who I really am will shine through and people will be able to forgive me."

President Donald J. Trump Attends the Daytona 500

Donald Trump became just the second sitting president to visit the Daytona 500. George W. Bush attended the 2004 race. He delivered a speech to the crowd before the green flag, met several drivers prior to the drivers meeting, and took several laps around the track in the presidential limo.

"The Daytona 500 is a legendary display of roaring engines, soaring spirits of the American skills, speed, and power," Trump said in his speech.

Chase Elliott Wins the Cup Championship

Chase Elliott captured the NASCAR Cup Series championship at just 24-years-old, adding to the family legacy established his by father and 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott.

The younger Elliott won three of the final five races, including the final two at Martinsville and Phoenix to hoist the Bill France Cup. The win at Martinsville propelled him to the final four for the first time in his career, after getting denied just short of the championship race in three other playoff appearances.

Elliott won five times overall and now has 11 wins in 185 starts in addition to his winning the most popular driver award in each of the past three seasons.

"I've been thinking hard about (why I dont have the words to describe what this means) and I don't know why I can't put it into words," Elliott said. "I think part of it is that it's just a moment that I've wanted my whole life.

"You want time to stop so bad in that moment and that's just not how time works. You can't just pause. Like anything else in life, when you're having fun, time flies.

"So, I had that moment, one that I couldn't ask for anything more and time just cruises on. And it's hard to sit down right now and think too much about it, because if you do, time flies and we'll be right back in Daytona. So, I'm getting there. I don't know that I'm there yet, but I'm getting there."

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The Best Stories From a NASCAR Season They Said Couldn't Be Done - Autoweek

Earlier this week, a report surfaced via ESPN that the Portland Timbers were exploring options for sending Jeremy Ebobisse out on loan to a team in the German 2. Bundesliga. It set off a bit of a discussion amongst Timbers fans, both on twitter and in the comments section, around its validity, rationale, and potential impact for both player and club. Despite being only a reported rumor in its current state (one that doesnt even merit a post on the league website at this moment, for what its worth), the prospect clearly struck a nerve amongst the Rose City faithful.

In that spirit, it seems appropriate to take a moment to look at why the rumored move might make sense, why it actually might wind up being only a rumor, and what the news itself represents for the future of Jebo in Portland.

The biggest beneficiary of a potential loan might be Jeremy Ebobisse himself. After putting in another solid season in 2020, Jebo was treated to a December filled with reports of Portland working their hardest to bring back Felipe Mora. This is nothing against Mora, who has proven to be a solid addition to the Rose City. But Ebobisse, despite putting in the work to perhaps earn a starting job, has instead been stuck behind forwards each season hes been in Portland. Now, he faces the prospect of being behind another player who may start ahead of him for another season. With no signs that he will undoubtedly be the starting striker next season, if he wants to start and develop, moving to Europe might make sense.

It might also make sense for the Timbers if they are choosing to prioritize the impact that Mora and Niezgoda may bring. Rather than deal with a striker conundrum and potentially scorned players, they could make their 2021 forward hierarchy the clearest it can be by letting Ebobisse spend some time away. Of course, they would need to sign at least one player to shore up depth at the forward position, most likely even a couple. But it would make the depth chart much more straightforward for this season at least.

It may also make the beginning of the season more straightforward as well at least from a playing time and competition perspective. The 2021 season start date is rumored to be in March, but that isnt confirmed at this point, so it could wind up being later in the year. Another complication are the reports from ESPN suggesting that the league is seeking to terminate the current collective bargaining agreement with the MLS Players Association, setting up a potential work stoppage next year (that is a whole can of worms worth its own article at some point in the future).

In either of the above scenarios, players may be faced with the prospect of not having games to play for an extended period of time. Sending Ebobisse out on loan to play games when he would have none available is good for his development and for the Timbers, as they have a key player getting meaningful minutes where there may be none to be had stateside.

There are indeed arguments in favor of a loan move for Jeremy Ebobisse. But, as appealing as it may seem on the surface, the deeper you go the more you realize that a loan move probably isnt in the cards.

Is saying its the silly season enough of an explanation? No, seriously rumors and reports like these around talented players popup every single gosh dang winter. It doesnt matter how many years theyve been with a club, scuttlebutt around players moving or being loaned to places make the rounds on the internet without fail.

This recent rumor has all of the trappings of one of those. Rather than being shared by a specific journalist or having its own dedicated article, it was included in a running log of transfer notes and rumors. The tweets that have been circulating also do not cite a specific report or journalist, only including that sources have shared the news with ESPN. I do not doubt the stature or reputation of the worldwide leader, but this rumor doesnt quite crack the level of theres some smoke there if youre looking for a fire.

Plus, Portland will be in dire need of depth at forward this season. Jaroslaw Niezgoda is sidelined for the foreseeable future with an ACL injury, and even if Mora is the presumptive starter, there is need for a backup. The MLS season is long and arduous, and balancing fatigue and injuries are essential for success, with the pandemic making this even more true (just look at how 2020 ended for Portland for evidence of that).

The Timbers will also be embarking on another CONCACAF Champions League campaign, which in addition to league play and the potential return of the U.S. Open Cup makes three competitions that Portland will want to be competitive in. Managing minutes with depth will be all the more important next year. Moving a player in a key position doesnt make sense- at least, as the roster is currently constructed.

Does the rumor have legs? Potentially! Theres always at least a grain or two of truth to any transfer season rumor. It is a possibility that a 2. Bundesliga team dialed up the Timbers and potentially inquired about acquiring Ebobisse on loan. Or maybe Portland is doing their due diligence and is asking around for potential fits and taking a players interests into account, as they did with the Marco Farfan and Julio Cascante trades. But the confluence of evidence really doesnt add up to Portland being without one of their key and proven players for such a busy season. I will gladly raise my hand and say I was wrong if it does come to pass. But based on the evidence in front of us right now, a loan move feels unlikely at the current moment.

Whether the loan happens or not has a to be determined outcome. But that doesnt mean that the news itself wont have immediate impact for the next season of Portland Timbers soccer.

The loan happening or not has no bearing on the questions that are now being asked around Portlands development plan for Jeremy Ebobisse. He just signed a contract extension with the team in the beginning of 2020, so presumably he still figures into their plans. Whether its as a contributor on the field or a potential asset to be traded or transferred, however, is the question that remains unanswered. And all of that is after you consider what Ebobisse wants for his own career. He has talent and wants to be in a situation to showcase it, but the current situation in Portland may not allow him to do so.

The fact of the matter is that if Mora returns, Portland has three starting caliber strikers once Niezgoda heals. All are in or are entering their prime, and all represent significant investments. None of them want to be perpetually riding the pine. Its like having three expensive and fancy sports cars; you cant just leave one sitting in the garage collecting rust all year, but you may not have time to drive all three.

Lets game this out: We can assume that the likeliest outcome will come to pass, and Jebo stays in Portland for 2021. He spends the first chunk of the season backing up Mora, making some spot starts at either forward or as a winger, but mainly comes off the bench. Niezgoda returns around the summer, and then all three forwards trade time a la the way they did in the 2020 season. Lets say Ebobisse has a similar return to what he did in 2020, something around the eight to nine goals, three to four assists range. Solid for his role, but not spectacular numbers or much of an improvement from 2020.

Ebobisse is a soon-to-be 24-year-old talented forward, a fringe national team player, and one who has been discussed in some circles as having a potential future on the senior USMNT if he can put up better numbers. Can he afford to have his fifth full professional season in MLS be one where he is still a backup and spot starter, even though he has shown that he likely can reach full starter level? Is he satisfied in that role? Im not him or a professional player, so I have no idea. But my gut tells me that a rising young player would want to play as many minutes as they can.

2021 may represent an inflection point for the Timbers and Jeremy Ebobisse, loan or no loan. Giovanni Savarese, Gavin Wilkinson, and the rest of Portlands decision makers need to decide how they view Jebo as a player. If they still see him as the future of the forward line, there may be some decisions that need to be made around either Moras or Niezgodas futures in Portland. If they see the newer additions as their best chance at sustaining success and winning trophies, it may be in their and Ebobisses best interest to make a call on his fate in green & gold sooner rather than later.

Either decision carries hefty long term implications. Do you gamble that Ebobisse will develop and blossom, while moving on from proven veteran entities? Or do you potentially miss out on Ebobisse turning into a game-changing forward for your team by moving him? When Portland traded up to draft Ebobisse in the 2017 SuperDraft, they showed that they werent afraid to take a risk to try to find future success. The decision that they make around what to do with Ebobisse in 2021 may prove to be just as risky, and just as impactful.

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That Jeremy Ebobisse loan rumor, and what it means for 2021 (whether it happens or not) - Stumptown Footy

If you were looking to forget all about the coronavirus pandemic on New Year's Eve, your best bet would have been to visit a Lakeland bar.

At Federal Bar Lakeland on South Tennessee Avenue, for example, the main thing staff adjusted for the 2020 New Year's Eve celebration was their expectations.

Kara Simm, the bar's events manager, said it was their third holiday season open and they followed the blueprint of the past: a live band, a DJ, and a complimentary midnight champagne toast. The patio was open, there was no cover charge, and patrons could grab festive gear to wear throughout the night.

More: Polk County sets COVID-19 record for second straight day with 637 infections

Despite throwing the same event as usual, Simm knew the pandemic could affect turnout as some may still fear gathering in large groups.

"We don't expect it to be crazy tomorrow night at all," Simm said Wednesday.

Despite rising cases of the virus in the state, several popular Lakeland bars planned to hostholiday parties on Thursday in which masks may have been encouraged but weren't required.While some events stayed the same, others made adjustments for COVID-19 or were canceled altogether. And thoughsome may be critical of the decision, owners and managers said bars were hit hard by financial shutdowns and need to stay afloat. Besides, people were free to stay at home if they wish, they said.

Ahead of the Thursday ragers, Polk County set a COVID-19 record for new daily infections a second straight day, reporting 637 new infectionsin Thursday's report. The Florida Department of Health also reported six more Polk County deaths. The positive test rate was 16.06%.

The spike follows a disturbing trend: at 320.2 average cases per day in December, Polk County has surpassed its previous high average of 279.5 daily cases in July. And it's more than double the 147.3 average in November.

While the initial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines have stirred optimism, most members of the general public likely won't see their doses until well into 2021.

Were youlooking to spend your New Year's Eve out of your house with a drink in your hand? There were plenty of options.

"Well tonight, we are having like what we normally do: a big New Year's Eve Party," said Soloman Wassef, owner of Lakeland Loft on South Tennessee Avenue,on Thursday.

Like Federal Bar, the Lakeland Loft threw its party like it was any other year. Wassef said he wanted people to be safe and practice social distancing "if they want to." While some may criticize those who spent the holiday outside of their homes, Wassef noted going out to ring in the new year is a tradition some are unwilling to give up.

"This is one day people want to go out. They don't want to cook at the house, they don't want to wash dishes at the house, they want to go out and be pampered," Wassef said. "We don't want to force people to go out, [but] we don't want to force people to stay in. We want people to practice normal life because this is going to be the norm from now on."

And some might've ventured out to seek catharsis, beaten down by the difficult year. That's a feeling Brewlands Bar & Billiards on Florida Avenue South tapped into, theming their New Year's Eve Party around a "funeral" for 2020, complete with a handmade coffin.

Randi Allen, general manager of the bar, said customers could write down whatever they wanted to leave behind in 2021 and have it burned by staff at midnight, signaling a new start for a new year even if the first few months, at least, will likely look eerily similar to most of 2020.

"They just wanted to bury 2020 and move on and forget about it the best they can," Allen said. "Are we going to wake up tomorrow and everything's gonna be completely different? Probably not. But it's a new year, it's a new beginning. Let's try to think positive and move forward."

Even though many party plans remained largely unchanged, bar owners expected lower turnout than years past. Although bar attendance has experienced a slight uptick in the last few weeks, it's still nothing compared to last year's performance, they said.

"We expect it to probably be on the quieter side," Allen said Thursday. "Which we respectbecause some people may not feel comfortable going out, and that's OK."

The holiday season had already been slower than usual. SantaCon, a popular bar hopper event, failed to be all that jolly.

"It was much quieter this year, you know, than in years past, unfortunately," Simm with Federal Bar said. "It's a pandemic year."

Wassef said he actually had higher participation in SantaCon this year than in the past. But he noted his bar, usually filled with jazz music, attracts an older clientele. For SantaCon, most of the participants he saw were between 25 and 40 and may have spilled over from bars they frequent more often.

While still on, some events looked significantly different than they had in the past in an attempt to make celebrations safer in the COVID-19 era.

Hannah Duling, the assistant manager at Swan Brewing on West Pine Street, said they planned to make New Year's Eve look like a typical night with the simple additions of free champagne and extended hours until midnight.

"We have a band playing and food trucks, but that's pretty normal for us on any given day. Really, the champagne toast is the only thing that we're doing for New Year's," Duling said. "I would say we toned it down."

Plus, while many bars are operating at full capacity, the tap room at Swan Brewing is still capped at 50% while the outdoor patio is fully open.

Union Hall on Florida Avenue Southalso toned down their event, capping ticket sales for their New Year's party at 100 for an event space that can fit 250. Manager Parker Duncan said the event in the Champagne Room was "packed" in 2019.

Duncan said that on Wednesday, they'd only sold two tickets. But he noted that people will often show up and pay at the door. So what if way more than 100 people showed up?

"If it's like busy busy and it starts to get full, I would prefer to cap it just to make everybody feel safe," Duncan said. "The last thing we want here is someone coming in and this is the last place they were at and they're like 'Oh, I got COVID at Union Hall.'"

Duncan said Union Hall staff wear masks and guests are asked to mask upwhen walking around or at the bar.

Duncan said he didn't have "high expectations" but hoped to at least get to $500. While before this year the bar would often make between $1,500 and $3,000 on a weekend night, events lately are only bringing in between $300 and $600.

Some events were just canceled altogether. In 2019, Haus 820 hosted a New Year's Eve party with regular and VIP admission prices in addition to a trolley service that made stops in Dixieland and downtown Lakeland. This year, the space remained dark.

"As a company, we are trying to be mindful of large events at this time," said venue manager Danielle Skolozynski in an email. "We want to keep the health of our guests and staff at the forefront, so we decided it would not be wise to host our NYE this year."

For New Year's Eve, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that if you gathered with someone outside of your home, you wear a mask, stay six feet apart and avoid crowds or poorly ventilated indoor spaces. While many Lakeland bars have outdoor options, the nature of going out and drinking makes mask usage difficult, elevating the risk of spread of COVID-19.

But for those who would critique a bar's decision to host a pandemic party, those in the business say that they can't afford to stay closed.

"I think us as a bar, we got hitthe hardest out of everybody. And you know, this is our livelihood and this is what we do for work. A lot of us, we can't just, you can't like go from the money you're making as a bartender, all of asudden to go work at McDonald's or something like that because you live your life based on the money you make," Duncan said. "If you don't want to come out, don't come out. But we've still got to make our living."

Other bar owners and employees said they were excited to work New Year's Eve and were not afraid of the risk.

The position can be polarizing. One bar declined to comment for this story, saying they won't speak about anything COVID-related as "you're going to piss someone off."

Business closures and other economic devastation related to COVID-19 havehit restaurants and bars hard. While long-term recovery is still out of reach, perhaps 2021 will bring hope for the industry. It's the little things: Simm, for example, would like to see the event space at Federal Bar get some love in the new year.

"We're hoping things pick up in 2021," she said.

Allen with Brewlands is cautiously optimistic.

"I think once you know, you have a full-fledged like vaccines going out and numbers keep coming down, I think people are going to become more and more comfortable with going out," Allen said.

Maya Lora can best be reached with tips or questions at mlora@gannett.com or 863-802-7558.

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'This is our livelihood': Lakeland bars held little back on New Year's Eve - The Ledger

It will not be long before The Promised Neverland makes its much-awaited comeback, and fans are obviously excited to see what the series will offer. After all, The Promised Neverland came to an end this year in print, but its creators aren't done with the story just yet. According to a new report, the show will feature untold stories in season two which co-creator Kaiu Shirai is overseeing.

The report surfaced online as vetted fan-pages like WSJ_manga shared the news. As the report goes, The Promised Neverland season two will feature "original scenarios" that are overseen by Shirai. There is no word on what these stories contain, but fans are excited to take in the canon content.

These additions are just some of the ones which Shirai and Posuka Demizu have worked on. Recently, the pair came together to post a couple of one-shots based on The Promised Neverland. The first one published focused on Krone before Isabella came into focus with the second story. As for the upcoming third tale, it will act as an epilogue of sorts. The story plans to check in on Emma, Ray, and Norman following the events of the series finale.

If you are looking forward to this second season of The Promised Neverland, you should know it will debut soon. The series is slated to return in early January 2021. Season two comes on the heels of a live-action movie that debuted in Japan in December 2020. A live-action adaptation of the manga is also being developed in Hollywood by Amazon Studios and Touchstone Television.

What do you make of this new report? Are you excited for The Promised Neverland season two to go live? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB.

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The Promised Neverland Season 2 Will Tell New Canon Stories Not Seen in Manga - ComicBook.com

Final Fantasy 7 Remake changed the relationship dynamic between Cloud and Aerith , and it may affect their story in the next parts of the game.

There are many subtle changes from the original game in Square Enix'sFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, from additional story content in the slumsthathelps fill out primary and secondary characters to how Cloud's relationships with other characters play out. The biggest of these changes is Cloud's relationship with Aerith, which appears much more romantically charged than in the original Final Fantasy 7.

One of the biggest additions toFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeis a series of moments thatimpact how much Tifa and Aerith like Cloud. Making the wrong choices in these moments can greatly influence the way the story plays out. For Aerith, it starts when she offers Cloud a flower Chapter 2. Afterwards, Cloud must complete a list of "Odd Job" side quests for Aerith and comment correctly on her outfit in Chapter 9. The player must even directly choose between Tifa and Aerith in the sewers. This is all to trigger a special cutscene in Chapter 14 with Aerith, Tifa or Barret. While this kind of dating mechanic was in the original game, its results played out much later on, during the player's second trip to the Golden Saucer, and it was not nearly as involved in the overall storyline as inFF7 Remake.

Related:FF7 Remake Part 2 & Final Fantasy 16: Which Will Release First?

Even the moment where Cloud and Aerith meet has changed inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake. In the originalgame, players meet Aerith when Cloud falls through the ceiling of the church in the Sector 7 Slums, which Crisis Coreplayers learned was actually how Aerith also met Zack Fair. InFF7 Remake, however, Cloud meets Aerith in the marketplace, when she is being attacked byFF7 Remake's Whispers. This meeting feels less intimate and personal than the original, which makes the following romantic events and choices feel rushed between the two characters.

While being able to romance a character in a game is fun, the changes made to Cloud and Aerith's relationship inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake greatly alters how their relationship could be perceived by players. The relationship between Cloud and Aerith in the original game was easilyviewed as romantic, but it built slowly over the course of the narrative, and so it felt more natural. Because so much of these romance mechanics are stuffed into the first part ofFF7 Remake- forcing players to strive for a romantic cutscene with her (or Tifa) - their relationship feels forced and lacks the delicate magic of the original game.

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FF7 Remake: How Cloud & Aerith's Relationship Changed From The Original - Screen Rant

Airtels wired broadband connections stood at 2.44 million in April, which increased to 2.67 million in October while that of ACT increased to 1.74 million from 1.59 million. (Representative image)

Reliance Jio is turning out to be the biggest gainer from the current practice of work from home, as the telco added over 8 lakh wired broadband connections in the six months since April 2020. Bharti Airtel comes a distant second with 2.30 lakh additions, followed by ACT, which added 1.50 lakh connections. State-run BSNL, in contrast, lost 2.20 lakh connections during the same period.

As per data from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), Jio had 0.90 million wired broadband connections in April, which increased to 1.70 million in October. Airtels wired broadband connections stood at 2.44 million in April, which increased to 2.67 million in October while that of ACT increased to 1.74 million from 1.59 million.

To cash in on the current practice of work from home as well as learn from home, Reliance Jio on August 31 came out with new tariff packages for fixed line broadband (FBB), with the monthly starting price point as low as Rs 399. Airtel followed suit with a starting price of Rs 499 for its FBB plans. The new plans seem to be working well for Jio as the company added around 2.7 lakh FBB connections in September and 1.8 lakh connections in October. Airtel, on its part, added about 70,000 connections each in September and October.

Analysts have noted that the current times are best suited for faster growth of fixed broadband in the country, which otherwise is an under-penetrated market with only around 21 million subscribers. It is largely the wireless or mobile broadband at around 700 million users which has led to the data boom.

As per Motiwal Oswal Financial Services, Indias home broadband market has a minuscule $2-billion market size, accounting for a meagre 9% share of the countrys Rs 1.7 lakh crore wireless market. Subscriber growth has been modest in the last five years, with annual CAGR of just 5%. It has largely been an urban product, with low penetration of 7% due to limited network connectivity with just 80100 million estimated home passes which has restricted subscriber growth. This has given way to increased wireless consumption in India, which has a far easier and convenient installation/activation.

Globally, wired broadband is well-established and significantly utilised for data consumption as it is cheaper than wireless. In contrast, in India, the need for data consumption is fulfilled through wireless as it is cheaper. But with Jios entry in home broadband space in 2019 and its huge target, other players such as Bharti Airtel have also increased their focus in this space in a bid to gain ground.

As per Motilal Oswal, industry average revenue per user (arpu) in the home broadband market has remained fairly stable at Rs 400Rs 500 for copper connectivity and Rs 700Rs 800 for fibre to home (FTTH) packages.

Recently, Gopal Vittal, Bharti Airtel MD and CEO (India and South Asia), said fixed broadband was witnessing a very high traction, given the current context when most of the people are working from home due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Jio, which is late entrant in the FBB market has so far rolled out fibre in over 1,500 cities and aims to have 50 million homes and enterprises on fibre broadband.

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Wired broadband: Jio top gainer as nation took to WFH - The Financial Express

Welcome to your comprehensive look at whats scheduled to hit Netflix throughout January 2021. This will be the list of Netflix Originals and non-Netflix Original titles scheduled for release in the United States throughout the first month of the year.

This list includes all the additions but remember Netflix always loses titles too and January 2021 will be a bumper month for Netflix removals. Big licensed titles like When Calls the Heart, The Office and Gossip Girl are all due to depart throughout the month.

Although this list now includes the full list provided by Netflix for whats coming in January 2021 it will still grow over time with titles unannounced ahead of time.

Note: If youre looking for We Can Be Heroes, it got moved from January 1st to December 25th. 53 new arrivals landed on Netflix on January 1st.

What are you looking forward to watching in January 2021? Let us know in the comments.

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Whats Coming to Netflix in January 2021 - What's on Netflix