Health Care Heroes Maryland Commission on Civil Rights Yolanda F Sonnier serves as deputy director of the Maryland Commission on[...] Paula Turner-Coleman serves as supervisor of science physical education and environmental literac[...] Kristen Stamile Kinkopf serves as executive director of The Richman Foundation serves as the executive director and CEO of the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) serves as a partner at Griffith Immigration Law in Baltimore a full-service law firm based in Baltimore[...] Sign up for your daily digest of Maryland news Supporting small businesses is an investment in Maryland’s prosperity – one that drives growth a[...] Listen to this article As I write this shortly after Earth Day 2025 I have on my desk a 46-page pub[...] Listen to this article Based on recent data provided by the U.S there was a si[...] I took the oath prescribed in Maryland Business Occupations[...] Listen to this article Maryland has a lot to celebrate when it comes to climate action but also muc[...] Lawmakers in Annapolis have passed hastily considered extended [...] Listen to this article In the past decade employers who sponsor pension plans have been subject to [...] Submit an entry for the business calendar The Daily Record is a digital-first daily news media company focused on law Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions Click here for information about plaques permissions and reprints of previous editions Javascript is disabled in your web browser You can't access site without javascript so please enable it for your seamless and unintruppted user experience of our website There are no statistics available for this player Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger Dionisio Jesús "Chucho" Valdés Rodríguez is one of the most influential figures in the world of Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz. An original member of the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna, he founded the group Irakere, one of Cuba's best-known Latin jazz bands, which featured such stars of the Cuban music scene as trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and alto saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera In a career spanning more than 60 years both as a solo artist and bandleader Valdés has fused elements of the Afro-Cuban music tradition Valdés was born into a family of musicians in Havana and bandleader Ramón "Bebo" Valdés—served as his first teacher and defining influence Valdés was already performing on the piano with both hands and in all keys he began receiving private piano lessons and training in theory he graduated from the Municipal Conservatory of Music of Havana who brought them to the attention of Bruce Lundvall Although the band's line-up changed over the years Valdés leads his own ensembles and has taken home seven Grammy Awards and six Latin Grammy Awards to date he was named the Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations he was inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame and bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Science When Chucho Valdés takes the stage, the energy is undeniable. The iconic Cuban musician helps close the Moss Arts Center’s 2024-25 season with a tribute to 50 years of Irakere his band that revolutionized Afro-Latin jazz with its bold fusion of Afro-Cuban ritual music and stunning solos from one of the greatest jazz pianists alive on Saturday Valdés, a seven-time Grammy and six-time Latin Grammy winner and recipient of a Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, offers a vivid retrospective of his work with Irakere. A nine-piece ensemble, Irakere 50 is a new iteration of the legendary band with brilliant performers hand-picked from the next generation of Cuban musicians electric and acoustic bass; Horacio Hernández percussion — is joined by Eddie de Armas Jr and Osvaldo Fleites on trumpets; Luis Beltrán and Carlos Averhoff Jr. Your browser does not support iframes. Link to iframe content: https://www.youtube.com/embed/oOyCSp33qEc?si=ZDM-xseKHxctbvsx he selected notable members and the principal soloists of the legendary Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna — a big band made up of Cuba's best musicians which was organized in 1967 to play jazz and pop danceable song that hinted at the depth and breadth of the writing and playing foreshadowing innovations that would become known years later as timba One of Irakere’s remarkable characteristics throughout its extraordinary run was following and maintaining two parallel musical tracks: Afro-Cuban jazz experimentation and dance music often featured a first part focused on jazz and a second half dedicated to dancers so we started playing dance music to attract new audiences for what we were doing — and it worked incredibly well that audience would stop dancing just to listen and then it was as if we were at a concert I always thought that the people who came to hear us wanted to hear good music we aimed to please those who came to hear jazz … But there was also another audience waiting to dance to ‘Bacalao Con Pan,’ so we played jazz And that’s what we’ll do on this tribute.” Chucho Valdés and Irakere closed the evening at Carnegie Hall and burst onto the global stage an album titled “Irakere,” including selected tracks from that show and a later performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival Irakere became a self-standing band in 1975 and remained active until 2005 This performance is supported in part by a gift from Dr Additional funding is provided by the Larry and Lindsey Bowman Center for the Arts Excellence Fund Local families will attend the performance through the community ticket program Offered in partnership with New River Community Action the program helps build community and provide greater access to Moss programs for under-resourced families Tickets are $40-$85 for general audience and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Moss Arts Center's box office Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours The performance will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall. Convenient parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street and in downtown Blacksburg. Find more parking details online If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jamie Wiggert at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email wiggertj@vt.edu during regular business hours Virginia Tech demonstrates impact as a global land grant – progressing sustainability in our community Get Directions  See All Locations  Contact Virginia Tech  © 2025 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. All rights reserved. The Seahawks signed receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Thursday, adding a big-play threat to their offense. Valdes-Scantling, a former fifth-round pick out of University of South Florida, has averaged 17.4 yards per reception over the course of a seven-year career, and 11 of his 20 career touchdown receptions have been 40 yards or longer. The 6-foot-4 Valdes-Scantling spent his first four seasons in Green Bay before going to Kansas City, where he won a pair of Super Bowl titles. He then signed with Buffalo last season and played sparingly before being released, then enjoyed a strong second half of the season after joining the New Orleans Saints. Under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who now holds that title in Seattle, Valdes-Scantling started the final eight games of the season for New Orleans, catching 17 passes for 385 yards, giving him a career-best 22.6 yards-per-reception average. Valdes-Scantling also had four touchdown receptions, three of which went for 71, 40 and 28 yards. The Seahawks signed wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on March 13, 2025. Valdes-Scantling was a 5th round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and has also played for the Chiefs, Bills and most recently, the Saints. Check out the best photos of the two-time Super Bowl Champion throughout his NFL career. South Florida's Marquez Valdes-Scantling, right, runs against Syracuse's Cordell Hudson, right, in the second quarter an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) South Florida's Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) runs the ball as East Carolina's Devon Sutton (42) closes in during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Greenville, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker) South Florida wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) catches a pass as Texas Tech defensive back Octavious Morgan (5) tackles him during the Birmingham Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Albert Cesare) South Florida wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) South Florida wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) carries the ball against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward (20) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs after a catch against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) carries the ball after a reception during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 in Los Angles. (Jacob Gonzalez via AP) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, left, catches a pass in front of New England Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty (32) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs with the ball as Miami Dolphins cornerback Bobby McCain (28) defends during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. (NFL Photos via AP) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs with the bar as New York Jets cornerback Morris Claiborne (21) chases him during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) Minnesota Vikings' Trae Waynes breaks up a pass intended for Green Bay Packers' Marquez Valdes-Scantling during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) Green Bay Packers' Marquez Valdes-Scantling celebrates his touchdown catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, left, celebrates with Davante Adams after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) before an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov 15. 2020, between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Green Bay Packers' Marquez Valdes-Scantling races to the end zone for a 72-yard touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) in action during an NFL divisional playoff football game between the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs in for a touchdown during the NFC Championship game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 in Green Bay, Wi. (Matt Becker via AP) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) catches the ball against Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) during the second half of football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 34-31. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) reacts to catching a pass during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 34-31. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) gestures in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs the ball against Baltimore Ravens defensive back Robert Jackson (17) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) runs the play during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) makes a reception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, left, catches a pass in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) runs a pass route during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, December 18, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling celebrates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) makes a touchdown catch against Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (32) during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) celebrates his touchdown reception against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) signals for a touchdown during the NFL Super Bowl LVII football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023 in Glendale, Ariz. (Ben Liebenberg via AP) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) celebrates a catch for a first down during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) runs for a touchdown past Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (26) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken) Denver Broncos cornerback Fabian Moreau (23) pursues Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) after he pulled in a pass in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is unable to catch a long pass during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) celebrates his catch against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) makes a touchdown catch against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) celebrates his touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs during the first half of an preseason NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Buffalo Bills wide receivers Mack Hollins (13) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (15) run on the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) makes the catch for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) celebrates his touchdown reception with tight end Juwan Johnson in the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. The Saints won 20-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) catches a 40-yard touchdown in the second quarter as Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell (24) and safety Justin Simmons (31) defend during the NFL game on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in New Orleans. (Michael DeMocker/ NFL LCC) New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) catches a 2-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter as Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell (24) defends during the NFL game on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in New Orleans. (Michael DeMocker/ NFL LCC) New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling carries a Derek Carr pass into the end zone for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) runs for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling looks over his shoulder at Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush (30) as he scores in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Dante Pettis (17) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) slips on a screen pass on third down as he is covered by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt (52) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) The Seahawks signed Drew Lock on Tuesday, bringing back the quarterback who spent two seasons with the team from 2022-2023. Seahawks general manager and president of football operations John Schneider discussed his team's offseason moves to date, as well at what's still to come. Keeping track of all the Seahawks' moves in free agency. The Seahawks signed receiver Steven Sims Tuesday, adding receiver depth and a candidate to handle kick and punt returns. The Seahawks signed veteran tight end Eric Saubert on Monday. The Seahawks added to their secondary Monday, adding safety and special teams standout D'Anthony Bell. The Seahawks re-signed linebacker Josh Ross and added receiver River Cracraft on Friday. You had Seahawks questions; we have answers. The Seahawks signed cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles on Wednesday. New Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp met with the media after signing on Tuesday and talked about joining the team he grew up rooting for as a kid in Yakima. New Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp discussed the process of getting No. 10, which was previously worn by outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu. Cooper Kupp signed with the Seahawks Tuesday, making official a return home for the Yakima native. The eight additional semifinalists are Josele Ballester (Arizona State) Christiaan Maas (Texas) and Tommy Morrison (Texas) Koivun is the reigning Hogan Award winner after becoming just the second freshman to receive the honor after Rickie Fowler (2008) the Ben Hogan Award annually honors the top men's NCAA Division I NAIA or NJCAA college golfer based on all collegiate amateur and professional events over the previous 12 months An esteemed selection committee votes during each stage of the process The selection committee is comprised of more than 30 leaders in collegiate Koivun continues to impress after a dazzling rookie season a year ago North Carolina has finished in the top 10 in seven of 10 starts this year He began the season with his third career victory at the Inverness Intercollegiate Koivun owns a 69.21 scoring average over 28 rounds played The other half of the Tigers’ one-two punch has cemented his legacy as one of the program’s best in his final season on The Plains Florida has already smashed the Auburn career records for top-10 finishes (23) subpar rounds (75) and rounds in the 60s (52) He also nears two more accolades as he needs 22 more birdies and four more eagles to become the all-time leader in both respective categories Valdes averages 70.04 strokes per round over 28 rounds of competition including an individual victory at the General Hackler Championship in March 2 Auburn is set to return to action next week at the 2025 SEC Championship hosted by Seaside Golf Club on St Las Águilas played their final friendly match ahead of their upcoming Liguilla quarterfinal clash against Pachuca Receive emails when new obituariesare published to our website Welcome to Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory When you have experienced the loss of a loved one you can trust us to guide you through the arrangements necessary to create a meaningful ceremony that celebrates the unique life being honored Our staff is committed to providing your family with the highest quality care and service in your time of need and we take pride in our responsibility to lighten your burden as you take the first steps toward healing.  At Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory we want to relieve you of the stress of funeral planning Whether you choose a full-service funeral or a budget-friendly direct cremation Funeral services can include a viewing or open-casket optional service Cremation services can be affordable and straightforward with a direct cremation without a service you can arrange cremation with a memorial ceremony our team can help you without the urgency of time You can plan ahead instead of forcing your family to make dozens of decisions regarding caskets when you choose our facility with an on-site crematory and a reception center your loved ones only have to make one stop Our Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory team serves St. Joseph, Savannah, Avenue City, Agency, Clarksdale, Faucett Our permanent memorialization options will help you honor your loved ones in the way they would have wanted Meet with a member of our team at Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory to tour the facility and get to know our staff. Visit our funeral home in Saint Joseph, MO, to see the beautiful facility and learn more about the services. You can call to ask any questions as well: (816) 232-3366 Click here to go to the Obituary page or Click the Obituary button above When finances are a concern we guarantee that we will take care of your family Permanent memorialization allows the healing process to begin We offer a full range of gifts to help comfort and support those who need it the most delivered direct from your local florist Our extensive collection of cremation urns and jewelry keepsakes is available on our online Urn Store For engraved or personalized options please contact one of our funeral directors for assistance Copyright © 2016 Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory | Website Design by Frazer Consultants & TA Your browser may not work with certain site. Upgrade now. Vogue Philippines’ biweekly series of personal essays on memory I was 10 years old, standing on a stool in my mom’s kitchen, when I tried to cook my first sinigang the traditional sour soup from the Philippines And as I brought the bowl to the table for my family to try but from the distinct pleasure of feeding other people Imagine: sauteed Philippine tomatoes warmed by the (perennial) summer sun then our native red onions and sometimes ginger The broth is made with the water used to wash the rice because Starchy taro root gifts the broth with heft and tinges it a milky hue.  There is always a souring agent typically dictated by the region in which the sinigang is being made or the acidic explosion of a native kamias or batuan-varied bounty found all across the archipelago predating colonial times.  I eat it served with a side of bagoong [fermented shrimp paste].  There is always a dance to find the delicate balance between sweetness and that puckery sour that unlocks the juices right at the jaw It seems like a simple soup. But a good sinigang is dictated by paying close attention: It is an intuitive steamy study in layering; the sizzle of when you have coaxed out just the right amount of umami and sweetness from the aromatics; when to add the hugas bigas to allow the brothiness to take shape; knowing when to add the greens so they wilt just right there is no one way to make it or one standard ingredient list; it is so varied but also instantly recognizable Each pot is marked by the place. It is soup as a conversation of season is one of the most beautiful bowls of food I moved from the sticky warmth of Manila to New York leaving my family and all that was familiar behind.   When I first made sinigang upon moving to New York I made it with a sachet of Mama Sita’s Sinigang sa Sampalok For the first eight years of my professional life I worked in the nonprofit world running after-school programs with teenagers engaged in collective storytelling or working out an excel spreadsheet to see how to make my modest non-profit paycheck accommodate the grand culinary plan for the weekend like figuring out how to build a pit to cook a pig in my friends’ backyard as a nod to my native Lechon My bedside table was always stacked with cookbooks whose oil-stained creases held a palimpsest of salt and spices specifically eating and gathering people around a table was an important part of how I placed myself in the world. I was feeding people so often that friends kept suggesting that I consider a professional life in food. But I had never been to culinary school I thought I was too “old” to start a new career in the kitchen who worked at the same organization as I did We were two tenacious home cooks with no formal culinary training but armed with a lot of grit.  We had similar palates: a borderless perspective on food with Southeast Asian flavors as touchstones. 10 years after I moved to NYC she and I launched Kickshaw Cookery. It started as a lunch subscription service crisscrossing the city on the subway with our teetering boxes. We cooked lasagna and roast chicken grounded by produce from our local farmers market. We cooked out of a commercial shared kitchen space dedicated predominantly to women and immigrant food entrepreneurs (and went from cooking for 20-30 clients to catering for up to 500 people.)  we worked side by side with other food businesses tasting spoons in each others pots; ladies expertly slathering clarified butter on each layered leaf for delicious msemmen; hands painstakingly deskinning black eyed peas producing the most tender Nigerian moi moi Many of us had not worked in professional kitchens nor gone to culinary school And then four years into running our business and she and her husband moved to Texas to be closer to her family I continued to run Kickshaw Cookery on my own.  The doubts began to creep back in—can I do this and as I slowed down my catering company and shifted to private clients I considered hanging up my professional knives and apron for good But life had other plans on my menu.  It was an odd thing to then find myself in the kitchen of Drew someone who I had grown up watching on TV (all the way in the Philippines.) Suddenly we were sitting around her kitchen island talking about our favorite cookbook authors We bonded over the idea of home.   I worked for her as her private chef and in 2019 Drew was shooting a pilot for a morning show and she invited me to do a cooking segment with her The idea of standing next to one of the most well-known faces on the planet and cooking on camera just the thought of it turned my knees to jelly I honestly was nervous about embarrassing myself “Just trust that everything you’ve done in your life has prepared you for this.” And then quoting the words of our sage Proving you are never too old for a new job, in 2020, the year I turned 40, I became a regular on-air chef for the Drew Barrymore Show. Now I have the privilege of sharing recipes with this immense generous platform beamed into millions of homes every day I’ve made lasagna and pot pies on the show continuing to weave in the flavors of home but it no longer looks like the soup of my childhood It is not made from my beloved pre-packaged soup mix. In life and who we are today. We create a taste—complex recreating the familiar—and at the same time which are easier for me to source in New York work quite well. I incorporate sour rhubarb or tomatillos ingredients that I had never laid eyes on in the Philippines but are quite abundant in the US which add just the right amount of acidic twang.  My soup is now as layered and intuitive as my own experiences made all the more rich by the bounty of new flavors Pilar Valdes is a New York-based chef and the co-founder of Kickshaw Cookery she is the regular on-air chef and senior culinary contributor for The Drew Barrymore Show she also co-authored the cookbook Rebel Homemaker: Food The University of Pennsylvania has named Mariana Valdes-Fauli the associate vice president of Student Registration and Financial Services (SRFS) Valdes-Fauli comes to Penn from the University of Miami where she served as the assistant vice president of Service and Experience Excellence for the last six years she created and developed the university’s first one-stop shop to support students with financial aid She also partnered with colleagues to find innovative ways to make the student journey a more positive and efficient one and to educate and support staff and students on regulatory and legal compliance she served as chief of staff to the EVP and chief operating officer at the University of Miami and senior vice president for Human Resources at Strayer Education Inc “I am excited to welcome Mariana to Penn and look forward to working together as we continue to enhance the wide range of services we offer our students,” says Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Mark F. Dingfield “Mariana brings a tremendous amount of experience in leading large interconnected teams with a focus on delivering excellent student service and financial oversight.” from the University of Florida College of Law in human resource development from Villanova University and a bachelor’s degree from Smith College Valdes-Fauli will be responsible for leading SRFS’s work in student records and registration as well as the services provided through the Student Service Center She will partner with Penn schools with a focus on service quality and operational effectiveness at all levels the ambitious Dakar Greenbelt project seeks to create an extensive network of ecological infrastructure in and around the city to sustainably address environmental concerns and enhance urban life With support from David Gouverneur and Ellen Neises candidate Rob Levinthal in the Weitzman School of Design led two courses that included a field trip to Dakar that culminated in students presenting their visions for parts of the Greenbelt The new Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology boasts adaptable laboratory spaces to support the dynamic needs of pioneering research The Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million with veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling Valdes-Scantling reunites in Seattle with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who had the same job last season with the New Orleans Saints Valdes-Scantling, 30, signed with the Saints in October after he was released by the Buffalo Bills midseason. He replaced an injured Rashid Shaheed and became the Saints' primary deep-threat receiver last season is coming off a season in which he had a career-high 22.6 yards per catch in New Orleans Valdes-Scantling was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He spent four seasons there before signing a three-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs He helped the Chiefs win two Super Bowls and was released after two seasons He has 205 receptions for 3,566 yards and 20 touchdowns in seven seasons The news of Valdes-Scantling's agreement was first reported by NFL Network ESPN's Katherine Terrell contributed to this report New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling's end of season interview from the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Monday 2025 at the conclusion of the 2024 NFL regular season Josiah Ezrim and Nick Saldiveri worked with teams and local chefs to prepare an entrée and dessert as part of our cooking competition with Dairy MAX and Nick Saldiveri showed off their knife skills in an onion-cutting challenge as part of our cooking competition with Dairy MAX and Nick Saldiveri put their taste buds to the test as they guessed different food items as part of our cooking competition with Dairy MAX New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means goes undercover at Rouses Markets as a floral designer Means gave out flowers to shoppers and surprised them with gift cards New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe goes undercover at Rouses Markets at the checkout counter Grupe helped shoppers at the counter and surprised them with gift cards New Orleans Saints center/guard Erik McCoy goes undercover at Rouses Markets as a cake decorator McCoy had shoppers evaluate his performance and surprised them with gift cards New Orleans Saints defensive back JT Gray goes undercover as a team member at Rouses Markets and surprises shoppers with a gift New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks joined the Saints Podcast with Erin Summers to talk about returning to the Saints during the 2025 NFL free agency period memories from his first years in the league New Orleans Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom speaks with local media for the first time after signing a contract with the Saints during 2025 NFL Free Agency on March 19 New Orleans Saints tackle Landon Young speaks with local media for the first time after signing a contract with the Saints during 2025 NFL Free Agency on March 19 New Orleans Saints defensive end Jonah Williams speaks with local media for the first time after signing a contract with the Saints during 2025 NFL Free Agency on March 19 New Orleans Saints tight end Jack Stoll speaks with local media for the first time after signing a contract with the Saints during 2025 NFL Free Agency on March 19 New Orleans Saints defensive end Jonah Williams talks with team reporter Erin Summers on the Saints Podcast on March 17 familiarity with Brandon Staley's defense and his time at Weber State New Orleans Saints center/guard Will Clapp talks with team reporter Erin Summers on the Saints Podcast on March 18 familiarity with the coaching staff and his life away from football New Orleans Saints center/guard Will Clapp speaks with the local media for the first time on March 18 after signing a contract with the Saints during 2025 NFL Free Agency New Orleans Saints running back Velus Jones Jr speaks with the local media for the first time on March 18 New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson talks with team reporter Erin Summers on the Saints Podcast on March 17 his Love & Locker Rooms podcast with his wife Chanen Johnson New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Davon Godchaux talks with team reporter Erin Summers on the Saints Podcast on March 17 his experience at LSU and horseback riding New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson speaks with the local media for the first time on March 17 after signing a three-year contract extension with the Saints during 2025 NFL Free Agency New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Davon Godchaux speaks with the local media for the first time on March 17 after he was acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots during 2025 NFL Free Agency New Orleans Saints free agent signing Justin Reid talks with team reporter Erin Summers on the Saints Podcast about inking his three-year deal with his hometown team and what he's looking forward to in his first game inside the Caesars Superdome Get hype for New Orleans Saints safety Justin Reid signing a three-year contract with the team during 2025 NFL Free Agency New Orleans Saints free agent safety Justin Reid speaks with the local media for the first time after signing a three-year contract with the Saints during 2025 NFL Free Agency New Orleans Saints wide receiver Dante Pettis speaks with the media on Thursday Pettis signed a contract extension with the Saints on March 11 New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young speaks with the media on Thursday Young signed a contract extension with the Saints on March 11 In the second half of last season Marquez Valdes-Scantling thrived under Klint Kubiak's New Orleans offense giving him a career-best 22.6 yards-per-reception average and four touchdown receptions three of those touchdowns going for more than 25 yards Valdes-Scantling and Kubiak are reunited again "I'm very excited," Valdes-Scantling said on being reconnected with Kubiak "I was only [In New Orleans] for eight games and put up some pretty big numbers in a short amount of time with two head coaches and through three quarterbacks I'm super excited with what Klint (Kubiak) has done and what his offense looks like." Valdes-Scantling said Kubiak was probably a big reason he found a landing spot in Seattle We were together in New Orleans and when he took the job here so it kind of opened the door for me to come in and kind of step in." And Valdes-Scantling is aware that the Seahawks moved on from two key receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf this offseason meaning there will be holes to fill Valdes-Scantling acknowledged that both those receivers are one of a kind but he is less worried about trying to fill their shoes and more concerned with playing his style of ball "You don't try to fill those shoes," he said You go out and you be the best version of yourself and whatever that looks like is what it looks like… You can't really recreate something that's only created once You just go out and be the best version of yourself and it's gotta be enough." The familiarity in Kubiak's offense and knowing the ways he can succeed in it will be an advantage for Valdes-Scantling this season "It was very similar to what I ran when I was in Green Bay and I had a lot of success with that play action and taking shots down the field and that's what I've done really well for my career and being able to get back to doing that He's also given me opportunities to showcase my game in other ways Not just 'Hey throw the ball down the field.' He's given me a chance to catch on the routes Adding that the explosiveness and Kubiak's ability to manipulate defenses are two things he loves about a Kubiak offense "Explosive and that's what I love about it I think he's done a good job of manipulating defenses and getting his playmakers the ball in different ways Just getting the defense to see the same thing but we're doing something different." The Seahawks signed wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on March 13 Valdes-Scantling was a 5th round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and has also played for the Chiefs Check out the best photos of the two-time Super Bowl Champion throughout his NFL career in the second quarter an NCAA college football game in Syracuse South Florida's Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) runs the ball as East Carolina's Devon Sutton (42) closes in during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Greenville South Florida wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) catches a pass as Texas Tech defensive back Octavious Morgan (5) tackles him during the Birmingham Bowl NCAA college football game South Florida wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis South Florida wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) carries the ball against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward (20) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs after a catch against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game Monday Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) carries the ball after a reception during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling catches a pass in front of New England Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty (32) during the second half of an NFL football game Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs with the ball as Miami Dolphins cornerback Bobby McCain (28) defends during an NFL football game Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs with the bar as New York Jets cornerback Morris Claiborne (21) chases him during the second half of an NFL football game Minnesota Vikings' Trae Waynes breaks up a pass intended for Green Bay Packers' Marquez Valdes-Scantling during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday Green Bay Packers' Marquez Valdes-Scantling celebrates his touchdown catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders Sunday celebrates with Davante Adams after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game in Santa Clara Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) before an NFL football game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Green Bay Packers in Green Bay Green Bay Packers' Marquez Valdes-Scantling races to the end zone for a 72-yard touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) in action during an NFL divisional playoff football game between the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs in for a touchdown during the NFC Championship game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) catches the ball against Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) during the second half of football game Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) reacts to catching a pass during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) gestures in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs the ball against Baltimore Ravens defensive back Robert Jackson (17) during the second half of an NFL football game Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) runs the play during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) makes a reception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling catches a pass in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) runs a pass route during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling celebrates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Saturday Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) makes a touchdown catch against Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (32) during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) celebrates his touchdown reception against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) signals for a touchdown during the NFL Super Bowl LVII football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) celebrates a catch for a first down during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) runs for a touchdown past Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr (26) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday Denver Broncos cornerback Fabian Moreau (23) pursues Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) after he pulled in a pass in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is unable to catch a long pass during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) celebrates his catch against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an AFC Championship NFL football game Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) makes a touchdown catch against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) celebrates his touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs during the first half of an preseason NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Buffalo Bills wide receivers Mack Hollins (13) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (15) run on the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Orchard Park New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) makes the catch for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) celebrates his touchdown reception with tight end Juwan Johnson in the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) catches a 40-yard touchdown in the second quarter as Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J Terrell (24) and safety Justin Simmons (31) defend during the NFL game on Sunday New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) catches a 2-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter as Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J Terrell (24) defends during the NFL game on Sunday New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling carries a Derek Carr pass into the end zone for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) runs for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling looks over his shoulder at Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush (30) as he scores in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Dante Pettis (17) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) slips on a screen pass on third down as he is covered by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J Britt (52) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday Get a look inside the Seahawks draft room as they select 11 players during the 2025 NFL Draft Head coach Mike Macdonald was satisfied with the progress the rookies made after two days of rookie minicamp Seahawks rookie QB Jalen Milroe spoke with the media after the first day of rookie minicamp Seahawks rookies suited up for the first time for rookie minicamp and spoke with the media All the Seahawks news you might have missed from this week The Seahawks signed 17 undrafted rookie free agents prior to the start of rookie minicamp Seahawks first-round pick Grey Zabel met with the media Thursday ahead of this weekend's rookie minicamp Ahead of rookie minicamp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday the newest Seahawks have their jersey numbers The Seahawks waived four players on Tuesday which opens more roster spots ahead of signing undrafted free agents later this week The experts have weighed in on the newest Seahawks draft class Seahawks president and general manager John Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald discuss Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft The Seahawks wrapped up the final day of the NFL Draft having added seven new players to the Seahawks roster METAIRIE, La. -- Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling was at a career crossroads two months ago he and Bills general manager Brandon Beane agreed to part ways and he was released Valdes-Scantling said he had only praise for Beane and the Bills organization for being upfront and honest "It was a conversation that the GM and I had already had prior because I wasn't happy," Valdes-Scantling said We had conversations for a couple of weeks prior to that and I was frustrated so it was more mutual than just like we don't want you anymore.' It was more so like You guys aren't getting the best out of me Valdes-Scantling had to prove himself again And he has thrived in his short stint with New Orleans catching 10 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns in just four games with the Saints He has a chance to set personal bests with five games left in the season. He is currently averaging 29.6 yards per catch, well above his average of 20.9 that led the league in 2020. He could potentially approach his numbers from that season if he stays on pace. That season, his third with the Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers with 690 receiving yards and six touchdowns Those three players combined for 11 of the team's 31 offensive touchdowns this season. In addition to Valdes-Scantling, the Saints are now relying on journeyman Dante Pettis and former UFL player Kevin Austin Jr It's gone beyond the numbers -- he came through with a 28-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie up the game in an eventual loss to the Los Angeles Rams last week "If you told me we've been playing with Pettis, Kevin and MVS in camp ... I don't know if I'd have believed you, but I said, 'OK,'" said Saints quarterback Derek Carr "And I'm just so proud of those guys because they've stepped up so big for our team and for our city And those guys are really good football players That's another crazy job by our front office doing a great job of How do we fix it to help our team win?' And they've done a fantastic job of that." but Valdes-Scantling and his agent saw Buffalo as a better fit at the time it was still a possibility that I could end up in New York still but I think this was the better situation for me at the time and it's working out," Valdes-Scantling said "So I'm going to be able to help win as many games as possible and also individually to do some things to show that I can still play." Things happened fast after his departure from Buffalo five months into his contract. Former teammate Davante Adams, who included the Saints on a wish list of potential destinations, was traded from the Raiders to the Jets on the same day as Valdes-Scantling's release from Buffalo. That left New Orleans open as a potential destination and Adams, a close friend of both Carr and Valdes-Scantling, vouched for the quarterback. "I think this was a good fit for me for what I do, what I bring to a team as a wideout, as a veteran," Valdes-Scantling said. "I think DC as quarterback, I've played against him for my whole career ... and I'd heard such good things about him. One of my closest friends is Davante, which is his best friend. He always spoke so highly of him and I said it was an opportunity here. I think that was the biggest thing. I was just excited about that." Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi said he can't speak to why things didn't work out with Valdes-Scantling and the Bills, but he said good veterans often end up as free agents when teams are trying to decide what direction they want to go in as the season plays out. "There's some good veteran guys that are out there at this time and teams have to decide whether they want to go young or veteran guys. So I think circumstances sometimes kind of dictate that based on what team's got. All I know is I'm glad we got him. I'm glad he was available," Rizzi said. " ... He's been nothing but a pleasure to work with. He's working hard, and so it's been nothing but a positive experience so far with us." It's been a whirlwind few months for Valdes-Scantling, who joined a team that fired coach Dennis Allen the day after his first game on Nov. 3. The Florida native joked that one of the best things about returning to the South, other than living close to family members in New Orleans, was being able to enjoy the weather again in the winter. "Just seeing the sun. Seeing the sun," he said with a smile. "I've been in the Midwest for six years and it gets gray and it's dark at 3:30 p.m. and you don't see the sun until the springtime. ... People don't really understand the value of seeing being able to walk outside and it's not freezing and being able to feel the sun." But above all, he's grateful to still be able to play football this season. "A lot of gratitude for being able to walk into a building still and still be able to contribute," he said. 2025 NEA Jazz Master Chucho Valdés will lead a masterclass with Howard University music students at the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts in the Recital Hall, room 3001, Howard University Main Campus, 2455 6th Street NW, Washington, DC 20059. The public is invited to observe and no registration is necessary (seating is first-come, first-served).  1 Tigers to a second consecutive victory while also earning low medalist for the third time in his career He accumulated 14 birdies and two eagles over the three rounds Valdes made history as the program’s new leader for career rounds below par as he recorded his 69th to break a three-way tie with Jovan Rebula (2016-21) and J.M Florida native propelled the Tigers to a 17-shot victory as they clinched their third tournament title of the season (East Lake Cup This week marks the fifth time Valdes has been recognized as one of the league’s players of the week at the Valspar Collegiate hosted by The Floridian in Palm City Florida for a tournament that features nine top-25 teams • Started 100th career NFL game on against Atlanta (11/10/24) Finished with three catches for a team-leading 109 yards with two touchdowns tying a career-high for touchdown receptions in a single game • A two-time Super Bowl champion with Kansas City in 2022 and 2023 • Hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes in the Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII win vs • Led the NFL with an average of 20.9 yards per catch in 2020 (33 catches for 690 yards) • Tallied a career-high 42 receptions for 687 yards in his first season in Kansas City in 2022 COLLEGE: Played in 25 games (23 starts) in two seasons at South Florida (2016-17) posting 75 receptions for 1,294 yards and 11 touchdowns where he played in 23 games and caught 44 passes for 538 yards and one touchdown PERSONAL: Has a Pomsky named Ace and a Siberian Husky named Spade who have an lnstagram account (aceandspade __ ll) Competed in football and track at Lakewood High School in St Has distributed duffel bags filled with blankets toiletry items and other supplies to homeless people in Tampa and St Owns and operates a street-ware apparel company named Sik Selection (sikselection.com) a screen press company named Craft-Tee (craft-tee.com) Earned a bachelor's degree in communications Seahawks wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling met with media after signing with Seattle to discuss why he chose to sign with the Seahawks reuniting with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak his excitement for getting a chance to work with Sam Darnold and more on Thursday 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center Check out some of the best plays from the Seahawks' newest offensive weapon Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed with Seattle on Thursday reconnecting him with Klint Kubiak the offensive coordinator he closed out the 2024 season with The Seahawks signed receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Thursday Check out photos of the newest members of the Seahawks as they tour the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for the first time Seahawks head Coach Mike Macdonald provided insights into the Seahawks' rookie minicamp and team outlook He praised the equipment staff and personnel department for their preparation (0:00) Macdonald highlighted quarterback Jalen Milroe's energy and command of the huddle (1:55) He discussed the benefits of having a true fullback in the offense for physicality and scheme diversity (3:09) Macdonald also touched on evaluating defensive linemen in non-padded practices (4:28) and clarified comments about Milroe's role as exclusively a quarterback (6:27) He mentioned exploring virtual reality training for quarterbacks (8:16) and expressed excitement about wide receiver Tory Horton's potential role (10:00) Macdonald concluded by discussing the value of experienced coaches on the offensive staff (11:54) Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III described his rookie minicamp experience as \"one of the best weekends\" of his life (0:01) He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to practice in NFL facilities and compete with new teammates (0:38) White discussed his college experience with special teams crediting his college special teams coordinator for teaching him valuable techniques in punt blocking (1:13) He mentioned working on building chemistry with quarterback Jalen Milroe as they learn the offense together (2:15) Seahawks guard Bryce Cabeldue shares insights about his new offensive line coach praising his technical knowledge and teaching ability (0:04) Cabeldue discusses the challenges of transitioning between different positions on the offensive line particularly moving from tackle to guard (0:27) He highlights the benefits of playing alongside experienced teammates emphasizing the importance of building camaraderie and studying film (1:00) The conversation concludes with Cabeldue briefly mentioning his recent engagement (1:24) Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts shares his experiences during the Seattle Seahawks' rookie minicamp Ouzts praises running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu for his guidance He discusses the challenges of adapting to the fullback position at 0:34 Ouzts mentions at 0:58 that he's been involved in the passing game he explains how his tight end background helps with ball-tracking and receiving skills Ouzts expresses enthusiasm for his new teammates at 1:36 particularly mentioning running back Damien Martinez he elaborates on learning to read plays from a fullback's perspective emphasizing Coach Polamalu's role in this process Ouzts also mentions potentially adjusting his weight and maintaining his swimming routine for cardio Seahawks running back Damien Martinez discusses his early experiences at training camp he expresses gratitude for the opportunity and praises the coaching staff and his teammates Martinez emphasizes his focus on being a team player He notes the similarities between the Seahawks' offense and his experience at Oregon State at 0:39 Martinez highlights the importance of working with fullbacks and understanding offensive dynamics at 0:52 he discusses focusing on technical details during non-contact practices Martinez concludes by praising quarterback Jalen Milroe's quick adaptation to the offense at 1:35 Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe shared his experiences from his first NFL practice he expressed excitement about being an NFL quarterback Milroe discussed his focus on improving lower body mechanics (0:38) and the importance of being an efficient passer He emphasized the need for smart preparation and communication in leading the offense (1:29) Milroe highlighted the talent in the Seahawks' draft class (4:14) and his goal to earn trust and respect within the organization (5:26) He also mentioned the quick turnaround in receiving the playbook (7:54) and the importance of extra study time beyond team meetings (8:18) Milroe spoke about throwing to teammate Elijah Arroyo (9:48) and how he plans to dedicate time to taking care of his body and studying the playbook (10:24) Seahawks offensive lineman Mason Richman shared insights from his first day of training camp Richman discussed working on zone blocking schemes with offensive line coach John Benton Richman (0:39) mentioned the unique dynamic of having three rookie offensive linemen drafted playing multiple positions including guard and tackle Richman (2:21) expressed his willingness to play wherever needed He concluded by praising offensive line coach John Benton's coaching style at (3:02) expressing excitement about working with the coaching staff Seahawks defensive end Rylie Mills shares his experience from his first day on the field during rookie minicamp Mills discusses his pre-draft visit (0:35) where he impressed coaches with his football knowledge and enthusiasm He mentions the similarities between his college defense and the Seahawks' system (1:17) Mills expresses excitement about learning from veteran players like Leonard Williams (2:29) and compares his style to Zach Allen (2:59) He emphasizes the importance of effort and toughness in his game (3:28) and looks forward to contributing to the team once he's fully recovered from an injury Mills also briefly mentions meeting other rookies Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton discusses his experience as a 5th round draft pick and his transition to the NFL (0:02) Horton emphasizes his focus on mental preparation and learning the playbook while recovering from an injury (1:28) He mentions his progress in physical recovery (2:40) Horton expresses excitement about potentially returning punts highlighting how his baseball background aids in tracking the football mentioning his connection with fellow rookie Grey Zabel (4:48) Horton also shares that baseball was his first sport Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori shared his experience from his first NFL practice (1:24) He compared the transition from college to NFL as more detailed and fast-paced Emmanwori aims to be a leader and make an impact (4:16) He expressed excitement about Seattle trading up to draft him (6:05) Emmanwori praised Seattle's beautiful practice environment and mentioned his interaction with former Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor He also discussed his aspirations to make his own mark in the NFL while appreciating comparisons to players like Derwin James and Kyle Hamilton Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo shared his experiences from the team's rookie minicamp he expressed enthusiasm about the day's competition and learning the playbook Arroyo praised quarterback Jalen Milroe at 0:20 He highlighted the rookies' eagerness to work at 0:38 mentioning that coaches had to tell them to slow down Arroyo expressed excitement about the drafting of running back Damien Martinez He also discussed his transition from receiver to tight end at 1:59 and emphasized the importance of willingness in blocking at 2:27 Seahawks first-round pick Grey Zabel discusses his draft experience and joining the team thanking the staff involved in the draft process (2:09) Zabel describes the past week as surreal and a lifelong dream come true (3:41) He mentions the moment became real when he received the call from Seattle (4:00) Zabel talks about his college roommate and teammate (5:45) Schneider highlights Zabel's competitiveness at the Senior Bowl (8:40) Zabel expresses excitement about wearing the Seahawks logo and practicing with the team (10:49) He reveals choosing jersey number 76 Zabel also mentions his experience making a draft call to Mason Richman and discusses his mentality as a key strength in his game The Seattle Seahawks completed their 16th draft under GM John Schneider and second-year head coach Mike Macdonald and athletic players to build depth and competition Key additions include offensive linemen Mason Richman and Bryce Cabeldue as well as receivers Tory Horton and Ricky White III The team emphasized improving the run game with fullback Robbie Ouzts and running back Damien Martinez Macdonald praised the collaborative draft process and expressed excitement about integrating the new players The Seahawks aim to compete for championships this year while creating an environment where players are excited to come to work every day The Seattle Seahawks had a successful Day 2 of the NFL Draft adding three exciting players to their roster General Manager John Schneider and Head Coach Mike Macdonald discussed their selections of safety Nick Emmanwori They highlighted Emmanwori's exceptional athleticism and combine performance comparing him to former Seahawk Kam Chancellor Arroyo was praised for his route-running ability and potential as a versatile tight end The selection of Milroe was described as adding an explosive weapon while he develops as a quarterback The coaches emphasized their plan to maximize each player's strengths within their system and expressed excitement about the team's future with these additions The Seattle Seahawks chose guard Grey Zabel with the 18th overall pick in the NFL Draft Head Coach Mike Macdonald and General Manager John Schneider praised Zabel's toughness Zabel impressed at the Senior Bowl and was the Seahawks' top-rated interior lineman He will start at guard but can play all five offensive line positions The Seahawks emphasized Zabel's physicality and football IQ as key factors in the selection Macdonald noted there will be competition along the offensive line to determine exact positions Schneider said Zabel was their clear top choice among interior linemen available The selection of Zabel adds to the Seahawks' recent investments in their offensive line joining other young players like Christian Haynes and Abraham Lucas John Schneider and Mike Macdonald held a pre-draft press conference discussing the Seahawks' draft preparation Key points: They feel comfortable with their draft process and roster heading into the draft They're excited about their quarterback room with Sam Darnold The coaching staff is more involved in the draft process this year They aim to draft players who are good people off the field but \"dogs\" on the field Schneider cautioned against labeling draft classes as weak or strong before seeing players in the NFL Area scouts may make more draft day calls to picks this year Schneider views the draft preparation as the most exciting time of the year Wide receiver Cooper Kupp has signed with the Seahawks Kupp expressed excitement about joining his hometown team reflecting on childhood memories of watching Seahawks games his approach to learning a new offense with quarterback Sam Darnold and his philosophy on blocking as a receiver Kupp also shared insights on his mindset throughout his career from high school aspirations to his current NFL success He emphasized the importance of team culture and belief in winning citing these as key factors in his decision to join Seattle Kupp mentioned his experience playing with the Rams and his excitement about facing his former team in future games Seahawks offensive lineman Josh Jones spoke with media about what made Seattle an appealing place to sign with his ability to play at multiple positions on the offensive line and more at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence met with media to discuss why he chose to come to Seattle what he is going to bring to the Seahawks' defense his excitement to play for Mike Macdonald and Aden Durde and more at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center The Seattle Seahawks introduced Sam Darnold as their new quarterback in a press conference Head coach Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak expressed excitement about Darnold's potential his successful 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings and his eagerness to work with the Seahawks' coaching staff and players the Seahawks maintain they are not rebuilding but building for both present and future success Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald shares insights on the teams' offseason activities and team development He discusses the player interview process at the NFL Combine (0:24) emphasizing the importance of gathering data points for decision-making Macdonald highlights the benefits of having an experienced coaching staff in place earlier this year (2:04) and explains the rationale behind hiring Klint Kubiak as Offensive Coordinator (3:36) He also touches on the team's approach to building the defensive line (4:56) and the importance of versatility in player roles (16:45) Macdonald expresses excitement about working with the team's running backs including Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet (10:08) and discusses the significance of wide zone blocking schemes (14:16) He notes Jaxon Smith-Njigba's development (17:38) Seahawks president of football operations/general manager John Schneider shared insights on the team's offseason plans and draft preparation He emphasized the importance of running the ball and improving defensive speed to regain the team's identity (1:20) Schneider highlighted the value of the new coaching staff particularly offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's experience with the proven system (1:29) He stressed the significance of thorough player evaluation Schneider also discussed the challenges in quarterback evaluation and the team's goal to win multiple championships (4:20) He touched on the rare depth of running back talent in this year's draft class (18:29) and the evolving landscape of college football with transfer portals and NIL deals (22:44) The Seattle Seahawks introduced Klint Kubiak as their new offensive coordinator Head coach Mike Macdonald praised Kubiak's character Kubiak emphasized the importance of a physical balanced offense that can win in multiple ways He highlighted Geno Smith's toughness and ability to win in the 4th quarter as key strengths Kubiak plans to utilize an outside zone running scheme while adapting to personnel strengths He aims to maximize players like DK Metcalf and Kenneth Walker III The coaching staff will focus on fundamentals and being excellent teachers as they install the new offense Kubiak brings experience from his time with the Vikings and Saints and is joined by new hires John Benton (offensive line coach) and Andrew Janocko (quarterbacks coach) Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald reflected on his first year and outlined plans for the future Key points included: (0:03) Macdonald discussed the decision to move on from offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb citing a need for better alignment with his vision for a physical (4:46) He emphasized the growth and development of young players like Byron Murphy II and Christian Haynes (6:56) Macdonald praised the team's 7-1 road record but stressed the need to improve their home performance (18:58) He expressed confidence in Geno Smith as the starting quarterback going forward Macdonald highlighted the need for consistency and a thorough offseason process to reach their potential (27:36) On hiring a new offensive coordinator Macdonald said they are balancing efficiency with thoroughness in their search Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III described his rookie minicamp experience as "one of the best weekends" of his life (0:01) They aim to draft players who are good people off the field but "dogs" on the field The 'Hadestown' star opens up to PEOPLE about treading the boards while parenting his new baby He has been working at the brand since 2016 Not All Diamonds and Rosé: The Inside Story of the Real Housewives from the People Who Lived It New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced that the club has signed free agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling Here are five things to know about the Saints roster addition: Valdes-Scantling joins the Saints after spending the early portion of the 2024 NFL season with the Buffalo Bills The wide receiver most recently received significant playing time with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and 2023 where he helped the Chiefs to two consecutive Super Bowl championships including catching a 16-yard touchdown in the Chiefs victory in Super Bowl LVIII Scantling is a seven-year NFL veteran who has accumulated 188 receptions for 3,181 yards and 16 touchdowns in his 98 regular season games (60 starts) He's made his living as a deep threat with his 16.9 average yards per reception being the eighth-highest average yards per reception among players with a minimum of 0.9375 receptions per game since he entered the NFL in 2018 He has ranked in the in the top five in the NFL for the largest average depth of target in four of the last five seasons (2023 Valdes-Scantling was selected in the fifth round (174th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers out of the University of Florida Valdes-Scantling played two seasons at South Florida (2016-2017) appearing in 25 games with 23 starts posting 75 receptions for 1,294 yards and 11 touchdowns helping the Bulls to two double-digit win seasons and two consecutive victories in the Birmingham Bowl His senior year he set USF's season receiving yards record with 879 yards on a team-leading 53 receptions in 2017 He started his college career at North Carolina State (2013-14) 5. Valdes-Scantling reunites with some former teammates from the Chiefs in linebacker Willie Gay Jr. and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders. He also reunites with fellow former Packers wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown. New Orleans Saints announced they have signed wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Check out Valdes-Scantling in action with the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers during his NFL career. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (15) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, October. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (15) runs a pass route during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson) Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (15) runs a route during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes) Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (15) watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (15) runs on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) celebrates after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Kansas City Chiefs won 25-22 against the San Francisco 49ers. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) is stopped by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) catches a ball during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) makes the catch behind Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) during the first half of the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) is tackled by Denver Broncos cornerback Lamar Jackson (25) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann) Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling flips into the end zone after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) scores a touchdown in front of Baltimore Ravens defensive back Robert Jackson in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs after a catch during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec 12. 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83), defended by Detroit Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye (24), falls into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Leon Halip) Green Bay Packers' Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) runs after a catch against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Former Los Angeles Chargers veteran reunites with New Orleans defensive coordinator Brandon Staley Saints add former Tennessee Titans player with experience across offensive line Saints reunite with former first-round pick with 9,532 career receiving yards Saints add four-year veteran defensive lineman  Saints add third-year veteran running back and experienced kick returner Saints add veteran tight end experienced at run blocking Saints reunite with LSU and Brother Martin interior offensive lineman Veteran cornerback rejoins Saints after spending 2024 season with San Francisco 49ers Two-time Super Bowl champion defender returns to home state Former LSU Tiger defensive tackle and eight-year NFL veteran returns to home state Saints add veteran center with 91 career starts with New York Jets, Denver Broncos Embed on your websiteClose×Copy the code below to embed the WBUR audio player on your site<iframe width="100%" height="124" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://player.wbur.org/hereandnow/2025/01/03/chucho-valdes-grammys"></iframe> We revisit host Deepa Fernandes' September 2024 conversation with Cuban pianist and composer Chucho Valdes with "¡Con Salsa!" host José C Valdes' latest work "Cuba and Beyond" has just been nominated for a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album Load YouTube videoThis segment aired on January 3 The Green Bay Packers are approaching free agency in 2025 with no priority free agents and a need to add veteran talent to a young One year after signing safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs in free agency general manager Brian Gutekunst is in a position to make another splash in 2025 Packers Wire will run through potential options continuing today with former Packers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling in an attempt to identify the pros and cons of each potential target for Gutekunst has played with three different teams -- and won a pair of Super Bowl titles -- since leaving the Packers in 2021 Let's dig into the pros and cons of the Packers going after Valdes-Scantling: -- The Packers aren't going to have Christian Watson (torn ACL) for at least half the 2025 season Matt LaFleur's passing game needs a deep threat and Valdes-Scantling -- who ran 4.37 in the 40-yard dash coming out of USF -- could provide it once again Watson and Valdes-Scantling aren't perfectly parallel players but Valdes-Scantling does have the height (6-4) and straight-line speed -- There is obvious experience in the LaFleur offense The transition wouldn't be a difficult one for player or playcaller -- Valdes-Scantling caught 17 passes for 385 yards and four scores across eight games with the Saints to end last year proving he still has some juice left in the tank He averaged 11.0 yards per target (very good) and 1.70 yards per route run (decent) while with the Saints -- Valdes-Scantling had a run of five straight games with a catch of at least 20 yards last season -- Valdes-Scantling has played in 11 career playoff games and he's been surprisingly productive in big games He has 24 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns He caught a touchdown pass in the 2020 NFC title game with the Packers and caught a touchdown in the Super Bowl with the Chiefs Valdes-Scantling went back-to-back winning titles while a complementary player in the Chiefs passing game in 2022 and 2023 -- Signing Valdes-Scantling wouldn't prevent the Packers from re-investing at receiver in the draft Do the Packers want to bank on a rookie handling the deep threat role or sign a veteran like Valdes-Scantling who has a long history of playing the role It's worth considering for a team with title aspirations and speed-reliant players don't often age well -- Valdes-Scantling played in six games but caught only two passes before being released by the Buffalo Bills last season He was actually cut by both the Bills and Chiefs in 2024 have plagued Valdes-Scantling throughout his professional career -- Valdes-Scantling caught only four of his 15 targets on passes thrown over 20 yards in the air with the Saints last year He dropped two passes and was 1-for-6 on contested catches -- Is Valdes-Scantling a meaningfully better player at this point than Bo Melton or Malik Heath -- The draft class isn't lacking speed at receiver cheap talent on a four-year rookie deal sure beats a stop-gap I’ve been reflecting on the pervasive sense of hopelessness many are feeling as we witness the dismantling of our federal health institutions Participating in both online and in-person gatherings with community partners has been a source of strength and motivation for me especially during moments when it’s easy to feel overwhelmed Our discussions have highlighted the challenges we face during these administrative transitions including difficulties in accessing public health data navigating federal program offices and securing grant payments especially those working on the front lines in cities and neighborhoods across the country It is reassuring to see that many continue to nurture hope This underscores the urgent need for leaders who are intentional about conveying optimism amidst such unprecedented uncertainty and disruption in our systems of care revealed that trust is one of four key leadership qualities people value The research explored two questions: “What leader has the most positive influence on your daily life?” and “Please list three words that best describe what this person contributes to your life.” compassion and stability are fundamental needs we seek from our leaders with hope consistently emerging as the most important quality Here are some effective approaches I’ve observed among community and public health leaders that foster a sense of hope: There are leaders that embody these approaches throughout our communities working every day to protect the people they serve and care about we can navigate these transitions and build a brighter future for public health If you were surprised in the least by the thunderbolts of production hurled by Marquez Valdes-Scantling during the New Orleans Saints' current two-game winning streak The seventh-year receiver isn't new to this – "this" being receptions of 40 (touchdown) 71 (touchdown) and 16 yards in victories over Atlanta and Cleveland The Saints (4-7) face the Rams (5-6) 3:05 p.m poised to make his fourth consecutive start for New Orleans MVS averaged 17.5 yards per catch in 59 games over four seasons with Green Bay – including a league-leading 20.9 in 2020 – and 15.9 yards per catch on 63 catches in two seasons with Kansas City so it's not like a fluke," Valdes-Scantling said I've done all these big plays year in and year out I've been doing it for the seven years that I've been around I've been known as a big-play receiver and I think I'm averaging somewhere around 16 for his career it's 17.4 yards per catch and as a Saint – including his 5-yard catch in his first start against Carolina – it's 33.5 yards and three touchdowns on six catches Valdes-Scantling played six games with Buffalo earlier this season and caught two passes for 26 yards before he was released "I know just as well as he probably does, some situations are better than others for each player," Saints quarterback Derek Carr said "Each player doesn't fit every scheme or every organization But I think he's found a place where he fits – here He's run some similar routes; that kind of stuff helps him play faster He's exactly what the Saints needed after receivers Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave went down with injuries Shaheed (meniscus surgery) is out for the season and Olave (concussion) very well could be; Shaheed was injured Oct 13 and Olave suffered his second concussion this year "I wouldn't say I'm a perfect fit," Valdes-Scantling said "Sometimes God puts you in positions to succeed and I think it was just the right time and the right place "It's a similar offense to what I ran when I was in Green Bay but I take pride in just being a smart receiver and being able to come in and learn fast and coaches have helped me out to get up to speed and I just try to get in as fast as I could The "next" guy has been "the" guy among Saints receivers the last two games He beat Atlanta's secondary deep twice and scored his 71-yarder against Cleveland on a catch-and-run then I'm going to go make a play," he said Derek is feeling comfortable enough to give me some shots and the coaching staff is trusting me enough to get out there and play in my short time here and I've been just trying to make any play that I could." and I love that about him," Valdes-Scantling said this is my favorite receiver so I'm going to throw him the ball 'If you're in there and I like the matchup I'm going to give you a shot.' I love that about him." Shift4 Transaction Alert: Rumph enters his fifth NFL campaign originally selected in the fourth round (118th overall) by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 Undrafted free agents join New Orleans' nine selections from the 2025 NFL Draft Three-time All-Pro missed all of 2024 season with knee injury so that was another thing that added another level of shock factor" The linebacker taught for the Rockwell Independent School District including his old school Herman Utley Middle School Moore from NFL owners meeting: 'The exposure to the heat and all that stuff Moore at NFL owners meeting: 'I feel like we're heading in the right direction' Dennis Lauscha: 'I think it deserves to be considering the way the Super Bowl turned out native has appeared in 54 games with 31 starts seeing time at both guard spots and both tackle positions Radunz opened all 15 contests he appeared in at right guard NFL Network's Omar Ruiz furthers his position on why Seattle Seahawks wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdez-Scantling are able to \"line up on any given play from any given position\" Receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling followed Klint Kubiak from New Orleans to Seattle as part of the Seahawks' offseason rebuild averaging 22.6 yards per catch on 17 grabs The 30-year-old wideout said the coordinator is the reason he moved to the Pacific Northwest "I'm very excited," Valdes-Scantling said, via the team's official website I'm super excited with what Klint has done and what his offense looks like." The Saints were decimated by injuries before bringing in Valdes-Scantling who was released in mid-October by the Buffalo Bills after six ineffective games In two of his first three tilts in New Orleans most coming on big plays -- 196 of his 385 yards and three of his four TDs with the Saints came in those two games (Week 8 and 9) Valdes-Scantling credited Kubiak for bringing him to Seattle "We were together in New Orleans and when he took the job here Adding another speed element during the draft makes sense for Seattle to buffer the offense Former New York Jets and Cleveland Browns receiver Elijah Moore has played with a trove of quarterbacks in his four-year career The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Montana State's Tommy Mellott in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft The plan is to use the rookie in a variety of ways The Baltimore Ravens on Monday released veteran kicker Justin Tucker who currently is the subject of an NFL investigation into allegations of improper conduct during massage therapy sessions Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams finalized terms on a pact that pays the Super Bowl-winning quarterback $44 million for the 2025 season NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Monday NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown Julian Edelman's place in Patriots history will be officially immortalized in 2025 The longtime New England receiver has been voted into the Patriots' Hall of Fame by fans as its 37th inductee Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush was arrested Sunday on simple assault and harassment charges in Pennsylvania The 26-year old was arrested in Bell Acres in Allegheny County Seattle Seahawks third-round quarterback Jalen Milroe entered the NFL with an enticing athletic profile but lingering questions about his accuracy as a passer It's something the rookie is already out to correct The Baltimore Ravens drafted kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft Longtime kicker Justin Tucker is under investigation for potential improper conduct The Los Angeles Rams remain one of the potential landing spots for star corner Jalen Ramsey Rams head coach Sean McVay didn't downplay the club's interest in a reunion Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said that he believes the time is right for tight end Kyle Pitts to see significant growth in 2025 after three years of struggles followed a historic rookie season Barcelona legend Victor Valdes has been talking about Hansi Flick’s side after taking up his new job as coach of Real Avila The former goalkeeper admitted he loved watching the Copa del Rey final win over Real Madrid and says Flick’s style of play should have been implemented a long time ago “I really enjoy watching Barça because the coach has been able to see where football has evolved and has been able to give the 4-3-3 a different touch with a different dynamic,” he told reporters “I really enjoy it because I truly believe in the football they’re playing and because it’s the kind of football that someone should have implemented at the club a long time ago the pace and the way they approach the duels Yesterday showed that Barça and Madrid are at an extraordinary level of physicality Flick’s style has been scrutinised this season with his famous high line attracting plenty of criticism Yet there’s no doubt it’s getting great results as Flick has already won the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey and has his team top of La Liga and into the Champions League semi-finals The road finally took Marquez Valdes-Scantling to New Orleans, where he has some roots Marquez Valdes-Scantling was ready to catch a flight to New Orleans for a free agency visit in 2022, but plans changed. He finally made it here. SEE MORE >> What Alvin Kamara's new contract says about the Saints' plans at the NFL trade deadline Several of the Saints' key injured players made their way back to practice Wednesday Alvin Kamara takes huge step toward finishing career as a New Orleans Saint Jahri Evans advances in voting for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling speaks with the media on Wednesday 2024 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center ahead of the Saints' game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara speaks with the media on Wednesday 2024 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center ahead of the Saints' game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season after signing a contract extension with the team New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen speaks with the media on Wednesday New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler speaks with the media on Wednesday New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry speaks with the media on Wednesday New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan teamed up with Little Caesars to make a surprise delivery to Slidell High School's football team after practice on October 22 This podcast series will feature a roundtable discussion and healthy debate about the single greatest New Orleans Saints player at their respective position group in franchise history Todd Graffagnini and Gus Kattengell are joined by WDSU's Fletcher Mackel to discuss the best wide receivers to wear the Black & Gold A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Monday A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Sunday A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Saturday A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Friday A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Thursday A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Wednesday A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Tuesday Susan Valdés is switching political parties Members instead voted for Vanessa Lester despite Valdés having major backing from local elected officials and unions Lester was seen as the more progressive choice to lead the party through a period of rebuilding Valdés said she “will not waste” her final two years in office — this is her final term before term limits bar her from running for re-election Valdés lamented that the Democratic caucus’ “leadership expects me to ignore the needs of my community” and claimed that she had been ignored has laid out a vision for the House that focuses on empowering House members to work on real problems facing our communities,” she wrote I want to be a part of solving problems for West Tampa.” Valdés continued that she was “tired of being the party of protesting when I got into politics to be part of the party of progress.” “I know that I won’t agree with my fellow Republican House members on every issue I will be welcomed and treated with respect,” she said The new Hillsborough Democratic Party Chair “While it remains disturbingly unclear whether she was entertaining the switch to become a Republican even as she was running to lead the local Party ultimately it is her constituents in District 64 who have the most reason to be upset and betrayed They voted for a Democrat to fight for them and ended up with a political opportunist who abandoned them,” she posted to social media Hillsborough County has shifted increasingly Republican According to MCI Maps’ Matt Isbell Valdés’ House District 64 was one of a small number of legislative districts in which a Democrat was elected but a majority of voters supported Trump over Harris the House Minority Leader who also represents parts of Tampa said in a statement that she was “surprised and disappointed” in Valdés’ decision Valdés was elected by her constituents as a Democrat to fight for our shared values here in Tallahassee and has consistently and publicly shared that she feels the Republican Party does not adequately represent her constituents or beliefs,” Driskell said She also criticized Valdés for the timing of her announcement “It is sad that she has elevated her own aspirations above the needs of her district It feels especially egregious in light of the fact that she ran for Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee Chair and lost by a substantial margin,” Driskell continued “Susan should have trusted her constituents not pulled a bait-and-switch after the fact this does not change what the Democratic Caucus is here to do We will never stop fighting for what we believe: all Floridians emailed House members to notify them of Valdés’ party swap with the subject line “Big Announcement.” “I so rarely get to send a communication solely in my role as Republican Leader but I am thrilled today to announce that Representative Susan Valdés has changed her voter registration from Democrat to Republican,” he wrote “We all know Susan as a fierce advocate for her community and a person of uncommon common sense She will be a great asset to our Republican team.” He added in his email that her change will make this year’s House class “the largest Republican Conference in the history of the Florida House of Representatives.” Several welcome messages came in moments after Valdés’ posted her announcement “Like Ronald Reagan famously said: ‘Hispanics are Republicans “We are happy to have such an accomplished member join us,” he wrote in response to her announcement on X who unsuccessfully challenged Daniel Webster in Florida’s 11th Congressional District this year questioned Valdés’ departure just days after she lost a bid for Hillsborough County Democratic Party Chair Another X user wrote that Valdés “should lose your seat.” Yet another asked why Valdés had not swapped parties before the election before noting the move was “F***ed up.” The House website listing Representatives has already been updated to reflect Valdés will caucus with Republicans Valdés’ departure leaves just 34 Democrats in the 120-member Florida House of Representatives The Republican supermajority now sits at 86 members a net increase of two seats since before the General Election Florida Politics reporter Jacob Ogles contributed to this report This switch is very different from the mass of ‘Blue Dog’ Democrats that switched to the GOP in the 90s and early 00s who were essentially conservatives whose party had left them She was a Harris supporter a month ago and has was openly critical of the GOP She remains a philosophical liberal and is making the switch for purely practical reasons – to get things done for her constituents It’s interesting that Leader Diskell calls it a betrayal of her constituents Valdes is hoping to tackle the problems faced by her constituents from somewhere other than the back row of the House Chamber I have made $200 reliably in one day.That was my ideal day in my life and my boss was to a great degree content with me..CNN is additionally awed from my work and is outstandingly happy..check also unpretentious parts by open the affiliation and tap on HOME TECH OR MEDIA……… Begin here>>>>>>>>> Payathome9.Com Valdes is not trustworthy so this doesn’t surprise me She betrayed Hillsborough’s children to the charter school industry during her time on the school board so she’s capable of selling out to anyone things which are in very short supply on the Left these days He’s a Democrat who actually gets things done and is a vocal critic of the Republicans in power if only to help the party not completely collapse I say this as a moderate Republican who doesn’t want to live in a one-party state but is really put off by what the Democrats are messaging these days as it adds to its historically unprecedented supermajority in the Florida House of Representatives and led by America’s Governor Charter Schools are the best thing to happen to minority kids who had to settle for D & F grades public schools It’s a serious conundrum for the Democrats because most of the charter schools are minorities I think the voters should vote again as this is not who they voted for and she betrayed them so quickly Perhaps Republicans pay more backhanded money This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL © Copyright by Extensive-Enterprises 2025. All rights reserved. STAFF LOGIN LAKEWOOD RANCH – Golfers the world over can only play make-believe when it comes to shooting a 10-under par 61 If you’re really curious as to what it feels like ripped up the par-71 Lakewood National Golf Club on Wednesday with a career-best 61 to take the lead in the first round of the LECOM Suncoast Classic Fernandez-Valdes delivered a bogey-free round with 10 birdies He also left his drive on the par-3 third hole on the lip of the cup and settled for a birdie instead of a potential ace that could have left him at 60 when he signed his scorecard Know before you go: Korn Ferry Tour at LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club begins Wednesday “I just go and try to play the best golf that I can who is hunting for the second Korn Ferry Tour title at the $1 million Suncoast Classic “I didn’t start the day knowing I was going to shoot 10-under But you start playing good and you start to feel that it is going to be a good day “All kinds of thoughts were going through my mind El Paso's 25-year-old Tanner Gore was right on his heels one stroke behind following a torrid 9-under 62 on Wednesday Fernandez-Valdes was in one of the first groups that teed off early on Wednesday morning and Gore was in one of the last groups to finish late in the afternoon The 18-hole record at Lakewood National still belongs to Mac Meissner who shot a 12-under 59 during the second round of the 2023 Suncoast Classic but his brother Mitchell Meissner is in the field and turned in a 1-under round of 70 on Wednesday The Korn Ferry Tour record for a single round is held by Cristobal del Solar who shot a jaw-dropping 57 in February 2024 in Bogota The Columbian golfer is playing in a $4 million tournament in the Dominican Republic this week “I had great consistency from the tee,” Fernandez-Valdes said “I just try to stay ready for the opportunity an Ohio State product and Pittsburgh native were in a three-way tie for third place with 7-under 64s on Wednesday Shipley made it to 64 despite two bogeys and a double bogey on the front nine He needed just 29 shots to conquer the back nine “It feels really good to shoot a 61,” Fernandez-Valdes said “I was making birdies and kept trying to make more I’m very happy with shooting the round of my life.” You could tell that Fernandez-Valdes and his caddy were in extremely good moods as they strolled down their final fairway of the day “We were singing a lot of soccer songs about our favorite teams,” he said The second round of play is set to start on Thursday at 7 a.m Marisela Ponce de León Valdés is a Senior Transport Specialist and the Road Safety Pillar Lead within the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) at the World Bank Group. Previously, Marisela was a Transport Specialist and the focal point for East Asia Pacific for the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) with the World Bank's Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) Marisela served as the Road Safety Focal Point for the Transport Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Marisela holds a Master's Degree in Public Health from the University of Liverpool (United Kingdom) and a degree in International Relations from the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Monterrey Marisela has also worked as a Road Safety Injury and Violence Prevention Consultant for the World Health Organization (WHO) in its Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) in the Philippines and for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in its México Country Office Marisela served at the International Relations Department of the Technical Secretariat of the National Council for Accident Prevention (STCONAPRA) of Mexico The Flash’s Carlos Valdes detailed his experience with fatherhood just days before Lauren Graham confirmed he was the dad of Mae Whitman’s 6-month-old son Miles Carlos Valdes is loving the perks of being a new dad Six months after The Flash alum and Mae Whitman welcomed their first baby he reflected on balancing fatherhood while starring in Broadway's Hadestown "Not a lot of people know this, but I'm a dad, a relatively new dad," Carlos told People in an interview published March 3 "It's my personal preference that I don't share more beyond that it's not for the faint of heart!"  "This life is pretty unforgiving when it comes to balancing it with parenting." Although it's hard work being on stage multiple times a week Carlos revealed that being a dad inspired his starring role as Orpheus "I've really put a lot of my own personal experience as a dad into Orpheus' own naiveté of looking at the world." "They're in New York now," the Gilmore Girls alum explained on the March 10 episode of Dax Shephard's Armchair Expert podcast which I feel happy to plug because he's fantastic in it Although the Perks of Being a Wallflower actress is currently living in the Big Apple she and Carlos won't be sticking around permanently Despite Mae keeping the identity of her baby's father private, she did share insight into her little one while announcing his birth this summer "From the moment we heard the first tiny sound out of his tiny piggy mouth, we were besotted," she wrote on Instagram in August funniest little beebee and he's our best friend." She even revealed that their son was named after her Parenthood costar Miles Heizer who played her younger brother on the sitcom "We are infinitely grateful he chose us as his parents," she continued For more stars who've welcomed babies this year The Ultimatum couple welcomed their third baby The Los Angeles Dodgers star player announced April 19 that his wife had given birth to their first baby While still legally married to Gino Palazzolo, the 90 Day Fiancé star gave birth to a baby girl named Matty with her boyfriend The Love Is Blind couple who appeared on season one of the Netflix dating series announced April 6 that they have welcomed their first baby The Saturday Night Live alum and her fiancé—whose full name has not been publicly revealed—welcomed their baby girl in early April “It’s been a week and a day with my beautiful squirmy baby girl,” Cecily captioned an April 10 Instagram post “I recognize all her little squirms and kicks from when she was on the other side of me and now I get to say ‘see what I was talking about!’” The YouTuber, who goes by Ms. Rachel, announced on April 8 she and her husband welcomed their second baby "Sometimes timing isn’t what you plan and the road to get there is bumpier than you expect," she wrote in the post "but when you hold your little ones you know… I’m meant to be your mama." The Shazam! actor and his girlfriend—who’ve mostly kept their romance under the radar—welcomed their first baby The Philadelphia Eagles alum and his wife welcomed their fourth baby girl, Finnley "Finn" Anne Kelce The Transformers alum and the "Bloody Valentine" singer welcomed a baby girl on March 27, nearly three months after it was reported that the couple broke up The Real Housewives of New York City star announced she and her husband welcomed their fourth baby together, a baby boy named Jack Attention Upper Eastsiders, the Gossip Girl alum is a dad! He and the Supergirl actress welcomed a baby boy named Oscar Alexander Westwick The Entourage alum expanded his, well, entourage when his wife gave birth to their second son Evren Saint-Eros on March 22 Eminem became a grandpa when his daughter gave birth to a baby boy named Elliot Marshall McClintock—a nod to the rapper's real name is Marshall Mathers—in mid-March The Sister Wives star and her husband shared the arrival of their fourth baby Emilia Estelle Brush March 15 “We waited for you to make your appearance,” Madison wrote on Instagram The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker and former professional soccer player announced the arrival of their baby girl on March 10 "Worth The Wait," they wrote in an Instagram post "Welcome To The World Blakely Marie Watt!" The “Ex’s and Oh’s” singer welcomed her second baby with her on-again off-again boyfriend of five years in late February "Our family just got a little bit brighter," the couple captioned a joint Feb. 28 Instagram post. "Welcome to the world Royal Tooker." Snoop Dogg's daughter gave birth to "perfect" baby girl on Feb Cori shared the insecurity she felt for not carrying the baby to full term “I’ve cried and cried, I’ve compared and compared, blaming myself that I wasn’t able to give her all that she needed,” she wrote in her Feb. 28 Instagram announcement “But no matter what God always shows me that I’m His Child!” The Bachelor alum found himself with a new rose on Feb. 12, when his wife gave birth to their daughter Winona Elane Higgins at 2:53 a.m I won’t accurately articulate what just happened," Ben wrote on Instagram and so many moments of lacking the words but feeling God inspired love." The Teen Mom alum and his fiancée welcomed a baby girl named Presley Sage Elianna Edwards on Feb Ryan is also dad to son Bentley with ex Maci Bookout as well as kids Jagger and Stella from his relationship with MacKenzie Standifer The supermodel gave birth to her third baby multiple outlets reported in early February While accepting the 2025 Grammy award for Best Rock Song the "Broken Man" singer revealed she got married and is a mom "We’ve kept it under wraps," she later told the press of her life updates, per The Hollywood Reporter The New York Yankees outfielder and his wife welcomed a little girl named Nora Rose Judge on Jan The This Is Us alum became a part of his own big three after welcoming baby girl Ke’ala Coral Ventimiglia with his wife on Jan It's a bébé for the Emily in Paris star! She and her director husband welcomed their first child—daughter Tove Jane McDowell—via surrogate The Disney Channel alum gave birth to her first child Kasai in January She has not publicly revealed the name of her boyfriend The Kansas City Chiefs safety got himself a new teammate when his girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl weeks before the Super Bowl "I saw her being born," he shared in a Jan "And didn’t feel anything except love and so much happiness holding her." Princess Beatrice & Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi The royal—who is the granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip and the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson—gave birth to her second child on Jan She and her husband named their baby girl Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi Bachelor Nation grew by one member on Jan. 20, when Madi—who appeared on Peter Weber's season of The Bachelor—gave birth to her first baby with her husband The couple named their daughter Hosanna Rose Troutt The Dan + Shay singer and his wife might need a bigger house after welcoming baby No. 4 We're checking in with the Best Musical Tony winner and exploring how it's become a long-running audience favorite Dandridge, who joined the company February 18, is currently starring as Persephone in the Anaïs Mitchell musical at the Walter Kerr Theatre with additional performances in Once On This Island, Rent, Tarzan, Spamalot, Jesus Christ Superstar made his Broadway debut in 2013 in Once.  The folk- and jazz-infused musical layers the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with that of Hades and Persephone intertwining the actions—and consequences—of gods and mortals Hadestown originally began as a theatrical concert performed by Mitchell Along with a chat with Dandridge and Valdes the Hadestown episode of The Playbill Podcast also features host Playbill Chief Operating Officer and Vice President Alex Birsh joined by Playbill writer Margaret Hall to discuss what makes this show so special Future episodes of The Playbill Podcast are slated to center on SIX: The Musical with its Tony-winning creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss; Maybe Happy Ending with star and co-producer Darren Criss; Operation Mincemeat with two of its stars Natasha Hodgson and Jak Malone; & Juliet with current stars Maya Boyd and Alison Luff; and lots more in the weeks ahead “The two most common questions anyone at Playbill gets from friends or family are: 'What's on Broadway And what should I see?,'" says Birsh of the inspiration behind the new project Whether you’re a Broadway veteran or just starting to explore Along with Birsh and stars from each spotlighted show episodes feature conversations with Playbill's resident theatre experts aka the staffers that spend all their days writing and working on theatre and most nights seeing shows The Playbill Podcast connects you with the savvy and fun theatre fans you've been looking for whether it's to help you find your next ticket to buy or just giving you a place to geek out about your favorite show Gail Kriegel's new play follows a family affected by mental illness The Tony-winning Best Musical continues at the Walter Kerr Theatre Noah Himmelstein will direct Matthew Puckett's original musical Neumann is the Tony nominated choreographer behind Hadestown and Swept Away one Tony winner is playing the trumpet while the other is channeling Madame Rose Due to the expansive nature of Off-Broadway Thank You!You have now been added to the list Blocking belongson the stage,not on websites Our website is made possible bydisplaying online advertisements to our visitors Please consider supporting us bywhitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.Thank you METAIRIE, La. -- Veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has agreed to terms with the New Orleans Saints Valdes-Scantling visited with the Saints on Monday working out and taking a physical before meeting with coach Dennis Allen that afternoon he ran around pretty good," Allen said earlier Monday The Saints (2-5) needed to add another receiver after losing Rashid Shaheed for the season Shaheed had season-ending surgery to repair a meniscus last week he was leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns before his injury The Saints have also been without Chris Olave, who remains in the concussion protocol after leaving a Week 6 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a head injury Valdes-Scantling (6-foot-4) has started 60 games with 188 catches for 3,181 yards and 16 touchdowns. He had a touchdown catch in the Chiefs' win against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII got a good speed element to him and he's somebody that can fit some of the things that we might be needing in particular with the loss of Shaheed," Allen said "Another speed element is something I think we can consider." The news was first reported by NFL Network ESPN's Jeremy Fowler contributed to this report The 'Parenthood' actress welcomed her first baby in August 2024 Neilson Barnard/Getty; Maarten De Boer/Getty Susan Valdes on Monday switched her party registration from Democrat to Republican The move expands the GOP majority in the House to 86-34 the largest Republican majority in the House according to a memo from Speaker Danny Perez who is term limited and was recently re-elected as a Democrat said she didn’t want to spend the next two years being “ignored” by her party I have long known that no one has a monopoly on good ideas,” Valdes wrote in a statement posted on X “I will not waste my final two years in the Florida Legislature being ignored in a caucus whose leadership expects me to ignore the needs of my community.” Valdes was a former Hillsborough County School Board member who first ran for the House as a Democrat in 2018 especially for harsh immigration policies and rhetoric Valdes was elected by her constituents as a Democrat to fight for our shared values here in Tallahassee and has consistently and publicly shared that she feels the Republican Party does not adequately represent her constituents or her beliefs,” House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell “It is sad that she has elevated her own aspirations above the needs of her district.” Valdes defeated Republican Maura Cruz Lanz by 5% Valdes was campaigning to be Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee Chair “We all know Susan as a fierce advocate for her community She will be a great asset to our Republican team,” Perez stated in his memo Valdes said she wants to work with Perez to help her district “I’m tired of being the party of protesting when I got into politics to be part of the party of progress,” Valdes wrote in her statement I will be welcomed and treated with respect.” For Democrats, the move is another blow for a party on a severe losing streak Republicans have more than 1 million more registered voters than Democrats and just swept last month’s elections maintaining their supermajority in the state Senate and expanding it in the House Perez hasn’t yet appointed members to House committees are set to begin interim committee meetings in January ahead of the March 4 start of the legislative session Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer The New Orleans Saints gave a veteran wide receiver a shot last season and he turned out to be a solid big play threat now they must decide if they want to bring him back next year Marquez Valdes-Scantling played in eight games last season with 17 catches for 385 yards and four touchdowns It felt like every time he touched the ball something big happened The players making around that money this year were Chris Conley of the Kansas City Chiefs and rival receiver Sterling Shepard of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers It is clear that this is the price that these lower-end veteran receivers end up getting in free agency. Pro Football Focus predicts that he will get a little bit more with their one-year deal number coming in at $2.25 million That number point is for a little bit higher tier of player at the position Buffalo Bills wideout Mack Hollins and Tyler Boyd of the Tennessee Titans are two examples near that number Valdes-Scantling is a solid player that could help the team out as a fourth option in the room The fact that he was able to find some rhythm with Derek Carr is enough to bring him back for next year SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks began filling out their receiving corps Wednesday in the wake of the departures of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett reaching agreement on a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million with veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling A league source confirmed the agreement to the Seattle Times Valdes-Scantling played last season in New Orleans where new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was the offensive coordinator He had 17 receptions for 385 yards and four touchdowns in eight games with the Saints after joining the team at midseason after he was released by Buffalo Valdes-Scantling played in six games with two catches for 26 yards with the Bills before his release 206-pound Valdes-Scantling played in seven NFL seasons and won two Super Bowl rings with the Chiefs following the 2022 and 2023 seasons including catching a TD in KC’s 25-22 overtime win over the 49ers following the 2023 season The Seahawks released Lockett on Wednesday and traded Metcalf to the Steelers on Friday creating two big holes in their receiving corps joins Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo as the only receivers on the roster who caught a pass last season Cody White is an exclusive rights free agent and also figures to return The Seahawks could make a run at Cooper Kupp Valdes-Scantling has 205 receptions for 3,566 yards and 20 touchdowns in 106 NFL games averaging 33 receptions for 572 yards and three TDs per season He was rated as Pro Football Focus’ 117th-best free agent available The third day of NFL free agency opened with the Seahawks learning a player who began last season as a starter – cornerback Tre Brown – is moving on to the rival 49ers Brown announced the move on X stating: “Dealt w injuries last year that slowed me down but we 100% 9ers getting a good one I can promise you that!’’ Brown was a fourth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2021 out of Oklahoma and started 13 games and played in 39 over the last four years Brown began last season as the starting left cornerback when the team was in the nickel package which opened the door for Josh Jobe to take over his role Jobe held on to that spot for most of the rest of the year as the defense showed marked improvement down the stretch Jobe agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $2 million last week which foreshadowed that Brown would not be returning Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen are all under contract for the 2025 season and set as the team’s starting cornerback trio heading into the offseason Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible Get the day’s top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here TDS Telecommunications continues expanding its high-speed all-fiber internet network into more Spokane-area neighborhoods © Copyright 2025, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy Sundays game ebbed and flowed plenty before it finally ebbed and flowed enough in the New Orleans Saints' direction that they were able to come away with a 20-17 victory over Atlanta in the Caesars Superdome the players who precipitated the sways were numerous OFFENSE: Receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling joined the Saints on Oct caught one pass for five yards in his Saints debut last week against Carolina and then did everything the Saints envisioned he could in the first half against the Falcons He caught a 40-yard touchdown pass to give the Saints a 10-0 lead in the second quarter and a 67-yard pass on the team's next possession to set up his 2-yard touchdown catch Three catches for 109 yards in two possessions; he didn't catch another pass in the game He did exactly what was needed and asked by a team that has been missing a deep threat since Rashid Shaheed was placed on injured reserve and missed the previous three games Gotta toss in an honorable mention to running back Alvin Kamara who became leading rusher in franchise history Sunday; Kamara would at least have shared the honor 56-yard touchdown on a perfectly thrown pass submarined it for him Watch highlights of the best plays by the New Orleans Saints against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season with an interception at the Saints' 32-yard line with 1:59 left The defense made the plays necessary to win the game and hopefully that proves to be a confidence boost SPECIAL TEAMS: John Ridgeway III said he didn't take anything for granted and it was good for the Saints that he didn't He blocked a 35-yard field-goal attempt by Atlanta's Younghoe Koo in the second quarter that obviously was a big play at the time – it allowed the Saints to enter halftime with a 17-7 lead – but ultimately helped the Saints maintain a three-point advantage as the clock expired Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov C Connor McGovern (61) guards Matthew Judon during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov TE Taysom Hill (7) runs with the ball during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov C/G Cesar Ruiz (51) in action during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov QB Derek Carr (4) scrambles during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov S Tyrann Mathieu (32) in action during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov RB Alvin Kamara (41) runs with the ball during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov LB Demario Davis (56) in action during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov DE Chase Young (99) in action during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov and S Ugo Amadi (0) get ready during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) catches the ball for a 40-yd touchdown during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov DT John Ridgeway III (95) blocks the field goal attempt during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) runs with the ball during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) runs during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) scores a touchdown during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) catches the ball for a touchdown during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov S Tyrann Mathieu (32) tackles brings down Drake London during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov DT Khalen Saunders (50) makes a tackle during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov DT John RIdgeway III (95) and DT Bryan Bresee (90) reach to block a field goal during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov C/G Connor McGovern (61) in action during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov T Taliese Fuaga (75) in action during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov QB Derek Carr (4) throws the ball during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov LB Demario Davis (56) makes a tackle during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov CB Alontae Taylor (1) in action during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov CB Alontae Taylor (1) and S Ugo Amadi (0) during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov DE Cameron Jordan (94) in action during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov DE Carl Granderson (96) in action during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov P Matthew Hayball (43) punts the ball during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov and LB Anfernee Orji (58) run after the punt during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov DE Cameron Jordan (94) and DT Bryan Bresee (90) during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov S Tyrann Mathieu (32) intercepts Kirk Cousins' pass during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov Tyrann Mathieu (32) intercepts Kirk Cousins' pass during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov CB Alontae Taylor (1) tackles Bijon Robinson during the New Orleans Saints game against the Atlanta Falcons for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL Season on Nov Dive into the New Orleans Saints' 2024 NFL season Demario Davis pushed his season total to 136 tackles his highest total in his seven seasons with the Saints Blake Grupe made all four field-goal attempts in season finale Saints drop finale on the road to finish 5-12 Buccaneers will get the ball to start the second half The New Orleans Saints visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium for Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season on Sunday listen & live stream the New Orleans Saints vs 14-year veteran defensive end didn't know if loss to Raiders would be final game with Saints in the Caesars Superdome Demario Davis is first Saints player to have at least 120 stops in back-to-back seasons since LB Curtis Lofton The Student Academic Success Committee has advanced a bill that seeks to end the certificates of completion for high school students and adult learners Tampa Republican Rep. Susan Valdés introduced the measure (HB 1111) She told committee members that a high school certificate of completion in place of a high school diploma “means absolutely nothing” when it comes to getting them ready for real life a certificate of completion is awarded to a student currently who maybe has not met one of the requirements for a standardized high school diploma,” Valdés said this particular certificate completion is the most beautiful piece of paper that a student in high school can receive that means absolutely nothing.” Valdés said students who receive certificates of completion can’t join the military or even get a job at some fast-food establishments because they require a high school diploma “This particular certificate of completion just acknowledges that the student has been in the schools from kindergarten to 12th grade and didn’t learn much,” Valdés said “That particular student is not able to go to the military That particular student is unable to go to a post-secondary college require a high school diploma in order for you to work at their facility.” Valdés is proposing to nix certificates of completion altogether from Florida schools calling them nothing more than a “participation trophy.” “What this bill does is that it removes the certificate of completion while we were in school either you did it or you didn’t and you had supports along the way,” Valdés said “Right now there are so many different pathways that educators can really help steer their children that this particular certificate of completion is just a participation trophy.” Apopka Republican Rep. Doug Bankson asked whether removing the certificates would encourage students to finish their education in something that will help them going forward Valdés responded by noting that removing the certificates would encourage educators to give students extra support to get their studies completed once they first notice a student could be falling behind and at risk of failing “It will make sure that the adults at the high school know ahead of time what students may be struggling along the way,” Valdés said “To give them that extra eye and extra attention that they need so that they have ample time between the time that they realize that the child is heading towards receiving that certificate of completion to give them that extra support and that extra encouragement in order to meet that benchmark.” Valdés added that students at Regional Educational Service Centers would be able to sign a waiver to receive a standardized high school diploma and would not be negatively impacted by the bill Naples Republican Rep. Yvette Benarroch supported the bill and thanked Valdés for bringing the legislation forward “I did a little bit of research to see how they would come about failing our children?” Benarroch said “I found out that it’s a policy that started in the ’80s as a workaround I cannot thank you enough for what you’re doing and that diploma is something that no one can take away from you The bill was passed unanimously and will make its way next to the PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee It should be supplemented with a requirement that private schools and home schoolers return all voucher money if received in relation to any child who can’t meet these same standards by the time they are 18 But I doubt that would see the light of day because it would interfere too much with the grift This conversation has been edited for length and clarity purposes. To start, Valdes shares background on LPT and his involvement with the company. He joined LPT in July after serving as eXp Realty’s chief growth officer in a very short period of time — less than three years It was meeting (LPT International CEO) Robert (Palmer) and really knowing that I could give more to agents with this platform Tracey Velt: Can you explain the model and what you mean by ‘platform?’ Valdes: LPT has Agent Choice. There are two models. It’s a hybrid model that lives side by side. An agent can come in and be at 100% commission pay a $500 transaction fee for 10 transactions you are allowed to attract and build an organization We don’t charge an agent anything until they close their first sale When we talk about an agent-first model and agent choice Velt: How do you prioritize the consistent growth of the company with all of the rest of the day-to-day operations Valdes: I think the greatest answer to that is letting people understand what the greater picture is. We are in the game to build the largest real estate company in our industry We’re doing that not just by the numbers of volume and transactions We also want to be the greatest training facility of our industry How do we get there and why do we want to build it Those are the intrinsic values that someone has to really understand to know the bigger picture Velt: Let’s shift to real estate industry trends Where are you seeing the biggest opportunities Valdes: Everyone is trying to figure out our industry. There’s also a lot of consolidation happening There is a trend that will probably continue with that You will also see a lot of independence that will try to find a home with some of these other brands Velt and Valdes explore the future role of the agent in the evolving real estate industry It’s efficient in what we are doing and tasks that we do and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Don't have an account? Please Sign Up New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling's postgame interview after the Saints' win vs the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints wide receiver and return specialist Rashid Shaheed's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders' top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of the New Orleans Saints Special Teams' top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints defensive back Alontae Taylor's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of the 10 best plays made by the New Orleans Saints during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis' top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr's top plays during the 2024 NFL season Watch some of the moments of silence across the NFL in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season in solidarity with New Orleans following the tragic New Year's Day attack New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi's postgame interview after the Saints' loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season New Orleans Saints defensive back Will Harris' postgame interview after the Saints' loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler's postgame interview after the Saints' loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson's best catches from his 80-yard game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season Watch full game highlights from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints game in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Jack Browning fumbles the snap and gets his punt blocked by New Orleans Saints fullback Adam Prentice during Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valders-Scantling speaks with the media following the Saints' loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Jack Browning fumbles the snap and gets his punt blocked by New Orleans Saints fullback Adam Prentice during Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season.