(CBS Philly/CBS Local) – A baby cough syrup sold at Dollar General stores across the country has been recalled due to a possible bacteria contamination. Kingston Pharma, LLC, which manufactures the “DG/health NATURALS baby Cough Syrup + Mucus,” says the cough syrup may be contaminated with Bacillus cereus/ Bacillus circulans.

The bacteria has the potential to cause gastrointestinal illness, including vomiting and diarrhea. The FDA says the symptoms are often mild and self-limiting, although more serious and even lethal cases have occurred.

The FDA warns those at risk for more severe forms of illness include infants, young children, and others with weakened immune systems.

The recalled bottles are labeled, “DG/health NATURALS baby Cough Syrup + Mucus” and come in 2-fluid ounce bottles marked with Lot KL180157 Expiration date 11/20 on the bottom of the carton and back of the bottle label; UPC Code 8 54954 00250 0.

There have been no reports of illness in connection to this cough syrup.

Consumers who have purchased Lot KL180157 of DG/health NATURALS baby Cough Syrup + Mucus” may return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-844-724-7347 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST or e-mail at Christina.Condon@SciRegs.com.

(WCCO/CBS Local) — Many people across the country will be taking a break from technology Friday evening.

It’s part of the National Day Of Unplugging, where people are encouraged to ditch their electronic devices and connect with those around them.

The goal is to enjoy a day uninterrupted by phones, tablets, computers and other electronic devices. It also encourages people to go outdoors and enjoy the places around them.

It officially begins at sundown Friday and ends at sundown Saturday.

You can take a pledge at NationalDayOfUnplugging.com.

By Steve Silverman

(CBSLA/CBS Local) — Many of the NFL’s high-flying offenses have returned to earth in recent weeks. The Chiefs and Rams are both coming off of losses. The Saints have won two straight, but averaged only 20 points in those games. Even the Patriots, who usually surge in December, managed only 10 points in last week’s loss to the Steelers.

While scoring among these teams is down, the skill players who drive those offenses remain among the best options for daily fantasy. Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady and Drew Brees are pretty good at finding the end zone. Todd Gurley is still, well, Todd Gurley. Even Ezekiel Elliott, whose Cowboys were shut out by the red-hot Colts, leads the League in yards. So you may notice some familiar names among the top daily fantasy players.

Patrick Mahomes (Photo Credit: Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Quarterbacks

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City at Seattle, FD Proj. – 27.4 points

After last week’s loss to the Chargers, the Chiefs have no margin for error. However, Mahomes has been coming through since Week 1, and there’s no reason to believe that he won’t come through here. In addition to his powerful arm, Mahomes has excellent touch and reads defenses well. He averages 8.8 yards per pass and has thrown 45 TD passes.

2. Tom Brady, New England vs. Buffalo,  – 26.0 points

The Patriots have had back-to-back opportunities to win the AFC East and failed in both of them. They get another opportunity at home against the Bills. It’s basically impossible to see Tom Brady lose three games in a row. He should have a big day, and the Pats win the AFC East title.

3. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis vs. N.Y. Giants – 24.8 points.

The Colts are basically the hottest team in the NFL, at least among teams that are on the outside of the playoff structure. They are going to need the Ravens or Steelers to lose, and they must keep on winning if they want to play postseason football. Look for the red-hot Andrew Luck to add to his 34 TD passes as the Colts get the best of the Giants.

4. Drew Brees, New Orleans vs. Pittsburgh  – 24.0 points

The Saints have slowed down on offense the last four weeks. And while they are likely to end up with the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, Brees and head coach, Sean Payton, would like to see the Saints show off their offensive prowess. This could be the game that Brees and the Saints get back on track.

5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers at N.Y. Jets – 22.8 points.

This has been a brutal year for the Packers, who have been eliminated from the playoffs. Beyond that, but they have not won a road game this year. This is their last chance, and look for Rodgers to put up a strong showing against the Jets.

Todd Gurley (Photo Credit: Harry How/Getty Images)

Running backs

1. Todd Gurley, L.A. Rams at Arizona – 20.2 points

The Rams have dropped two games in a row and doubt has started to creep in. The defense is causing quite a few problems, and the offense has slowed down some with Jared Goff slumping. Whether or not Goff picks it up against the Rams, don’t bet against Gurley. He should be in line for 100 yards and a touchdown.

2. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas vs. Tampa Bay– 19.4 points

The Cowboys should be in serious bounce-back mode after getting blanked by the Indianapolis Colts. The Bucs have perhaps the most porous defense in the league, and it could be a huge day for Elliott. He leads the NFL with 1,349 rushing yards, and could be good for 150 yards in this game.

3. Nick Chubb, Cleveland vs. Cincinnati – 18.6  points

The Browns are still alive for a playoff spot. They may need a near miracle to get there, but it’s a huge improvement from previous years. The Browns have a brilliant future with Baker Mayfield at quarterback and Chubb at running back. Chubb has rushed for 860 yards and eight touchdowns, and he will get to 1,000 yards before the end of the season, perhaps in this game.

4. Saquon Barkley, N.Y. Giants at Indianapolis – 16.6 points

Barkley has his hands full in this game, as he faces a tough Indianapolis defense that shut out the Cowboys. Barkley was held in check by the Tennessee Titans last week, but it’s difficult to see Barkley getting stopped two weeks in a row.

5. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans vs Pittsburgh – 15.9 points

The Saints always get a big lift from Kamara, who is as dangerous of a receiver as he is a running back. Kamara runs with power and excels at bouncing out of tackles. He should be able to exploit the Pittsburgh defense.

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DeAndre Hopkins (Photo Credit: Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Wide receivers

1. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston at Philadelphia – 17.6 points

Once Hopkins makes his first catch in any game, he becomes one of the top receivers in the NFL. He can run and has excellent reach, but his best asset is his hands. Any time he gets his hands on the ball, he makes the catch. Hopkins has caught 94-1,321-11 so far, and he should cause quite a bit of damage against the Eagles.

2. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh at New Orleans – 16.8 points

The Steelers broke their losing streak against the Patriots in Week 15, but it doesn’t get any easier in this game. The Steelers have to take on the best team in the league in the Saints, and they have to go on the road to do it. If they are going to win this game, Brown has to come through with a huge effort. He is certainly up to the job, being the best receiver in the league.

3. Davante Adams, Green Bay at N.Y. Jets, – 16.0 points

The Packers are finishing off a disappointing season in the next two weeks, and this is their last opportunity to win a road game. Adams is Aaron Rodgers’ best receiver, and he should get the best of the Jets secondary. Adams has caught 100-1,315-12, and he builds on those numbers against the Jets.

4. Julio Jones, Atlanta at Carolina – 15.2 points

The belief here is that the Panthers left it all on the field in Week 15 against the Saints, and they really won’t have much to play for in this game. Jones is a remarkable athlete, who should torch the Carolina secondary. Look for Jones to have at least 100 yards against the Panthers.

5. Amari Cooper, Dallas vs. Tampa Bay – 14.2 points

Cooper has been a difference-maker for the Cowboys since coming over at the trade deadline from the Oakland Raiders. He has excellent acceleration and is a top run-after-catch guy. The Tampa Bay defense is not going to come close to slowing down Cooper, and he has a big day here.

Travis Kelce (Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Tight ends

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City at Seattle – 12.8 points

The Chiefs have to win this game if they want to hold on to first place in the AFC West, and Kelce is a warrior on the field. He will have to be at his best against the hard-hitting and physical Seahawks.

2. Eric Ebron, Indianapolis vs. N.Y. Giants – 10.4 points

It continues for Ebron, as he nears the end of this career year. Ebron has been spectacular, with 59 receptions for 662 yards and 12 touchdowns. Pittsburgh’s Brown has 13 TD catches, and he is the only receiver with more scoring plays.

3. George Kittle, San Francisco vs. Chicago – 9.4 points

Kittle has a tough assignment this week, as the 49ers host the Bears. Chicago has already clinched the NFC North, and Matt Nagy’s team hopes to earn a bye week in the NFC playoffs. However, Kittle is an excellent athlete who excels at picking up yardage after the catch. If the Bears take this game lightly, Kittle could have a huge day.

4. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia vs. Houston – 8.8 points

Ertz is one of the best tight ends in the NFL, and he has already caught 101 passes for 1,038 yards and six touchdowns. The Texans are going to concentrate on stopping Ertz and Alshon Jeffery, but the tight end should find a way to make some plays when it matters most.

5. Rob Gronkowski, New England vs. Buffalo – 7.8 points

The Patriots need to win this game, but they have learned this year that Gronkowski may not be the receiver he has been in the past. He seems to have problems getting open, and that’s something that the Patriots have to adjust to. However, the Pats are back at home after road losses to Miami and Pittsburgh, and they should do a much better job there against the Bills. Gronkowski has at least five receptions and gets into the end zone once.

Ryan Mayer

With five weeks left before the NFL playoff seeds are set, we have a pretty clear picture of the teams that are in the running and the teams that are not. However, no one is locked into a playoff spot yet, as the Seahawks held off the Rams clinching the NFC West for one more week with their win on Sunday. The NFC playoff picture is more clear cut at the top after the Bears win on Thanksgiving, but there are still six teams with 20-percent odds or better to make the playoffs, with just three spots remaining.

So, let’s take a look at each team and their playoff odds (using Football Outsiders’ calculation), along with their remaining schedule, to lay out what the NFC playoff picture looks like at this point. We’ll be separating the teams into three tiers: locks, likely, and work to do. Locks is any team at 90% or above, likely is 60% or above and work to do is well, anything below that.

Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Locks

New Orleans Saints

Playoff Odds: 100%, Remaining Games: @Cowboys, @Bucs, @Panthers, vs. Steelers, vs. Panthers

Since the inexplicable 48-40 loss to Tampa Bay to start the season, the Saints have been a buzz saw, ripping off 10 straight wins, the longest streak in the league. Due to a win over the Rams in October, they are in the driver’s seat for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, their schedule is much more difficult than L.A.’s the rest of the way. Only one sub-.500 team (Tampa) along with a road game in Dallas, home date with Pittsburgh and a home-and-home with the Panthers. There’s a chance they drop to the two spot, simply because of the difficult schedule.

Dorian O’Daniel and Todd Gurley (L-R) (Photo Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Rams

Playoff Odds: 100%, Remaining Games: @Lions, @Bears, vs. Eagles, @Cardinals, vs. 49ers

The Rams, at 10-1, could have clinched the NFC West division had the Seahawks lost this past Sunday to the Panthers. Instead, they now need to win this week to clinch the division and assure themselves a playoff spot. But this group likely has higher goals in mind, at the very least having a first-round bye. With a favorable schedule, featuring four sub-.500 teams left, the Rams should very well achieve that goal. The biggest game left is the road game against the Bears, which will be a fascinating test of offense vs. defense, with the Rams the league’s second-best offense by DVOA (31.3%) and the Bears the top-ranked defense (-20.9%).

Credit: Leon Halip/Getty Images

Chicago Bears

Playoff Odds: 97%, Remaining Games: @Giants, vs. Rams, vs. Packers, @49ers, @Vikings

The Bears, as we noted above, have been dominant defensively, outside of a pair of weird performances against the Dolphins and Patriots earlier this year. To be fair, Khalil Mack was hobbled by injury for those games, and he’s clearly had a massive effect on this defense. He’s back healthy now, but quarterback Mitch Trubisky is not. Trubisky missed the team’s Thanksgiving game with an AC joint sprain, and his status for this week against the Giants is “up in the air“. Still, the Bears should be able to get past the Giants with Chase Daniel. As noted above, the Rams matchup is fascinating, but whether they win is up in the air. The Packers in three weeks looks like the game to highlight, because if the Bears win that game, the NFC North is basically wrapped up.

Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Likely

Seattle Seahawks

Playoff Odds: 74.2%, Remaining Games: vs. 49ers, vs. Vikings, @49ers, vs. Chiefs, vs. Cardinals

The Seahawks are ranked just outside the top 10 in Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric on both offense and defense (11th in both). Russell Wilson has had another strong year, taking care of the football by throwing just five interceptions against 25 touchdowns. The running game has been strong this season, going under 100 yards just three times this season and going over 150 yards seven times. The Chiefs and Vikings matchups are the biggest potholes left on the schedule, but they do both come at home.

Credit: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Minnesota Vikings

Playoff Odds: 65.8%, Remaining Games: @Patriots, @Seahawks, vs. Dolphins, @Lions, vs. Bears

Speaking of the Vikings, they have the far more difficult schedule of the two teams listed here and arguably the most difficult schedule of any of the teams in this post. The biggest problem for Minnesota this season has been offensive regression, as Kirk Cousins hasn’t provided a meaningful upgrade over Case Keenum’s play last season with the unit dropping from fifth to 17th in DVOA. The defense has rounded into form after some early struggles, but they’ll need better from Kirk Cousins and company down the stretch to make the playoffs.

Credit: Elsa/Getty Images

Work To Do

Dallas Cowboys

Playoff Odds: 51.1%, Remaining Games: vs. Saints, vs. Eagles, @Colts, vs. Buccaneers, @Giants

The reason the Cowboys find themselves here and not the category above is the matchups against the Saints, Eagles and Colts. They face the Saints juggernaut tonight, and if they win, their chances skyrocket. But, in the more likely event that they lose, they could be playing the Eagles for the division lead the following week. The Colts matchup is no cakewalk either, with Indy riding a five-game winning streak into this weekend. Dallas is the favorite to emerge from the East, because they have three of five games left at home, but they’re by no means a sure thing.

Credit: Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

Washington Redskins

Playoff Odds: 38.1%, Remaining Games: @Eagles, vs. Giants, @Jaguars, @Titans, vs. Eagles

The schedule doesn’t look super daunting for Washington, until you realize that Colt McCoy is their starter the rest of the way. Combine that with a severely banged up offensive line, and you have a team that has gone from likely division winners to likely missing the playoffs. The injuries suffered by Washington just look like too much to overcome at this point in the season, but they still have a chance if they can win all three remaining division games.

Credit: Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Carolina Panthers

Playoff Odds: 33.5%, Remaining Games: @Buccaneers, @Browns, vs. Saints, vs. Falcons, @Saints

The Panthers, like the Vikings, have an unfavorable schedule remaining for the playoff hunt. Two matchups with the Saints (though the second could be backups playing, depending on whether New Orleans has locked up home-field advantage), a game against Atlanta, and one against the improved Browns are not easy.

Credit: Elsa/Getty Images

Philadelphia Eagles

Playoff Odds: 21.1%, Remaining Games: vs. Redskins, @Cowboys, @Rams, vs. Texans, @Redskins

Aside from the Vikings, this may be the most difficult remaining slate for any of these teams. Three division games, two on the road, plus an away game against the Rams and home game against the streaking Texans makes for a hard December. The Eagles scraped by the Giants last week, but that kind of performance won’t get things done against this schedule. Unless the play we saw from the offensive line last week is real, the Super Bowl champs are unlikely to make a defense of their title.

By Steve Silverman

Since the Rams and Chiefs took the week off following their record-setting Monday night show, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers decided it was his turn to set records. He completed 25 straight passes to start the game against the Arizona Cardinals and finished the game by completing 28-of-29 throws. The 25 straight completions tied the record (held by Ryan Tannehill), and he broke the record for completion percentage in a game.

Texans 34, Titans 17

Tennessee Titans: B-. There were a lot of things to like about the way the Titans played, especially compared to their awful performance in Week 11 vs. Indianapolis. The best of those was the accuracy displayed by Marcus Mariota (22-of-23, for 303 yards), but the Texans were simply the better team for 60 minutes and Tennessee was unable to keep up.

Houston Texans: A-. The Texans are simply on fire, and their hard-hitting and aggressive prime-time performance was highlighted by Deshaun Watson’s leadership and skill along with the explosive running of Lamar Milller (97-yard TD run). The Texans may have started the season with three straight losses, but they have not dropped a game since and their offense has finally caught up with their dynamic defense. This is a very dangerous team.

Bears 23, Lions 16

Chicago Bears: A-. The Bears solidified their position at the top of the NFC North by avoiding mistakes on offense and making big plays on defense. Safety Eddie Jackson’s game-winning pick-6 was almost predictable, because the defense has been so strong. Backup Chase Daniel was accurate and opportunistic playing in place of Mitch Trubisky.

Detroit Lions: C. The Lions lack identity, drive and consistency, and none of this reflects well on rookie head coach Matt Patricia. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has lost most of his weapons and has struggled with his play-making. The Lions are in last place in the NFC North, and will almost certainly remain there.

Ezekiel Elliott and Mason Foster (L-R) (Photo Credit: Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Cowboys 31, Redskins 23

Dallas Cowboys: B+. The Cowboys have suddenly turned things around, and the 1-2 punch of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott looks strong enough to see them through the finish of the regular season. They surged in the third quarter and put the game away They look like the best team in the NFC East.

Washington Redskins: C+. The Redskins struggled in their first game without starter Alex Smith, and while quarterback Colt McCoy had some decent moments, he could not lead the team with first place on the line. Head coach, Jay Gruden, faces a major test to get this team back on track and not waste their solid start.

Saints 31, Falcons 17

New Orleans Saints: B+. The Saints didn’t hit the 40-point mark in this home game, but they won their 10^th straight. The Rams and Chiefs may be the league’s two most glamorous teams, but the Saints appear to be the best. The defense has been coming through since late September, and it will be very difficult to beat Drew Brees & Co.

Atlanta Falcons: C. Another game against a good team, and another loss for the Falcons. Yes, this team has been hurt badly by injuries, but there is something wrong with their makeup. Head coach, Dan Quinn, looked like a solid coach two years ago, but he does not understand what it takes to turn his team around.

Ravens 34, Raiders 17

Baltimore Ravens: B. The Ravens got contributions on offense, defense and special teams, and put away the Raiders with a strong second half. Rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson ran for one TD and threw for a pair of touchdowns, while Terrell Suggs scored on a 43-yard fumble return and Cyrus Jones scored on a 70-yard punt return.

Oakland Raiders: C. This game went just the way it was expected, as the Raiders lost by more than two touchdowns after traveling coast to coast. It’s difficult for good teams to win under those circumstances, and that’s clearly not the Raiders. They got off to a competitive start before the Ravens seized control.

Josh Allen (Photo Credit: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Bills 24, Jaguars 21

Buffalo Bills: B. How about those Bills? Branded as one of the two or three worst teams in the league earlier in the season, they have shown a surprising resiliency. Josh Allen may or may not be a top quarterback prospect, but he responded to the insults of Jalen Ramsey with a solid game (one TD running, one TD passing). Allen has demonstrated the toughness that he will need over a long career.

Jacksonville Jaguars: D. The pattern continues for the Jaguars, as they have proven to be one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL. Doug Marrone is a front runner who can’t adjust when things go badly, and Tom Coughlin needs to part company with him at the end of the season. The same holds for quarterback Blake Bortles.

Seahawks 30, Panthers 27

Seattle Seahawks: B+. The Seahawks continue to win games that they should lose. Their defense does just enough to keep them in the game, and when that happens, Russell Wilson takes charge in the final moments. Wilson threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns, and his 43-yard TD pass to Tyler Lockett set up Sebastian Janikowski for the game-winning field goal.

Carolina Panthers: C. The Panthers needed a win badly after losing at Detroit in Week 11, and while they had the Seahawks on the ropes, they could not close the deal. Despite the loss, running back Christian McCaffrey was sensational with 125 rushing yards and 112 receiving yards.

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Browns 35, Bengals 20

Cleveland Browns: A-. Say what you want about the Cleveland Browns, but they are a better team than they have been in the past. It’s doubtful that Gregg Williams can lead this team over the long term, but the team is playing harder and more efficiently. Baker Mayfield torched the Bengals with four TD passes, and the Browns won on the road for the first time since 2015, snapping a 25-game road losing streak.

Cincinnati Bengals: C-. The Bengals have fallen apart and may only win one more game the rest of the year (Oakland at home in Week 15). The Bengals fell behind by 28-0 at home before they decided to put up token resistance. Marvin Lewis has lost whatever ability he once had to lead this team.

Julian Edelman and Morris Claiborne (L-R) (Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

Patriots 27, Jets 13

New England Patriots: B-. The Patriots won by two touchdowns on the road, but it still seemed like a disappointing effort, because expectations are so high. The Patriots moved the ball well on occasion, but not consistently. The defense did just enough to get the win.

New York Jets: C. Veteran quarterback Josh McCown played with guts and exuberance, and he did his best to keep the Jets in the game. He pushed New England hard and threw for 276 yards and a touchdown. However, New York is simply not good enough to compete with the Pats for 60 minutes.

Eagles 25, Giants 22

Philadelphia Eagles: B. The Eagles started late, as is their custom, but this time they came back and picked up the win because they were playing a below-average team like the Giants. The Eagles are not playing good football by any stretch, but because they are in the NFC East, they still have a chance.

New York Giants: C+. The Giants turned victory into defeat as they built and squandeed a 19-3 lead on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions. While the Giants rallied late to tie the score at 22-22, it was no surprise to watch the Eagles go right down the field and drive for the winning score against the New York defense.

Buccaneers 27, 49ers 9

Tampa Bay Bucs: B+. Yes, they can play defense in Tampa. The Bucs held their opponents to nine points, and this was clearly the best defensive effort of the season. Jameis Winston also came through with a rare credible game, as he threw for 312 yards and two TDs and did not make the mistakes that have marked the Bucs’ recent quarterback play.

San Francisco 49ers: C-. The 49ers have played with effort most weeks, and they have been competitive at several points, even if they haven’t been able to win games. However, they were at their most inept against a less-than-impressive opponent. This team is struggling badly.

Philip Rivers (Photo Credit: Harry How/Getty Images)

Chargers 45, Cardinals 10

Los Angeles Chargers: A-. The Chargers woke up after taking a couple of shots and showed off their offensive skill. Philip Rivers was sensational, as he completed 28 of 29 passes for 253 yards with three touchdowns. The Chargers looked as dangerous as any team in the league.

Arizona Cardinals: D+. The Cardinals managed to get off to a sharp start, taking a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. It was as if an upstart fighter had landed two jabs to the jaw of Deontay Wilder, and that got the champion’s attention. The Cardinals were then pummeled for the rest of the fight, and it should have been stopped.

Colts 27, Dolphins 24

Indianapolis Colts: A-. There was a sloppy element to this game for the Colts, and they did everything in their power to give it to the Dolphins for three quarters. However, when the Dolphins refused to take charge, Andrew Luck said enough of this and won the game in the fourth quarter. The Colts are a playoff contender now, and they may be able to finish the deal.

Miami Dolphins: C. The Dolphins were competitive on the road against a red-hot team, and that’s something of an accomplishment. However, Miami had an excellent chance to win this game, and they let it get away by playing a passive fourth quarter.

Broncos 24, Steelers 17

Denver Broncos: B+. The Broncos don’t have a high level of talent, but they are getting the most out of what they have on a weekly basis. A week after upsetting the Chargers, they did the same to the Steelers, and running back Phillip Lindsay continues to show off his play-making ability. He ran for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Pittsburgh Steelers: C-. The Steelers may have been guilty of taking the Broncos lightly, and that’s something they should never do — especially when they go on the road. Mike Tomlin seems to make these kinds of mistakes more often than many other top-level coaches.

Kirk Cousins (Photo Credit: Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

Vikings 24, Packers 17

Minnesota Vikings: B+. The Vikings got stronger as the game progressed, and quarterback Kirk Cousins put the ball in places that gave his receivers a chance to make key catches. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs punished the Green Bay secondary, and the Minnesota pass rush got to Rodgers four times.

Green Bay Packers: C. This game went as many do for the Packers, especially when they are on the road. They get off to a decent start, but they don’t do enough to sustain their effort. The Packers haven’t won a road game since last year, and they are all but out of the playoff race. Aaron Rodgers is not a happy man.

Bye week: Chiefs, Rams

By Steve Silverman

The Steelers looked inept in two losses to the Jacksonville Jaguars a year ago, and they maintained a similar posture against the Jaguars for three quarters Sunday. But just when it looked like they were going to get wrecked again by Jacksonville, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers came to life in the fourth quarter and pulled out a much-needed win. Pittsburgh made its statement in the victory, the Saints continued to roll and the Bears took a big step up the NFL ladder.

Seahawks 27, Packers 24

Seattle Seahawks: B+. The Seahawks are getting the most out of their limited talent. When it looked like the Seahawks had lost their most talented players, Pete Carroll has seen his team fight every week for 60 minutes. Further, the Seahawks have developed the most dependable running game in the league.

Green Bay Packers: C. The Packers did a lot of things right in this game, but they could not come through with clutch plays. That has been the story of the Green Bay season, particularly when they are on the road. Head coach, Mike McCarthy, seems to be pressing all the wrong buttons, particularly when he failed to challenge a completed pass call that would have been reversed late in the fourth quarter.

Ezekiel Elliott (Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Cowboys 22, Falcons 19

Dallas Cowboys: B. The Cowboys looked they were falling apart a couple of weeks ago, after they lost a home Sunday night game to the Tennessee Titans. They have rebounded with two straight wins, as the offensive line has turned things around. Ezekiel Elliott came through with 122 rushing yards and 79 more as a receiver.

Atlanta Falcons: C-. Yet another loss late in the fourth quarter for the Falcons. Atlanta made a solid comeback, as Matt Ryan hit Julio Jones with a spectacular TD reception. But the defense could not stop the Cowboys from mounting a late drive and hitting the game-winning field goal.

Ravens 24, Bengals 21

Baltimore Ravens: B+. The Ravens needed a win in the worst way, and with Joe Flacco out with a hip injury, rookie Lamar Jackson put his signature on the game and helped deliver. Jackson threw for 150 yards and ran for 117 more, and he came out a winner in the first start of his career.

Cincinnati Bengals: B. While the Bengals lost, they came through with a very competitive effort a week after getting destroyed by the New Orleans Saints. Randy Bullock missed a potential game-tying field goal, and Andy Dalton’s late pass was knocked away, keeping the Bengals from having a chance at victory. Still, a much better game for Marvin Lewis’s team after last week’s destruction.

Lions 20, Panthers 19

Detroit Lions: B. The Lions have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the league. But head coach, Matt Patricia, saw his team improve in its blocking and tackling, and those two building blocks helped the Lions get their fourth win of the season.

Carolina Panthers: D. The Panthers were victimized by their own mediocre play and their own head coach’s reckless decision-making. After Cam Newton threw what appeared to be the game-tying TD pass late in the fourth quarter, Ron Rivera eschewed the extra point and went for two and a lead. Newton misfired, and the Panthers lost the opportunity to win the game in overtime.

Andrew Luck (Photo Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Colts 38, Titans 10

Indianapolis Colts: A-. The Colts put on a sensational performance, and they may be very difficult to beat in the season’s home stretch. Andrew Luck was brilliant, completing 23 of 29 passes for 297 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, as Indianapolis earned a dominant blowout victory.

Tennessee Titans: D-. This is why the NFL is such a difficult league to predict. The Titans had appeared to stamp themselves as legitimate contenders after beating the Cowboys and Patriots in back-to-back games. Even though they had a boatload of momentum, they got smacked around by the Indianapolis Colts and looked ill-prepared for the game. Quarterback Marcus Mariota left the game in the first half after suffering an elbow injury.

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Giants 38, Buccaneers 35

New York Giants: B+. Woo-woo, the Giants have won two in a row! Given the state of the NFC East, the 3-7 team would seemingly have a chance to make a run, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Eli Manning has received decent protection for two straight games, but that may be difficult to continue with upcoming games against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C-. The Bucs once again dug themselves a deep hole, and they had to turn to their backup quarterback to bring them back. This time it was Ryan Fitzpatrick who had an awful start and Jameis Winston who led an impressive comeback. But the bid fell short, because the Tampa Bay defense is so inept.

Texans 23, Redskins 21

Houston Texans: B+. There’s something to be said for the power of embarrassment. When the Texans fell to 0-3 after losing a game to the New York Giants, it was like a cold slap in the face. They have not lost a game since. They picked up their seventh straight win as a result of Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 54-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter.

Washington Redskins: D+. The Redskins suffered a brutal defeat, as they lost quarterback Alex Smith to a gruesome leg injury that brought back memories of a similar disaster suffered by former Redskin Joe Theismann in 1985. For the first time this year, the Redskins rallied from behind to take a lead. But the Texans rallied back, and Washington fell short.

Ben Roethlisberger (Photo Credit: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Steelers 20, Jaguars 16

Pittsburgh Steelers: B+. The Steelers struggled throughout, and it looked as if they would blow a game they were capable of winning. It took a while for Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Vance McDonald to get going, but they pulled it off in the final seconds. The Steelers served notice that they will not back down.

Jacksonville Jaguars: C-. After struggling on a weekly basis, the Jaguars looked like the team that made it all the way to the AFC Championship game a year ago — until the fourth quarter. That’s when the Jaguars fell apart, as head coach Doug Marrone had no idea how secure a win for his team.

Raiders 23, Cardinals 21

Oakland Raiders: C+. The Raiders picked up their second win of the season, as they played competitively on the road for 60 minutes. PK Daniel Carlson provided the pay off with a game-winning 35-field goal on the final play of the game. Derek Carr did a nice job, passing for 192 yards with two touchdowns.

Arizona Cardinals: C-. The Cardinals should have been able to turn this game into a victory, but two late penalties helped the Raiders steal the game on the road. Rookie Josh Rosen is under severe pressure to help the Cardinals turn things around, but he is a long way from making that happen.

Broncos 23, Chargers 22

Denver Broncos: B+. The Broncos are not the defensive team they were a few years ago, and they don’t have the talent to complete with elite teams on a week-to-week basis. However, they are feisty and competitive, and quarterback Case Keenum is a never-quit type of player. He engineered the game-winning drive with his resourcefulness. He threw for 205 yards to help the Broncos get a surprising road win.

Los Angeles Chargers: D+. The Chargers think they are good enough to run down the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. But if that were the case, they wouldn’t have blown a double-digit lead to a below-average team at home. Philip Rivers has been having a sensational year, and he threw for 401 yards in this game. But he threw two interceptions that hurt the Chargers’ cause.

Drew Brees (Photo Credit: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Saints 48, Eagles 7

New Orleans Saints: A. It looked like men playing against boys, as the Saints were prepared to take on the defending Super Bowl champions. Drew Brees was sensational once again, with 363 passing yards and four touchdowns. If the Saints don’t suffer any serious injuries from this point forward, they will be very difficult to beat.

Philadelphia Eagles: F. The Eagles suffered the worst defeat by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history. This team has been struggling, and they needed to come through with their best game against the NFL’s hottest team. Instead, the Eagles were confused and more than a step slow in getting torn up by the Saints.

Bears 25, Vikings 20

Chicago Bears: A- The worst-to-first season in the NFC North for the Bears continues. They took it to the Vikings for three quarters and made the visitors adjust to their game. The combination of Chicago’s hard-hitting defensive stars Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks punished the Vikings. The Bears lead the division by 1½ games.

Minnesota Vikings: C+. The Vikings tried to fight their way back into this game in the fourth quarter, but they started their comeback too late and fell to the Bears. Chicago’s defense put the clamps on the Minnesota offense for three quarters, and the Vikings defense could not do the same to the Bears.

Chiefs, Rams

Monday night.

Bye week: 49ers, Bills, Browns, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Christmas is just a few weeks away, so what do kids want to find under the tree this year?

CBS New York’s Laura Podesta got a look at this year’s hottest holiday toys.

The magic of the holiday season is already hitting toy stores across the country, with some items guaranteed to be the most wished for toys this year.

A golden snitch from “Harry Potter” is expected to literally fly of the shelves.

The golden snitch from “Harry Potter” (Credit: CBS2)

So is the toilet paper blaster. Just add water, load, and it shoots spit balls more than 30 feet.

Toilet paper spitball gun. (Credit: CBS2)

“We review toys every day. We eat, live, breathe toys,” Laurie Schacht, the chief toy officer at Toy Insider said.

Schacht tells CBS2 that kids really want a toy with an element of surprise.

“Hatchimals” were a big hit the past couple of years. This year, the “Boxy Girls” come with four packages. You have to unbox them to find out what’s inside.

“Scruff-a-luvs” toys start out small, but once you put it in water, wash it, and dry, they magically turn into a kitty, bunny rabbit, or dog.

“Rescue Runts” are also expected to be in high demand. Each pup starts out looking worse for wear.

“Rescue Runts” plush animals. (Credit: CBS2)

“You’ve got a broken leg, fleas,” Podesta noted

“He’s got tears in his eyes,” Schacht added.

But with a little love and care, kids can transform them into soft and cuddly plush pets.

Classic toys like Legos as well as retro video games are also on wish lists.

Schact says parents need to move fast because many of these toys will sell out quickly.

By Norm Elrod

The usually competitive AFC West isn’t all that competitive this season. Going into Week 11, the Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) and San Diego Chargers (7-2) are running away with the division, while the Denver Broncos (3-6) and Oakland Raiders (1-8) seem to be running from it. The Chiefs and Chargers are likely playoff-bound, though, with tough matchups among both teams’ remaining games, seeding is far from determined. The Broncos remain mathematically alive for now, while the Raiders soldier forth in full-on tank mode.

This week’s AFC West matchup finds the fading Broncos in Los Angeles to face the surging Chargers. The teams have yet to meet this season. The Broncos are 1-2 in the division, after losing a couple close games to the Chiefs, while the Chargers are 2-1, after beating the Raiders twice. The early spread hovers around seven points, which seems small given the teams’ trajectories. Then again, these division rivals know each other well.

Case Keenum (Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The Broncos’ story this season could have played out very differently. Four of their six losses were by seven or fewer points to teams currently leading their divisions. The offense under Case Keenum has, unsurprisingly, struggled to put up points, outside of the 45 they hung on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7. The defense, however, remains relatively stout, keeping games within reach.

The Broncos offense, averaging 22.8 points per game, doesn’t scare anyone. Keenum, who put up strong passing numbers with the Minnesota Vikings, has looked pedestrian in Denver, tossing almost as many interceptions as touchdowns. Denver has moved the ball well, but converting that yardage to points has been a problem. Scoring touchdowns in the red zone at a rate of 54% improves on last season, but still puts them firmly in the bottom tier of NFL offenses. Turnovers and poor conversion on third down haven’t helped.

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Keenum has some weapons at his disposal, including Emmanual Sanders, who’s pulled in 56 catches, and Courtland Sutton, who’s replaced the traded Demaryius Thomas. The rushing attack has improved with the addition of rookie Phillip Lindsay. The undrafted free agent is averaging 5.4 yards per carry after 110 attempts, even while splitting time with Royce Freeman and Devontae Booker.

The Broncos’ strength remains the defense, anchored by two of the League’s best pass rushers. Outside linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb have combined for 17 sacks, putting them third and eighth in the NFL respectively going into Week 11. Denver’s defense gives up a modest 232.4 yards per game in the air and a not-so-modest 131.6 yards on the ground. Stats aside, the Broncos do enough to keep games close.

Philip Rivers (Photo Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

That’s important against an efficient offense, like the Chargers’. Philip Rivers is having another stellar year in what will turn out to be a Hall of Fame career. His 115.4 passer rating is among the best in the NFL this season, and one of the many reasons this offense is humming. Rivers has thrown 21 touchdown passes and only four interceptions, while completing 67.3% of his passes.

He’s certainly had lots of help, including strong play along the offensive line. The unit has allowed only 13 sacks to date, fourth fewest in the NFL, and 41 QB hits. And when Rivers isn’t under pressure, he can do some serious damage. Keenan Allen leads all Chargers receivers with 53 catches, and Melvin Gordon has added 36 catches and four touchdowns out of the backfield. Gordon, of course is just as big of a threat to run. The all-purpose back has racked up 672 yards on the ground, with seven more scores.

The Chargers defense, playing without Joey Bosa, has been surprisingly strong. The star defensive end has yet to play this season (though he hasn’t yet been ruled out for Sunday), still the defense has tallied 26 sacks so far. Credit Melvin Ingram for dealing with additional blockers and still picking up 5.5 sacks. Like the Broncos defense, this unit gives up yards, but proves stingy with the points; their 20.7 points allowed per game put them in the top 10 of the League’s teams. But unlike the Broncos D, those yards are more apt to come through the air than on the ground.

Melvin Gordon (Photo Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Divisional matchups can be fraught with uncertainty, as teams know each other well and relish the chance to knock off a rival. That is certainly true in this case.

The Broncos are coming off a bye week and know full well that their playoff hopes are slipping away. One more loss, particularly a divisional loss, would be the end of it. Head coach, Vance Joseph, is also sitting on the hot seat. The Broncos will play with the intensity the occasion deserves. Unfortunately for Denver, they’re still looking at another loss on Sunday.

The Chargers have been somewhat overlooked this season. But they have figured out how to win and are riding a six-game winning streak. In that streak, the defense is limiting opponents to just 15.5 points per game, Gordon is running all over the field, and Rivers has had time enough to find his receivers. The Broncos will bring the pressure and look to rattle Rivers, but it won’t be enough. The Chargers will beat the Broncos by a touchdown in a relatively low-scoring affair.

As SportsLine analyst Hank Goldberg sees it…

The Broncos are badly coached and can’t play on the road. They’re 3-11 ATS in their last 14 road games. Case Keenum isn’t playing that well and the Chargers are doing whatever they need to do. Last week at Oakland, they didn’t have to do much. Lay the points.

Go to SportsLine for picks on every NFL game.

NEW YORK (AP) – Jennie-O is recalling more than 91,000 pounds of raw turkey in an ongoing salmonella outbreak.

The recall is the first tied to an outbreak the U.S. Department of Agriculture says is widespread. It has resulted in one death and 164 reported illnesses in 35 states.

Regulators did not say how many of those people were exposed to Jennie-O products. They say additional products from other companies could be named as their investigation continues.

(Photo Courtesy: USDA)

The products being recalled include 1-pound packages of raw, ground turkey and were sold nationwide. They had a use-by date of October, but could still be in freezers.

• Click Here For Full Product List And Affected Labels

Regulators say the product should be thrown away.

Salmonella in food is estimated to be responsible for 1 million illnesses a year, with symptoms including vomiting and stomach cramps.

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Syracuse Orange vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Saturday, November 17, 2018, 2:30 ET

NOTRE DAME -10.5

The Orange have played four games outside the Carrier Dome this season and have lost two of them. They’ve allowed 34.25 points per game in those four games. One of those road games came against Clemson, which is the best defense Syracuse has faced all season. Notre Dame’s defense will be the second-best it’s faced all season, and I expect the Orange to struggle moving the ball, just like they did against Clemson. Their 23 points against Clemson was their lowest output of the season, but the difference is that game was before Clemson made the full-time move to Trevor Lawrence and went supernova. Well, Ian Book is Notre Dame’s version of Trevor Lawrence, and Dexter Williams is its answer for Travis Etienne.

SportsLine Expert: Tom Fornelli (18-7 in last 25 CFB picks)

Michael Warren (Photo Credit: Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Cincinnati Bearcats @ UCF Knights
Saturday, November 17, 2018, 2:30 ET

UCF -7

Cincinnati has had a good season, but like UCF, it’s done so against a weak schedule. Using S&P+ schedule metric, Cincinnati has played a softer schedule than UCF has, and it’s only beaten two teams ranked in the top 60 of its rankings. While the Bearcats have a defense sturdy enough to slow UCF down, it can’t stop the Knights completely, and I don’t trust this Bearcats offense will be able to keep up throughout 60 minutes.

SportsLine Expert: Tom Fornelli (18-7 in last 25 CFB picks)

>>MORE: See all College Football picks

Houston Texans @ Washington Redskins
Sunday, November 18, 2018, 1:00 ET

HOUSTON -3

This line reflects that Washington has become a paper tiger, winning games they have no business hanging around in, like against the Bucs last week. They can’t throw the ball effectively, with less than 180 passing yards in four of their last five, and their offensive line is decimated by injuries. That’s a big deal against a talented Houston team that knows how to rush the passer. Houston also has the best run defense per DVOA in the entire league. Washington’s offense struggles as Houston wins an easy one.

SportsLine Expert: R.J. White (35-26-1 in last 62 NFL picks)

Carson Wentz (Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints
Sunday, November 18, 2018, 4:25 ET

NEW ORLEANS -8

This should be an entertaining game. The thing about the Saints team this year, especially against good teams, is that they’ll explode right out of the gate on both sides of the ball. Then, as the middle of the second quarter rolls along, and into the third, the opponents find a way to come back and make it a game. With the depleted secondary of the Eagles, and the Saints propensity to give up the big play. I can see the Saints and Eagles going back and forth, with the Saints getting a stop late to maintain a 10-point lead. It’ll be close, but the Saints can definitely cover here.

SportsLine Expert: Emory Hunt (3-1 in last 4 NFL ATS picks)

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears
Sunday, November 18, 2018, 8:20 ET

CHICAGO -2.5

Pivotal game in the NFC North between the Bears and Vikings. This is a HUGE game for both Chicago and QB Mitch Trubisky, who hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record this season. Defensively, when you look at what gives Vikings QB Kirk Cousins problems, it’s pressure. He’ll see a lot of that in this ball game coming from Khalil Mack & company. What we don’t know is how consistent the Vikings can be running the football, which could alleviate some of that pressure coming Cousins’ way. Look for the Bears to get a landmark win on the season and put Minnesota in panic mode.

SportsLine Expert: Emory Hunt (3-1 in last 4 NFL ATS picks)

>>MORE: See all NFL picks

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — A Toccoa man was arrested in the shooting death of a man at an oceanfront restaurant in South Carolina.

News outlets report that Myrtle Beach police have charged 24-year-old Jakkari Jaquill De’Andre Brown of Toccoa, Georgia, and charged him with murder.

Police said 25-year-old Roger Ramos of Myrtle Beach died at a hospital after the shooting early Sunday.

Brown is also charged with several weapons violations. It was not known if he has an attorney yet.

Police say there was a fight early Sunday at Riptydz Oceanfront Grille and a man fired a gun, hitting Ramos in the head.

Officers said witnesses at the restaurant identified the suspect, who was quickly arrested.

The restaurant, in a statement issued later Sunday, said it will be closed until Wednesday.

CBS Local — A tourist’s night out drinking turned into an adventure up the side of a mountain after accidentally taking the wrong trail back to his hotel.

The Estonian man, only known as Pavel, was reportedly in Italy’s Valle d’Aosta in early April when he mistakenly started walking up a snow-covered street he thought was route to the ski resort Cervinia. According to the Italian news outlet La Stampa, the drunken vacationer quickly ended up on a ski slope in the Alps around 3 a.m. local time.

After traveling up the snowy slope, Pavel finally found a mountainside bar about a mile and a half above sea level. The lost tourist reportedly broke into the bar and took shelter on a bench for the night.

Although a searcher party had been sent out to find Pavel after he went missing, he was luckily discovered in the mountain cabin by the bar’s staff the next morning. La Stampa reports that the drunken tourist was convinced he was on the right track the whole time however, Pavel has not commented on his chilly blunder in the Alps.

The 30-year-old Estonian reportedly received a fine for the cost of the crews that went looking for him.

Atlanta Civil Rights attorney Mawuli Davis calls today “historic”. He and other members of the activist community were present Tuesday when Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed into law ordinance 18-O-1045. It eliminates cash bonds to secure release from the City of Atlanta Detention Center following an arrest for violation of city ordinances. Davis says, “this was only possible through the collective work of the Coalition to End Money Bail.” Davis adding, “the advocates and attorneys who worked tireless in the community and with the Mayor’s office should be lifted up.” Monday Atlanta City Council voted to end cash bail for low-level offenses.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is surrounded by supporters of eliminating cash bail for minor offenses. Bottoms signed the measure into law Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of @attorneygriggs)

Activist attorney Gerald Griggs were among those addressing Atlanta City Council Monday. Council voted to end cash bail for low-level offenses. (Photo Courtesy of @attorneygriggs)

Attorney Davis says, “It is our hope that this is the first brick in the Mayor’s legacy of supporting social justice in Atlanta.”

That decree isn’t just for players, coaches fit under the improve-every-day umbrella too. And Quinn has a few ideas for how offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian can be better in 2018.

“Just another year of how to feature the guys,” Quinn responded at the Falcons’ end-of-season press conference on Thursday when asked how he would like Sarkisian to grow as a coach.“ I think that’s a better thing to understand. Some of that trust doesn’t happen overnight, and you have to really understand what nuances the guy has, how do we feature this player for this play, this one for that.”

Sounds an awful lot like Quinn wants Sark to not only utilize his weapons more effective in 2018, but for the relationship between player and Sarkisian’s playbook and play-calling to meld into a symbiotic pairing.

Take receiver Taylor Gabriel for instance (Quinn mentioned him by name – more on that momentarily). The Cleveland castoff scored six touchdowns in 2016 and averaged 16.5 yards per reception. Last year Gabriel only scored once through the air and advanced 11.5 yards per play. All that while targets (50 to 51, from 2016 to 2017) and receptions (35 to 33) remained almost identical.

Something didn’t work for Gabriel in Atlanta’s offense last season.

The same can be said for Julio Jones, who for the first time since 2012 didn’t average at least 100 yards receiving per game and was seemingly a ghost in the red zone.

“He [Sarkisian] didn’t get a chance to see even Ju [Julio Jones] or Gabe [Taylor Gabriel] until almost the regular season,” said Quinn. “They didn’t do OTAs. They didn’t do training camp. So I would hope one of the areas that we can really improve on as we’re heading into the offseason, heading into training camp is featuring the guys in the very best way, and you can only know that through your experience with them. He certainly now has all of that experience to pull back from, and then who do we add into them, and how do we feature those guys with the current group.”

Quinn has a point on the lack of reps from offensive stars during the offseason prior to 2017. Between training camp and four preaseason games, the number of times Matt Ryan was on the field at the same time as Jones, Gabriel and Devonta Freeman was limited to eight plays.

While the quartet was apart, no one worried. Why should anyone? The Falcons’ offense had just finished an historically epic output in 2016. The idea of rest, relax and everything will slide back into place proved to be fiction that even Stephen King would be proud of.

And speaking of horror, that’s what Atlanta’s offense felt like when nothing seemed to work. All the drops, the lack of execution, the penalties… the mere 22.4 points per game, down 11.4 (more than a touchdown and a field goal) per game.

From Year 1 to 2 in the Falcons’ Shanahan regime, we believe Shanahan and Ryan came together and planned an offense that utilized the best of what every Atlanta asset could provide. And boy was the proof in the pudding.

All eyes are on Sarkisian for a repeat offseason.

Many believe that Kaepernick is being blackballed for the way he chose to protest against police brutality, others would have you believe that he has not found his way onto a team because of his average play the past couple of seasons. The truth is somewhere in the middle because the NFL and other leagues will take the headaches and the distraction from a polarizing player IF the player is worth it.

Michael Sam thought he was going to put it in the face of NFL owners that he is openly gay and force the league to accept him. Being the Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC would normally get a player drafted in the first couple of rounds, but Sam had been evaluated and it had been determined that he was not a difference-maker on the field. Team after team passed on Sam before he was finally taken in the seventh round, pick No. 249 out of 256.

He did not make a humble entrance into the league. With cameras in his home Sam, and his boyfriend embraced on national television after his name was called during the draft. The St. Louis Rams, the team that drafted Sam, eventually cut him despite head coach Jeff Fisher saying that he believed that Sam could play in the NFL. Sam would get picked up by the Dallas Cowboys to only be released again.

Michael Sam was a good player and may have had an average career in the league but he tried to force the NFL to face something that it wasn’t ready for, homosexuality in the locker room of what is supposed to be a manly man’s game. The message was sent that he wasn’t good enough to take that stand.

Tim Tebow was a Heisman Trophy winner and a two time national champion while in college at the University of Florida. Many saw him around the league as a Bible thumper. He could be found on the sidelines singing gospel songs and there was always a circus of media that followed him.

Despite winning some games in Denver and defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs, Tebow was replaced the next season by an aging Peyton Manning.

Manning would later go on to win the Super Bowl with the Broncos while Tebow bounced around the league. Everywhere he went there was a media scrum with him and his super Christian spirit. He was also shown that he was not worth the headache of unnecessary press and cut by the Jets, Patriots and Eagles until he finally made his way into broadcasting and now minor league baseball.

So what does this say for Colin Kaepernick, a guy that took over Alex Smith’s job (Smith, ironically, is a starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs), took the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012 and the NFC Championship in 2013? He followed those seasons with some pretty average play but the average play did not get him on the hot seat.

The heat came when he decided to not stand for the National Anthem due to the police shootings and brutality that was taking place in the African American community. When it was pointed out to him that he was being disrespectful to the many soldiers that fought for him to have the very luxury of not standing, Kaepernick met and talked with some soldiers and decided that he would respectfully take a knee during the anthem. That was not good enough for people because it was still made out to be a big deal by the media. Even coming into this season when Kaepernick stated that would not be taking a knee during the anthem the controversy never died.

So now, you will probably see more and more fans and media begin to scratch their heads as jobs become available and Kaepernick continues to be passed over.

There were rumors that Kaepernick was not getting any offers because he wanted to be a starter, but that never came out of his mouth or anyone in his camp. Even if it did, Pete Carroll, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, stated the Kaep should be a starting QB in the league after a workout.

So the talent is there.

After some front office members of the Baltimore Ravens expressed interest in picking him up, team owner Steve Bisciotti admitted that bringing Kaepernick to the team would upset a number of people and said that he was taking a poll from the fans to see if Kaep would be too big of a distraction to bring on. To admit that a guy has talent but will not be considered for a job by the collective group of owners is the definition of being blackballed.

So now, everyone will see what I have been seeing for a long time now… he is not good enough to take a stand that makes the NFL uncomfortable.

Would it be different if it were Tom Brady? Yes, but those big-name guys are advised to not take these type of risks because it would hurt their brand. Cam Newton, Odell Beckham Jr. and guys like them are tied to companies that pay them a lot of money off of the football field and would not do anything to be stripped of those corporate dollars.

So, the guys who probably could take such risks and speak up for different causes, won’t. The rest of the players who do decide to buck the system, as you see, will be tossed out to the streets.

I have my questions about what the NFL Players Association should be doing, but that is for a different time. For now I ask you to just keep your eyes open, watch what happens if a player speaks up about an issue that makes people uncomfortable and if he is somehow released or cut. Think to yourself that he wasn’t good enough to take a stand.

The Peachtree Pine Homeless Shelter will no longer be open to residents seeking housing.

Located at 477 Peachtree Street NE, the shelter has been in the city since 1997. The 100,000-square-foot facility can house up to 700 homeless men each night.

The shelter has been a nuisance to city officials and an eyesore to the surrounding developing area. Crime has plagued the area, and most notably tuberculosis outbreaks have threatened the closure of the facility.

For years the city and the shelter have been at odds about the building, but now an reported $10 agreement has been reached to close its doors.

According to the Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless will continue to provide services from the shelter until August 28.

The biggest question left to be answered is where will the homeless individuals who depend on the shelter go once displaced?

“We feel good that we have more than enough spaces to house individuals who want to be housed,” said Mayor Kasim Reed.

It’s unknown what plans the city has for the shelter once the doors close. WAOK will have updates on this developing story.

• Julien Virgin is a staff writer at CBS Radio

Valentine’s Day. A time when romance is in the air and couples of all varieties pull out all the stops to create a memorable experience. It’s also a chance for foodie couples to splurge a bit on restaurants that might not be in their regular date night price range. Whether you’re trying to fan the flames of a young relationship or celebrating multiple years with the love of your life, Atlanta offers plenty of options for romantic dining.

Ayesha basically said that it’s trendy now to be more revealing in how women dress and she prefers a more classy and sophisticated look where she is covered up.

Our first caller, Shaneta, started a conversation that couldn’t be contained with her outlook on a woman’s worth and security being tied to a man.

So Derrick posed a question to his audience, “Where does a woman find her worth?”

The women immediately started calling in and this is the conversation that ensued:

]]> https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/12/07/too-much-truth-a-womans-worth/feed/ 1 https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/06/30/study-half-of-all-heart-disease-deaths-are-preventable/ https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/06/30/study-half-of-all-heart-disease-deaths-are-preventable/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:19:23 +0000 CBS Atlanta http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/?p=241762 Half of all heart disease deaths – the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. – could be prevented if Americans took the proper precautions against the top five modifiable risk factors.]]> ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) — Half of all heart disease deaths – the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. – could be prevented if Americans took the proper precautions against the top five modifiable risk factors.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 610,000 Americans die each year from heart disease, accounting for one in every four U.S. deaths, CBS News reports. And while a major reduction in heart disease-related deaths occurred over the past three decades, experts say that the methods for prevention aren’t reaching the public.

A new study published Monday from researchers at Emory University finds that cardiovascular deaths could be drastically lowered if all states reduced the top five non-genetic risk factors for heart disease: elevated cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and smoking.

The researchers analyzed data from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys from 2009 to 2010 to estimate the reduction in heart disease-related deaths if those five modifiable factors were reduced by Americans.

If eliminated, about half of the all the deaths could be prevented. In addition, the researchers looked at what would happen if all U.S. states matched the levels found in the country’s five best-performing states among age and gender groups.

“States such as Utah, Colorado, and Vermont were consistently among the best performing states across age groups and for men and women,” lead study author Dr. Shivani Patel told CBS News. “Almost 7 percent of cardiovascular deaths in men aged 45 to 54 could be prevented if all states reduced their current smoking rates for that population to average smoking levels in the best performing states for that risk factor. About 8 percent of cardiovascular deaths in women aged 55 to 64 could be prevented if hypertension rates were reduced to levels in the best performing states for that risk factor.”

Patel suggested states could benefit from more aggressive health policies and programs to reduce risk factors for heart disease. The West and Northeast were found to have the lowest prevalence of modifiable risk factors, while the South and Midwest were generally higher.

“One of the take-home messages that we’re trying to put out there is that the total preventable fraction of mortality is much greater than what we could reduce through just getting a few best targets, meaning that all states have a lot to gain,” said Patel.

“This data reinforces the benefits of prevention and risk factor modification while saying that even with all the tools we have available we still are doing an inadequate job,” said Dr. David Frid, who specializes in preventive cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic and was not involved with the study. “We’ve done a good job with affecting cardiovascular events and death, but primarily we’ve done it in the acute situation. I think in prevention we’ve probably not been as good as we should.”

]]> https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/06/30/study-half-of-all-heart-disease-deaths-are-preventable/feed/ 4 https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/03/12/north-carolina-man-found-not-guilty-for-strangling-4-year-old-son-after-using-violent-sleepwalking-defense/ https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/03/12/north-carolina-man-found-not-guilty-for-strangling-4-year-old-son-after-using-violent-sleepwalking-defense/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2015 02:27:24 +0000 CBS Atlanta http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/?p=229080 The "violent sleepwalking" defense worked for a man who strangled his 4-year-old and tried to kill his other two children.]]> DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — The “violent sleepwalking” defense worked for a man who strangled his 4-year-old and tried to kill his other two children.

A jury decided unanimously that Joseph Anthony Mitchell is not guilty of murder and attempted murder after an expert witness said he was effectively unconscious at the time of his attacks four years ago.

Jurors had asked Superior Court Judge James Roberson if they could consider a lesser verdict of manslaughter, but the judge said it was all or nothing: murder, or not guilty.

Mitchell, 50, sobbed after Wednesday’s verdict, but made no comment as he walked out of court a free man.

His ex-wife, Christine Perolini, was so shocked that she hyperventilated and had to be wheeled out on a stretcher.

Mitchell testified that he was in financial distress and had not been sleeping well.

Prosecutors said those financial difficulties drove Mitchell to kill his son Blake and try to kill the others. Mitchell’s 13-year-old and 10-year-old children said they fought him off.

But a defense expert said Mitchell’s stress and lack of sleep likely resulted in “non-REM parasomnia,” a sleep disorder whose sufferers can perform random acts unconsciously. Because of this disorder, he was incapable of exercising criminal intent, the expert said.

A psychologist who testified for the prosecution after repeatedly interviewing Mitchell said he had no mental condition that would have left him unconscious during the attacks, and that he must have consciously planned them.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

]]> https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/03/12/north-carolina-man-found-not-guilty-for-strangling-4-year-old-son-after-using-violent-sleepwalking-defense/feed/ 6 https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/05/17/gang-stalking-and-electronic-mind-control-community-spreads-online/ https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/05/17/gang-stalking-and-electronic-mind-control-community-spreads-online/#comments Sat, 17 May 2014 11:01:12 +0000 CBS Atlanta http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/?p=195306 A massive expansion to the online “gang-stalking” community has occurred in recent years, with thousands of websites, videos and organized events for people expressing their concerns that there is systematic form of electronic and physical pursuit of “targeted individuals” being conducted by government and corporate entities. ]]> ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) — A massive expansion of an online community battling what they call “gang-stalking” has occurred in recent years, with the spread of thousands of websites, videos and organized events for followers of the movement. Those who believe “gang stalkers” exist publicly and brazenly express their concerns that there is a systematic form of electronic and physical pursuit of “targeted individuals” being conducted by government and corporate entities.

Videos show purported victims of “gang-stalking” physically approaching and filming U.S. Postal Service employees, electrical company technicians, and people simply walking down the street to implore them to stop gang-stalking them. One viral video poster repeatedly shouts that she “has done nothing wrong,” and that the seemingly dumbfounded “gang-stalkers” should “stop following” her.

Gang-stalking bloggers utilize thousands of likes, shares and video posts describing gang-stalking as “a highly criminal campaign, one directed at a Target Individual, and one that aims to destroy an innocent persons life through covert harassments, malicious slander and carefully crafted and executed psychological attacks.”

By nature of their fears, gang-stalking victims and those in the organized stalking online community are difficult to contact in a face-to-face meeting or via means not behind a computer screen.

The list of terms used to describe “gang-stalking” and the concepts that surround it are numerous and frequent, with comment sections to stories remaining one of the largest hotbeds of such discussion:

The varied vocabulary includes: “Targeted Individual or TI, Electronic Stalking and Mind Control (ESMC), gang stalking, multi-stalking or multiple stalking, organized stalking, revenge stalking, vigilante stalking, group stalking, baiting, brighting, gaslighting (named for the movie ‘Gaslight’), Orwellian surveillance (“1984”) handler, misconduct, noise campaigns, psychotronics, street theater, and swarming.”

Freedom from Covert Harassment and Surveillance, an online organization that ensures other gang-stalking victims that they are “not alone,” describes the gang-stalkers themselves as “perpetrators.”

One website, “Gang Stalking World,” describes people’s “adventures with gang stalking,” with the bloggers adding, “I really didn’t choose this adventure, it chose me about six years or so ago.”

Last year’s National Security Agency leaks from Edward Snowden sparked hundreds of gang-stalking bloggers and websites, touting their accuracy and knowledge of the pervasive government spying all along.

Many websites declare that the Affordable Care Act is among many “lists” being formulated to track targets without their knowledge. “Whistleblowers” and the “outspoken” are among the most targeted characteristics.

“This is used as a means of retaliation, blacklisting, silencing, or controlling members of society. Once on the notification system, warnings about the targets are sent out to every individual the target comes in contact with, thus poisoning their associations, and socially annexing the targeted individual,” according to Gang Stalking World.
East Germany’s Stasi, the Soviet Union’s KGB, and the Nazi’s are commonly referenced as having used these “zersetzung” – German for “decomposition” or “corrosion” tactics to psychologically tear down victims.

In the majority of gang-stalking related media circulating online, at least one large body of government or corporate individuals is accused of targeting and attempting to control the lives of the alleged gang-stalking victims.

“This harassment includes electronic mind/body attacks, street harassment skits, destruction of family and other relationships and destruction of careers,” writes one blogger.

Most descriptions of gang-stalking claim that people are not only physically following them, but also that there are “psycho-electronic” mind control tactics being used.

A 2012 KMIR News report found a group of men who all believed that “corrupt business officials” and “rogue government officials” were sponsoring “synthetic telepathy” and other forms of “electronic harassment” that allowed them voice-to-skull manipulation of the men’s minds.

“How much more can you invade me, than to go into my brain,” Cathedral City resident, Randall Ringger, told KMIR-TV. “It sounds like somebody else is reading the book, except it’s thoughts,” said Palms resident, Kevin Bond.

“We’re not having a group hallucination, this is actually something that is happening,” said Palm Springs resident, Bob Stansfield.

“I started hearing as you’ll hear, hearing voices and what they’ll call voice to skull or microwave hearing,” said Bond, who said he’d found more than 300 people in the local community who had experienced similar electronic harassment.

Benjamin Simon’s Yahoo! Blog post describes his own run-ins with gang-stalkers: “Breaking in and vandalizing your home; Knowing you and your family’s schedule; Placing wiretaps/hidden cameras in your home. They usually have ties to, are protected by, or go easily undetected by any government branch (police, psychiatric hospitals…essentially any organization that’s supposed to help you). They are well organized, and seem to have unending resources (I’ve been followed at/around concerts, events, freelance job positions, many of which I found out about last minute). If you’re being harassed, forget about turning to higher authority to help you- they are usually the ones hurting you.”

Experts have noted a range of paranoid persons who deliberately fake accusations of stalking – someone who enjoys power through manipulation “mobilizing” others around their own lies, specifically to “reinforce a notion of himself as an oppressed victim” by concocting bizarre narratives.

A 2004 UK and Netherlands study estimated that 11.5 percent stalking claims were false, and that 70 percent of false stalking reports were made by people suffering from psychological delusions.

But there are those who truly believe they are being stalked, with such delusions often stemming from past situations where the person did feel targeted or mistreated and has learned to be constantly on the defensive.

“Tendency towards paranoia often originates from a place in which the person had to be hyper-vigilant to protect himself, whether physical or emotionally,” notes clinical social worker Laura Miller, adding that “there is generally a grain of truth at the base of even the wildest delusions.”

The ongoing NSA revelations have given nuggets of truth for wide-ranging theories across the online gang-stalking community.

Miller notes that on the “extreme end” of some of these communities, some sites “do more to sever ties between these people from reality and the grounding relationships in their lives and may serve as a poor substitute to real relating interpersonally.”

“The social isolation that results serves to insulate that person in a cocoon in which others can’t hurt him because he is on the defensive constantly,” explains Miller. “But he also pushes others away with his behavior in such a way that he is often left ostracized and lonely. The cruel irony that the very person who believes so many people are employed full-time to watch his every move is more and more alone as the delusion grows is deeply sad and potentially not unrelated.”

Gang-stalking is far from just an American concept.

In a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, Pathe Mullen and Purcell compared twelve individuals who falsely claimed to be victims of stalking to 100 actual stalking victims.

The study found that false victims “consumed more medical services” than genuine stalking victims, and were “more likely to be embroiled in legal action” as well as reporting their alleged harassment to authorities faster and more frequently than actual stalking victims. Conspiracy theorists frequently describe the use of “psychotronic weapons” among the many mind control techniques.

Psychiatrists and psychologists have at least partially blamed the internet itself for such theories, citing an “extreme community” that encourages delusional thinking – that people in red and white cars are watching them, individuals lurking by their bedside as they sleep, and seemingly complete strangers are actually snickering at them in public, The New York Times describes.

Although the internet has helped many afflicted with mental health problems, psychiatrists suggest a “dark side of social networking,” where the mentally ill can have delusional theories reinforced.

“The views of these belief systems are like a shark that has to be constantly fed,” Dr. Hoffman told The New York Times. “If you don’t feed the delusion, sooner or later it will die out or diminish on its own accord. The key thing is that it needs to be repetitively reinforced.”

Hoffman added that many of his research subjects have mentioned that they have visited mind-control sites that have confirmed their own paranoid suspicions.

]]> https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/05/17/gang-stalking-and-electronic-mind-control-community-spreads-online/feed/ 24 https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/04/01/study-vegetarians-less-healthy-lower-quality-of-life-than-meat-eaters/ https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/04/01/study-vegetarians-less-healthy-lower-quality-of-life-than-meat-eaters/#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2014 19:23:56 +0000 CBS Atlanta http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/?p=190457 Vegetarians have a lower BMI and drink alcohol sparingly, but vegetarian diets are tied to generally poorer health, poorer quality of life and a higher need for health care than their meat-eating counterparts.]]> ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) — Vegetarians may have a lower BMI and drink alcohol sparingly, but vegetarian diets are tied to generally poorer health, poorer quality of life and a higher need for health care than their meat-eating counterparts.

A new study from the Medical University of Graz in Austria finds that vegetarians are more physically active, drink less alcohol and smoke less tobacco than those who consume meat in their diets. Vegetarians also have a higher socioeconomic status and a lower body mass index. But the vegetarian diet — characterized by a low consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol that includes increased intake of fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products — carries elevated risks of cancer, allergies and mental health disorders.

Vegetarians were twice as likely to have allergies, a 50 percent increase in heart attacks and a 50 percent increase in incidences of cancer.

The cross-sectional study from Austrian Health Interview Survey data and published in PLos One examined participants dietary habits, demographic characteristics and general lifestyle differences.

The most significant dietary habit difference between meat-eaters and vegetarians concerned their BMI and alcohol consumption – with both being higher for those who consume meat.

Many past studies have instead put an emphasis on the health risks associated with red meat and carnivorous diets, but this study points the other dietary direction. However, the researchers do caution that continuing studies will be needed to substantiate some of the rather broad dietary distinctions, associations presented in this current research.

Overall, vegetarians were found to be in a poorer state of health compared to other dietary groups. Vegetarians reported higher levels of impairment from disorders, chronic diseases, and “suffer significantly more often from anxiety/depression.”

Subjects who consumed lower amounts of animal fat were also linked to poor health care practices, such as avoidance of vaccinations and a lack of preventive care.

Chronic problems associated with vegetarians and people eating carnivorous diets rich in fruits and vegetables were linked to more frequent visits to doctors, which the study authors suggest requires public health programs to reduce the health risk due to their nutritional factors.

The researchers conclude: “Our study has shown that Austrian adults who consume a vegetarian diet are less healthy (in terms of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders), have a lower quality of life, and also require more medical treatment.”

“Therefore, a continued strong public health program for Austria is required in order to reduce the health risk due to nutritional factors.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases for all dietary groups. A 2009 study from the CDC found that about 1 in 200 young Americans, or 367,000 US children, are vegetarians.

— Benjamin Fearnow

 

]]> https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/04/01/study-vegetarians-less-healthy-lower-quality-of-life-than-meat-eaters/feed/ 169 https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/01/06/report-girl-falls-asleep-up-to-30-times-a-day-after-getting-flu-shot/ https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/01/06/report-girl-falls-asleep-up-to-30-times-a-day-after-getting-flu-shot/#comments Mon, 06 Jan 2014 15:40:45 +0000 CBS Atlanta http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/?p=178881 A 15-year-old girl is reportedly falling asleep up to 30 times a day after getting a flu shot.]]> EDINBURGH, U.K. (CBS Atlanta) — A 15-year-old girl is reportedly falling asleep up to 30 times a day after getting a flu shot.

Australia’s News Limited reports Chloe Glasson began suffering from narcolepsy four months after being injected with Pandemrix, a vaccine to combat against swine flu, in November 2009. She is one of at least 100 people to suffer from the sleeping disorder after getting vaccinated with Pandemrix.

“She has gone from being a bright, outgoing girl to one who cannot go out on her own,” Rebecca Glasson, Chloe’s mother, told News Limited. “She doesn’t doze for more than a couple of hours at a time, but she can have disturbing dreams.”

Chloe Glasson will begin a new treatment of the specialist drug sodium oxybate at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, U.K., in hopes to get back to a normal sleeping pattern.

“I am putting a lot of faith in the treatment,” Chloe told News Limited. “While the tablets won’t cure me, they may offer the chance of a more normal life.”

GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer behind Pandemrix, said in a statement they are researching how narcolepsy is reportedly triggered for some by the drug.

“Patient safety is our number one priority and we are researching how narcolepsy is triggered and how this vaccine might have interacted with other risk factors in affected individuals,” they told News Limited in a statement. “We hope ongoing research efforts will enable us to provide more answers.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends flu vaccinations for Americans older than 6 months.

]]> https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/01/06/report-girl-falls-asleep-up-to-30-times-a-day-after-getting-flu-shot/feed/ 25 https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2013/06/21/study-low-sperm-count-can-mean-increased-cancer-risk/ https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2013/06/21/study-low-sperm-count-can-mean-increased-cancer-risk/#comments Fri, 21 Jun 2013 20:26:39 +0000 CBS Atlanta http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/?p=144979 Men who are infertile because of an absence of sperm in their semen – diagnosed as azoospermic – run a much higher risk of developing cancer than other men.]]> Stanford, Calif. (CBS ATLANTA) — Men who are infertile because of an absence of sperm in their semen – diagnosed as azoospermic – run a much higher risk of developing cancer than other men.

A new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine finds that the risk of cancer is eight times greater for men who are diagnosed as azoospmeric before the age of thirty. Diagnoses of azoospermia and low fertility in men are quite common in the U.S., with some 4 million afflicted with infertility.

“An azoospermic man’s risk for developing cancer is similar to that for a typical man 10 years older,” said Michael Eisenberg, MD, PhD, assistant professor of urology at the medical school and director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at Stanford Hospital & Clinics. Eisenberg is lead author of the study, published online June 20 in Fertility and Sterility.

Low sperm can be caused by a number of health issues and medical treatments, including: ejaculations problems, sexually transmitted infections, Celiac disease and certain medications which effect testosterone production. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that tobacco use and illicit substances can also have a negative effect on sperm count.

Nearly 4 million American men — 15 percent of those ages 15-45 — are infertile. Of these men, almost 600,000 — about 1 percent of those of reproductive age — are azoospermic. Eisenberg says that this is likely because the men’s testes didn’t produce enough sperm to reach an ejaculation, which Eisenberg says is likely a result of some sort of genetic deficiency.

The Stanford University study population consisted of 2,238 infertile men who were seen at a Baylor andrology clinic from 1989 to 2009. Their median age was 35.7 when they were first evaluated for the cause of their infertility. Of those men, 451 were diagnosed with azoospermia, and 1,787 were not.

Although men who are diagnosed as azoospermic before age 30 appear to have a particularly pronounced cancer risk compared with their peers, Eisenberg notes that the complete cancer risk for any apparently healthy man under age 30, regardless of whether or not he is azoospermic, nevertheless remains very small.

]]> https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2013/06/21/study-low-sperm-count-can-mean-increased-cancer-risk/feed/ 4 https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2013/02/23/company-claims-to-make-belts-shoes-out-of-human-skin/ https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2013/02/23/company-claims-to-make-belts-shoes-out-of-human-skin/#comments Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:06:09 +0000 CBS Atlanta http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/?p=121298 The company Human Leather reportedly constructs belts, wallets and other items out of human skin.]]> ATLANTA (CBS Atlanta) – Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta advise Americans that, in order to avoid skin cancer or other damaging effects of sunlight, they should take specific precautions.

“Use sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection,” the official CDC website states. “Wear clothing to protect exposed skin, [and w]ear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.”

The CDC additionally recommends avoiding indoor tanning at all costs.

While beneficial to the health of the general population, their advice is also crucial for those who want their body to to maintain it aesthetic beauty throughout life, and, in the case of those donating their bodies to fashion manufacturer Human Leather, after they have passed away.

The United Kingdom company and its employees brand themselves as “specialists in producing exquisite and exclusive products for an extremely discerning clientele.”

The site adds, “All products are carefully hand-crafted by experienced master craftsmen, with years of experience in handling the finest leather known – Human Leather.”

The name is not hyperbole. Human Leather claims to use the skin of willing donors who signed off on turning their bodies into belts, wallets and shoes before death.

“Human leather is produced from skin sourced from normal everyday people,” the website asserts, adding that several specific areas of the body are particularly prime for the making of their products. “There are a few areas of the body, [such as the] back and abdomen, that have uninterrupted skin coverage, and are therefore the best for processing into human leather.”

The business is allegedly acting within its legal rights to use the skin in such a fashion. It has also been done in the past. In the 17th century, people reportedly bound books with human skin, in a practice known as anthropodermic bibliopegy.

Due to the short supply of materials for use – and the company’s expressed desire to “cater to a small but highly discerning clientele … [who] are amongst [sic] those lucky few who have everything they could possibly desire” – the products are expensive.

The price of a wallet starts around $14,000. And a client could expect to pay at least $27,000 for the privilege of owning footwear made of human leather.

The company’s practices are cloaked in privacy. They do not post pictures of their completed commissioned products, the length of the waiting list for their products or the identities of their sources.

“We are considering taking a picture of an article that will never be for sale and we will publish that later this year,” the website states.

About one thing those at Human Leather are not shy, however, they readily endorse the use of the human skin from the willing deceased for the creation of fashionable accessories.

“Just like animal leather products, produced from lesser animals, our raw human skin is transformed into the finest grade human leather by using a traditional tanning process,” the Human Leather website explains. “However, human leather is the finest grain leather that is obtainable. ”

The site adds, “It is free from defects and has the smallest grain size which makes it the smoothest, softest leather on Earth.”

]]> https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2013/02/23/company-claims-to-make-belts-shoes-out-of-human-skin/feed/ 5 https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2011/07/05/governor-deal-releases-results-of-school-cheating-investigation/ https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2011/07/05/governor-deal-releases-results-of-school-cheating-investigation/#comments Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:25:04 +0000 CBS Atlanta http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/?p=35201 ATLANTA (WAOK)- Words like “devastating” and “troubling” are being used to describe the results of an investigation into cheating on standardized tests in Georgia. The results of the investigation were released today by Governor Nathan Deal.  You can read the entire 800 page report below. Among the disturbing findings: Cheating occurred in the majority of Atlanta […]]]> ATLANTA (WAOK)- Words like “devastating” and “troubling” are being used to describe the results of an investigation into cheating on standardized tests in Georgia. The results of the investigation were released today by Governor Nathan Deal.  You can read the entire 800 page report below.

Among the disturbing findings:

Cheating occurred in the majority of Atlanta Public Schools

Cheating may have occurred over a 10 year period

Former Atlanta Superintendent Beverly Hall knew-or should have known about the cheating

As many as 178 educators including more than 3 dozen principals were involved in the CRCT cheating scandal

Governor Deal said the results of the report should be taken seriously and there may be more consequences for those involved.

The CRCT cheating investigation was initiated after the AJC asked questions about huge gains in tests scores on the 2009 CRCT.

Some city officials and parents are calling for Dr. Beverly Hall to be prosecuted if she knew about the cheating scandal and to pay back cash incentives she was awarded for improving test scores during her tenure as Atlanta School Superintendent. Hall retired from the job on June 30 the day the CRCT report was delivered to Governor Deal.

Here is more info on the CRCT Report

Here is the entire report:  Part1  Part2  Part3  Part4

Mayor Kasim Reed also released the following statement on the CRCT cheating report:

“Today is a dark day for the Atlanta Public School  system. The State of Georgia’s  investigation into allegations of widespread cheating on the CRCT test confirms our worst fears.  There is no doubt that systemic cheating    occurred on a widespread basis in the school system.

Further, there is no question that a complete failure of  leadership in the AtlantaPublic School system hurt thousands of children who were promoted to the next grade without meeting basic academic standards.

I am grateful to former Governor SonnyPerdue and Governor Nathan Deal for their leadership on this issue and for bringing the grave problems facing the AtlantaPublic School system to light. The investigators followed the facts, regardless of where they led. I would also like to commend Atlanta’s press corps, especially The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, for its service to the public by providing  comprehensive, investigative reporting on the test score discrepancies.

I am confident that Interim Superintendent ErrolDavis, former Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, and Board of Education Chairwoman Brenda Muhammad and Vice-Chairman Reuben McDaniel will take decisive action and lead the system in a manner that resolves the problems uncovered in the investigation and work to ensure that this never happens again.

The Atlanta Public School system can and will recover from this painful chapter in its history.  The system has the support of teachers and educators who are principled and committed to  serving the city’s students. The system has the support of thousands of parents who are deeply invested in what happens in the classroom and the academic achievement of their children.  And Superintendent Davis, Chairwoman Muhammad  and Vice-Chairman McDaniel have my full support and that of the entire City of Atlanta as they begin to move the school district forward.”

]]> https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2011/07/05/governor-deal-releases-results-of-school-cheating-investigation/feed/ 250 https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2011/03/13/rocky-head-is-celebrating-virtuous-women/ https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2011/03/13/rocky-head-is-celebrating-virtuous-women/#comments Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:00:17 +0000 CBS Atlanta http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/?p=26537 That’s right!  Women’s Day Celebration 2011 is here, and the theme is the Voices of Virtuous Women!

The Celebration continues with 11:00 am Morning Worship Service this morning with Guest Speaker Rev. Carolyn Cameron, the Associate Pastor of St Paul AME & McChee Chapel AME in Hogansville, GA. Later today, come back for for evening worship with Minister Karen Ross, Associate Minister of St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church in East Point.

Dinner will be served after morning worship service- everyone at Rocky Head United Methodist Church is praying you and your family will attend. The church is at 6020 Old Campbellton Rd SW Atlanta, GA 30331.

]]> https://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2011/03/13/rocky-head-is-celebrating-virtuous-women/feed/ 1