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VIDEO REPORT: Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi is seeing his emphasis on closing out games paying off [Video]
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VIDEO REPORT: Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi is seeing his emphasis on closing out games paying off [Video]

Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi jokes that hes started to resemble the cartoon character Bob the Builder during team meetings.Thats because in the two weeks since taking over as interim coach, hes been using construction equipment shovels, hard hats, lunch pails, etc. as symbolic props while preaching the blue-collar approach he wants the Saints to take toward filling the metaphorical hole they dug during a seven-game skid that led to coach Dennis Allens firing.Last week, he brought in a level as he discussed the need for the team to be prepared to play their best at the ends of games. You use a level at the end to make sure you finish off the work and the job is done right, Rizzi said.The Saints blew late leads several times during their skid. But since Rizzis promotion, the Saints won in Week 10 by protecting a 20-17 lead throughout the fourth quarter against Atlanta and won on Sunday by blowing open a 14-all tie with Cleveland in the final quarter for a 35-14 victory.As you watched that game, I think you saw a team that just continued to get more and more confident, said Saints versatile tight end Taysom Hill, who rushed for a career-best 138 yards and three scores against the Browns.Finishing games was something we struggled with, but (Rizzi) has a really good pulse on what we need collectively as a team to get ready for a football game, Hill added. The guys have responded to that. Whats workingThe running game appears to be back on track. After gaining 214 yards on the ground as a team against Cleveland, the Saints have averaged 156 yards rushing during their past four games, with their lowest output during that span being 96 yards during a victory over Atlanta. What needs helpThe Saints exhibited a couple of losing habits on Sunday but got away with it against struggling Cleveland. New Orleans turned the ball over twice on Hills intercepted deep pass and his lost fumble after a reception deep in Browns territory. The Saints finished the game minus-2 in turnovers because they did not take the ball away.Meanwhile, the Saints allowed the Browns offense to produce five explosive plays, or plays that cover at least 20 yards. Those included touchdown passes of 89 and 30 yards.Rizzi said the explosive plays and turnovers were the reason that game was as close as it was, at 14-all in the third quarter.Those things are still a little bit of an Achilles heel, Rizzi added. We have to make them methodically go down the field and not have 89-yard touchdowns. Stock upTaysom Hills 248 combined yards as a runner (138), receiver (50), passer (18), and kick returner (42) provided the best example yet of how influential he can be when hes healthy and a central figure in the game plan.Stock downAlontae Taylor is perhaps New Orleans most talented available defensive back and has had increasingly tough assignments since the Saints lost Paulson Adebo to injury and traded Marshon Lattimore. Still, Taylor was covering Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy when he turned a short pass into an 89-yard catch-and-run for the Browns first touchdown. InjuriesCenter Erik McCoy, who played for the first time in eight weeks since having surgery to repair a Week 3 groin injury, left Sundays game in the second half. He did not appear to have a significant injury as he rode a stationary bike on the sideline but seemed concerned about enduring groin tightness or weakness as he intermittently appeared to stretch or test that part of his body. Rizzi has said McCoy might have been able to continue playing but that staff didnt want to risk further discomfort during his first game back from a long layoff.We really wanted to be cautious with that because he had all that missed time, Rizzu said Monday. It looks like in the long run hes going to be OK. Its probably a good thing we have a bye week this week.Key number6 The number of failed field-goal attempts by opposing kickers during the Saints past two games in the normally kicker-friendly Superdome. Just five of those misses counted, however, because one of Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins misses, from 32 yards, was voided by a Saints penalty on Sunday only to set up a subsequent miss from 27 yards. That marked just the second time in 65 field-goal attempts inside of 30 yards that Hopkins was unable to split the uprights.Next stepsAfter 11 straight weeks of football, the Saints have this week off before returning to action in the Superdome on Dec. 1 against the Los Angeles Rams.

USDA bans school lunch fees for low-income families [Video]
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USDA bans school lunch fees for low-income families [Video]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that students eligible for free or reduced price school meals cannot be charged processing fees beginning in 2027.School districts currently work with processing companies to offer cashless payment systems for families. But the companies can charge “processing fees” for each transaction. By law, students who are eligible for reduced price meals cannot be charged more than 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. With processing fees, however, families can end up paying 10 times that amount. Processing companies charge as much as $3.25 or 4% to 5% per transaction, according to a recent report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.For families with lower incomes who can’t afford to load large sums in one go, processing fees can arrive weekly or even more frequently, increasing costs disproportionately. Families that qualify for free or reduced lunch pay as much as 60 cents per dollar in fees when paying for school lunches electronically, according to the report.The new Agriculture Department’s policy becomes effective starting in the 2027-2028 school year. With this rule, the USDA will lower costs for families with income under 185% of federal poverty guidelines, which equals $57,720 for a family of four.”USDA and schools across America share the common goal of nourishing schoolchildren and giving them the fuel they need to learn, grow and thrive,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement Friday. “While today’s action to eliminate extra fees for lower-income households is a major step in the right direction, the most equitable path forward is to offer every child access to healthy school meals at no cost. We will continue to work with Congress to move toward that goal so all kids have the nutrition they need to reach their full potential.”The decision by the USDA follows a CFPB report that found online school meal payments predominantly affect low-income families. School lunch fees collectively cost families upwards of $100 million each year, according to the report.The U.S. Department of Agriculture has mandated that school districts inform families of their options since 2017, but even when parents are aware, having to pay by cash or check to avoid fees can be burdensome.”It’s just massively inconvenient,” said Joanna Roa, 43, who works at Clemson University in South Carolina as a library specialist and has two school-aged children.Roa said that when her son was in first grade and she saw the $3.25-per-transaction fee for lunch account transactions, she and her husband decided to send him to school with packed lunches instead.”A dollar here and there, I expected,” she said. “But $3.25 per transaction, especially here in rural South Carolina where the cost of living is a lot lower as are the salaries is a lot.”Roa said packing lunch for two kids every day became a burden in both time and effort for two working parents. For the past two years, thanks to surplus funds, her school district has been providing free school lunches which has changed the equation, but Roa said that could end at any point.In its review of the 300 largest public school districts in the U.S., the CFPB found that 87% of sampled districts contract with payment processors. Within those districts, the companies charge an average of $2.37 or 4.4% of the total transaction, each time money is added to a child’s account.While payment companies maintain that school districts can negotiate fees and rates before they agree to contracts, the CFPB found that complex company structures “may insulate companies from competition and make school districts less likely to negotiate.” Just three companies MySchoolBucks, SchoolCafe, and LINQ Connect dominate the market, according to the report.Without the ability to choose which company to work with, “families have fewer ways to avoid harmful practices,” the agency said, “including those that may violate federal consumer protection law.”

The Photo Studio, The Photo Studio Academy & Team Event [Video]
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The Photo Studio, The Photo Studio Academy & Team Event [Video]

Are you experienced in assisting a Studio Manager in a fast-paced creative environment, who seeks to make a positive impact? Do you want to work in a fun studio environment that combines creativity and leadership? The Photo Studio is Australias leader in fashion portraiture and model portfolios, with locations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Their mission is to push boundaries and inspire diversity in their industry while showing that everybody can look amazing on camera. They are currently looking for a full-time Assistant Studio Manager to join the Sydney team. In this role you will assist in managing the day to day operations of the studio floor to ensure a smooth, professional studio operation delivering the highest level of efficiency and customer experience. You will ensure all clients and visitors receive 5 star customer service and are treated as welcome guests and work with Studio Manager to ensure the studio facilities are maintained including equipment including cameras, lights, sets, backdrops, props and the general workspace. To nail this role youll be a committed photo industry professional with a minimum 2 years of experience in an ongoing role demonstrating a track record of professionalism. If you want to be part of a motivated team culture with a fun and rewarding work/life balance this is the opportunity for you! Apply now!