Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Jacqueline Jossa has hinted at more drama to come on EastEnders . Earlier this week, fans of the BBC soap were left in shock as Cindy Beale (portrayed by Michelle Collins) was brutally attacked with a shovel on Christmas Day, leaving her in a medically-induced coma. Among the suspects is Lauren Branning, played by Jacqueline, 32, who had revealed Cindy's affair with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) at the Queen Vic just before the attack occurred in Albert Square. The revelation left Cindy's partner Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and her family devastated, while her ex-husband George Knight (Colin Salmon) was also taken aback by Cindy and his son Junior's secret antics. Reflecting on how her character "ruined" Christmas once again - mirroring when she exposed her father Max Branning's affair with Stacey Slater back in 2007 - Jacqueline shared a post on her Instagram Story on Thursday. She also hinted that fans will love what's coming up on the show. In the post, she said: "Thank you for the DMs and kind words. I love being back on the square causing much chaos. I love slipping Lauren's boots on and ruining Christmas hehehe. Watching with my family and having them all guessing along etc will never get old and I'm extremely proud. I always say it and will continue to. I bloody love EastEnders." She also gave her fans a tantalising glimpse into what's to come, hinting on her social media: "Wait till you see what's in store for the next few months ... as you guys know it's the 40th anniversary [in] Feb 2025 and it's EPIC!" She expressed her gratitude by saying, "I wish I could message every one that's messaged or commented or DMed etc. I just wanted to say thank you. It doesn't go unnoticed and I really appreciate it. Thank you.", reports the Mirror . Adding a cheeky festive touch, she signed off with: "Merry Christmas ... if anyone has any huge family secrets they need to be exposed, you know where I am." Linking back to an earlier post from the same day, Jacqueline shared snaps of herself in a wintery Albert Square, teasing: "Lauren Branning up to her old tricks again. My girl Lauren does love a Christmas reveal." She playfully concluded with a cliffhanger, asking her followers: "Who hit Cindy then? ".208 phlove 。

NASHVILLE, Tenn (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 257 yards and four touchdowns rallying No. 7 Tennessee from a 14-point deficit within the first five minutes to rout in-state rival Vanderbilt 36-23 Saturday. “Man, it couldn't have started any worse,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel told his Vols postgame . “And you know what? Competitive composure ... You just kept coming. That's what elite people, champions do. You just keep coming.” The Volunteers (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference; No. 8 CFP) needed a big victory to impress the College Football Playoff committee enough to earn a home playoff game in December. They beat Vanderbilt (6-6, 3-5) for a sixth straight season leaving the Commodores needing to win their bowl game to post their first winning record since 2013. Better yet, the Vols rebounded from a nightmare start giving up the first 14 points by scoring 29 straight points. They led 24-17 at halftime on Iamaleava's first three TD passes. “Once they took the momentum, we kind of allowed them to have it for the rest of the game," Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. "And you got to credit Tennessee. I mean, obviously, they were playing for the playoffs and credit coach Heupel and his team for their winning performance.” Junior Sherrill returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown for Vanderbilt to stun a mostly orange crowd. Dylan Sampson fumbled on the Vols’ second play from scrimmage, and Sedrick Alexanader's 4-yard TD run on a 26-yard drive put Vandy up 14-0 quickly. Then Iamaleava got Tennessee going with a 28-yard TD pass to Dont’e Thornton Jr. Tennessee got a break when Max Gilbert's 50-yard field goal bounced off the crossbar and over. Iamaleava found Thornton again on an 86-yard catch-and-run TD, then he tossed an 18-yard TD pass to Miles Kitselman just before halftime. Iamaleava capped the opening drive of the third quarter hitting Mike Matthews with a 14-yard TD pass for a 31-17 lead. The Vols added a safety by Tyre West and another Gilbert field goal. Diego Pavia threw a 31-yard TD pass to Richie Hoskins late with Vandy's 2-point conversion failing for the final margin. Tennessee didn't make a good early impression with yet another slow start. The Vols need to hope for some help to have a chance at moving up a spot or two . The big question is whether the Vols get to host a playoff game in December at Neyland Stadium where they went undefeated this season. Tennessee put together TD drives of 91 and 96 yards in the first half alone. The Vols then beat Vandy at its own game of keepaway after not even managing 10 minutes of possession in the first half. They finished with the edge in that stat outgaining Vandy 538-212. Vanderbilt had some of the best offensive success against Tennessee of any opponent this season. The Commodores had 114 yards rushing and 17 points by halftime against a defense that came in ranked sixth nationally allowing just 98.8 yards a game. The Vols had been fourth in the country giving up just 13.1 points a game having held 10 of 11 opponents under 20 points this season. But Lea said the Commodores ran just 11 plays to Tennessee's 44 after halftime. The Tennessee running back, who set the program record with 22 rushing TDs this season, didn't reach the end zone for the first time this season. Sampson finished with 178 yards rushing to reach 1,485 yards for the season, topping the school mark of 1,464 set by Travis Stephens in 2001. Tennessee waits to hear its spot in the CFP field, while Vanderbilt learns its bowl destination Dec. 8. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football.Princess Private Equity (LON:PEY) Shares Cross Below Fifty Day Moving Average – Here’s WhyAlgert Global LLC decreased its holdings in InterDigital, Inc. ( NASDAQ:IDCC – Free Report ) by 68.3% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 4,878 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock after selling 10,530 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC’s holdings in InterDigital were worth $691,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new stake in InterDigital in the third quarter worth about $25,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new stake in InterDigital in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in InterDigital during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in InterDigital by 50.8% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 368 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of InterDigital by 38.0% in the second quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 396 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. 99.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. InterDigital Stock Down 0.2 % NASDAQ:IDCC opened at $195.96 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.62. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $161.70 and its 200-day moving average price is $137.10. InterDigital, Inc. has a 1-year low of $95.33 and a 1-year high of $199.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.94, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.38. InterDigital Increases Dividend Insider Buying and Selling at InterDigital In related news, Director John A. Kritzmacher sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.72, for a total transaction of $346,800.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 20,279 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,813,102.88. This represents a 10.98 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, insider Joshua D. Schmidt sold 140 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.19, for a total transaction of $25,506.60. Following the sale, the insider now owns 24,138 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,397,702.22. This represents a 0.58 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last quarter, insiders sold 3,340 shares of company stock worth $472,253. Insiders own 2.30% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth IDCC has been the topic of several research reports. Roth Mkm upped their target price on InterDigital from $146.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 11th. StockNews.com cut InterDigital from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Read Our Latest Research Report on IDCC About InterDigital ( Free Report ) InterDigital, Inc operates as a global research and development company with focus primarily on wireless, visual, artificial intelligence (AI), and related technologies. The company engages in the design and development of technologies that enable connected in a range of communications and entertainment products and services, which are licensed to companies providing such products and services, including makers of wireless communications, consumer electronics, IoT devices, and cars and other motor vehicles, as well as providers of cloud-based services, such as video streaming. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IDCC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for InterDigital, Inc. ( NASDAQ:IDCC – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for InterDigital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for InterDigital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. reduced its stake in BankUnited, Inc. ( NYSE:BKU – Free Report ) by 1.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,640,410 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 20,721 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. owned approximately 2.19% of BankUnited worth $59,777,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in BKU. Millennium Management LLC increased its position in shares of BankUnited by 49.2% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,247,271 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $65,778,000 after buying an additional 740,896 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings in BankUnited by 3,901.0% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 574,068 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $16,803,000 after acquiring an additional 559,720 shares during the period. Point72 Asset Management L.P. lifted its stake in BankUnited by 741.7% in the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 397,271 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $11,628,000 after purchasing an additional 350,071 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its holdings in BankUnited by 3,658.4% in the 2nd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 325,812 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $9,537,000 after purchasing an additional 317,143 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of BankUnited by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,583,059 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $134,144,000 after purchasing an additional 315,872 shares in the last quarter. 99.70% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Insider Activity In other BankUnited news, COO Thomas M. Cornish sold 10,778 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.11, for a total value of $421,527.58. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 100,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,911,000. This trade represents a 9.73 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, insider Jay D. Richards sold 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.18, for a total transaction of $102,950.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 34,687 shares in the company, valued at $1,428,410.66. The trade was a 6.72 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders own 1.19% of the company’s stock. BankUnited Price Performance BankUnited ( NYSE:BKU – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 22nd. The financial services provider reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.07. BankUnited had a return on equity of 8.09% and a net margin of 9.06%. The firm had revenue of $515.24 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $258.65 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.63 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that BankUnited, Inc. will post 2.89 earnings per share for the current year. BankUnited Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 11th were paid a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 11th. BankUnited’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.54%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently issued reports on BKU. Wedbush lifted their price objective on BankUnited from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 24th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and set a $37.00 price target on shares of BankUnited in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of BankUnited from $36.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of BankUnited from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $38.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of BankUnited from $42.00 to $39.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $38.70. Check Out Our Latest Report on BKU BankUnited Company Profile ( Free Report ) BankUnited, Inc operates as the bank holding company for BankUnited, a national banking association that provides a range of banking services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, such as checking, money market deposit, and savings accounts; certificates of deposit; and treasury, commercial payment, and cash management services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for BankUnited Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BankUnited and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Here's what the H-1B visa debate with Musk and Ramaswamy is aboutWhy giving cash instead of creating jobs can be a problem

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Stage set for the two-day 29th session of AIMPLB in BengaluruReport: Trump Company Considers Adding Crypto Payments and TradingElections: Police deploy 4 600 officers

Kewaunee Scientific Co. ( NASDAQ:KEQU – Get Free Report ) CEO Thomas David Hull III sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.01, for a total transaction of $126,020.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 42,497 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,677,735.97. The trade was a 4.49 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Kewaunee Scientific Trading Up 0.3 % KEQU stock opened at $63.81 on Friday. Kewaunee Scientific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $27.00 and a fifty-two week high of $66.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 2.00 and a current ratio of 2.53. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $42.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $43.28. The firm has a market cap of $183.13 million, a PE ratio of 10.11 and a beta of 0.80. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, StockNews.com upgraded Kewaunee Scientific from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in KEQU. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Kewaunee Scientific by 18,000.0% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 905 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 900 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC purchased a new position in shares of Kewaunee Scientific in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $121,000. Heron Bay Capital Management bought a new position in shares of Kewaunee Scientific during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $252,000. State Street Corp purchased a new stake in Kewaunee Scientific during the 3rd quarter valued at $266,000. Finally, Ritholtz Wealth Management raised its holdings in Kewaunee Scientific by 24.6% during the 3rd quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 10,913 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $363,000 after buying an additional 2,156 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 32.69% of the company’s stock. About Kewaunee Scientific ( Get Free Report ) Kewaunee Scientific Corporation designs, manufactures, and installs laboratory, healthcare, and technical furniture and infrastructure products. The company operates through two segments, Domestic and International. Its products include steel and wood casework, fume hoods, adaptable modular systems, moveable workstations, stand-alone benches, biological safety cabinets, and epoxy resin work surfaces and sinks. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Kewaunee Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kewaunee Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Italy says it is making every effort to bring home a journalist who has been under arrest in Iran for more than a week, as politicians of all stripes expressed their concern. or signup to continue reading Cecilia Sala, 29, who works for the newspaper Il Foglio and the podcast company Chora Media, was detained in Tehran on December 19 but her arrest was only made public on Friday. The Italian foreign ministry said it was in contact with Iran to clarify Sala's legal situation and the conditions of her detention. "Italy is working tirelessly to free her, pursuing every option," Defence Minister Guido Crosetto - a key figure in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government - wrote on the social media platform X, calling the arrest "unacceptable". Chora Media said Sala had left Rome for Iran on December 12 with a valid journalist visa and had conducted several interviews and produced three episodes of her Stories podcast. She had been due to fly back to Rome on December 20. It added that Sala was being held in solitary confinement in Tehran's Evin prison and no reason had been given for her arrest. There was no immediate confirmation of the arrest by Iranian officials. It was not clear whether it might be linked to tensions between Rome and Tehran after Iran last week summoned a senior Italian diplomat and the Swiss ambassador, who represents US interests in the country, over the arrest of two Iranian nationals. One of the men was arrested in Italy at Washington's request. Italy's ambassador to Iran visited Sala in prison on Friday and the journalist has also been in phone contact with her family, the Italian foreign ministry said. Italian sources with knowledge of the matter said she was "very tired" but "physically fine". Chora said news of Sala's arrest was not immediately made public as her family and Italian authorities had hoped that keeping it quiet could help secure her swift release. Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left opposition Democratic Party, urged the government to act swiftly. "We immediately call on the government to take every useful initiative to shed light on this matter, to clarify the reasons for this detention and, above all, to bring Cecilia Sala back to Italy as soon as possible," she said. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementSign road reform bill, highway engineers urge TinubuNick Kyrgios says positive tests for duo are ‘disgusting’ and ‘a horrible look’

La Crosse community rallies behind single mother, saves home

BOOTHWYN, PA — Icetec Energy Services has joined forces with RENEW Energy Partners to tackle the growing energy challenges faced by high-demand industries. This collaboration aims to deliver advanced battery energy storage systems (BESS) and microgrids, helping clients like manufacturers, hospitals, data centers, and universities slash costs, bolster energy resiliency, and reduce their carbon footprint—all without upfront capital investment. Under this partnership, RENEW assesses customer needs and implements tailored energy solutions by funding and managing the installation of equipment. Icetec uses its cutting-edge energy management platform to model system savings, optimize performance once operational, and ensure maximum cost efficiency and carbon reduction. With high market demand, the team has already lined up $100 million in energy projects. Icetec’s platform, powered by predictive analytics and adaptive algorithms, handles tasks like managing utility demand response programs, optimizing state-specific initiatives, and reducing peak load. For example, Northeast businesses could save over $250,000 per megawatt annually using these technologies. “RENEW’s mission to decarbonize and their impeccable customer success record make them an ideal partner,” said Matthew Wolfe, Icetec’s VP of Business Development. “Our energy management platform will make advanced market opportunities more accessible to companies.” Charlie Lord, Principal at RENEW Energy Partners, echoed the benefit of the collaboration. “Our partnership with Icetec combines RENEW’s financial expertise with the best technology platform. Together, we’re providing a seamless transition to meaningful decarbonization while helping customers lower costs.” With this innovative approach, Icetec and RENEW are making advanced energy solutions a reality for businesses across the Northeast, reshaping the energy landscape for a sustainable future. For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN .

Romanian leftist PM and hard-right candidate in a tieEven when Milwaukee opened the season by losing eight of its first 10 games, Bucks coach Doc Rivers knew it was only a matter of time before his team returned to form. Sure enough, the Bucks have won four of their last five games heading into an NBA Cup matchup against the visiting Indiana Pacers on Friday. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.One story I never tire of telling is how Channel 6 assured Philadelphia would have a Thanksgiving Day Parade, even as retailers who originally sponsored it faded from the local scene. I mention Channel 6’s place in Philadelphia Thanksgiving history annually because it marks one of the all-time greatest rescues of a local tradition by a local media giant. Thursday, that tradition continues as “The 6 ABC Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade,” begins its 105th annual march — 39th under Channel 6’s aegis — at 8:30 p.m. featuring its usual assortment of balloons, marching bands, celebrity performances and floats. Dunkin’, as in Dunkin’ Donuts, has been Channel 6’s primary partner for 14 years. Channel 6 news folk Rick Williams, Cecily Tynan, Adam Joseph, Karen Rogers and Alicia Vitarelli will serves as hosts of event: Williams and Tynan from the main Benjamin Franklin Parkway broadcasting booth, the others from the parade route which starts about 16th and the Parkway and leads to the Art Museum. Headlined guests include “Abbott Elementary’s “ Lisa Ann Walter, “Wheel of Fortune’s” Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White, “Live!’s” Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, ubiquitous TV host and panelist Carson Kressley, and “Good Morning America” weather anchor Sam Champion. Pop music acts appearing at the parade include my lifelong favorite Darlene Love, Matteo Boccelli, The Sugarhill Gang, Kathy Sledge, The Sharpe Family Singers, CeCe Peniston, The Funky Bunch, Wé Ani, and the former Ladies of Chic. Performers from Ensemble Arts Philly touring shows are featured as well as the Walnut Street Theatre’s current production of “Elf,” the Philadelphia Orchestra, just back from a tour of China, Eddie Bruce and the “No Name Pops,” and the Philadelphia Ballet, now doing their annual rendition of “The Nutcracker.” Of course, some creatures known as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Santa Claus make dramatic appearances. Until Al Blackstone was asked to choreograph a production of “Anastasia,” a full-fledged musical based on 1997 animated version, he didn’t realize how much dancing the show required. “I thought it needed a ballet scene and some period dances,” he said. “Once I began working on it, I realized everything in ‘Anastasia’ is a dance,” said Blackstone, who, at the time we spoke was heading to the final rehearsal of “Anastasia” at New Hope’s Bucks County Playhouse, where it will run through Sunday, Jan. 5. “There is so much music to work, and it’s by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, so you know it’s fabulous, but more than that, (director) Eric Rosen’s concept is the music of a memory, so dance serves to illustrate the moment and where the characters are. “It gives us liberty to invent as the show moves from Imperial Russia to Paris, to which the Russian nobility flees following the Revolution.” Russian sequences can range from folk dances to formal ballet. The Paris the refugees inhabit is one of class. Blackstone says his personal experience helped in conceiving the movement for both settings. He had worked on a production of “An American in Paris,” which though set in a later period, provided a sense of the sophisticated Parisian milieu. His grandfather had emigrated to New York from St. Petersburg, Russia, at the time of the Revolution. “I was aware of the different stations and scenarios in the characters’ lives,” Blackstone says. “There’s a lot of range because some of the emigrants are members of the aristocracy while others are from the working class. “There turns out to be so much to explore in this show, I’d like to do it a third time.” Asked whether it is more difficult to work with a vehicle that was originally an animated cartoon, Blackstone said it presents some challenges. “We ask ourselves how we deal with such a situation, dealing with what it is before us but finding an effective way to make to bring out the dramatic reality of a situation, the human reality of it.” Blackstone came to prominence as one of the choreographers on “So You Think You Can Dance,” for which he received two Emmy nominations and earned one 2020 Emmy. “So You Think You Can Dance” was all about dance. It wasn’t concerned with celebrity or the process that led to the performed dance. “The language of dance was the priority, so the show became a great place to exercise creativity,” Blackstone said. “An atmosphere was created in which anything seemed possible.” Blackstone knows a lot about performing. His parents owned a dance school near Point Pleasant, N.J. “They just closed it after 45 years. Besides all of the training, my mother would take us out of school on Wednesday afternoons, so we could go to Broadway and see all of the musicals. That, as much as anything, made me want to be involved with the theater. “I remember the first show I saw was “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat.’ It excited me so much, I wrote a letter to everyone in the cast. In time, I saw how dance is an integral part of storytelling.” Now in his 40s, Blackstone says dance and music remain a huge part of his life. “I don’t know how to do everything. I don’t want to do everything. I know who I am and what I’m programmed to do. And, of course, I’m still learning. “The music that interests me the most is the Great American Songbook, the wonderful songs by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and their contemporaries. Musicals are often composed with that style of music, which is why I enjoy working on them so much.” Being so used to whole series streaming at once, it is difficult to deal with waiting a full week for a new episode of a show. Peacock’s “The Day of the Jackal” is worth it. Eddie Redmayne plays a highly paid, highly talented professional assassin. Watching him set up the first kill of the series is engrossing as both actor and the situation are fraught with tension. The Jackal is the bad guy, but Redmayne’s charm and talent, and his character’s skill and poise make you root for him despite the international political mayhem he causes with each precise kill. The series is smart enough to let us see various aspects of The Jackal — as a family man, as a lover of nature — that enhance our like for him. Also, his main adversary, an MI 6 agent played by Lashana Lynch, is heavy-handed in her tactics and never becomes as likable as Redmayne, let alone becoming someone to root for. New episodes appear on Peacock every Thursday. You can binge-watch those that have aired already. Throughout the Eagles season, the post-game commentator I look most forward to hearing is former Eagle wide receiver Jason Avant, whether he’s conversing with Rob Ellis on WIP (94.1 FM) or Don Bell on Channel 3. Avant is candid and knowledgeable in a way that illuminates the game he’s s discussing, the plays he’s dissecting, and the players he’s praising or questioning. He brings a polished expert’s perspective to whatever he’s saying while being a sharp, observant, and fair critic of the game he, Ellis, or Bell is taking apart. That Rob Ellis and Don Bell, in their individual ways, rank among the best sportscasters in the market, is a head start to their success working with Avant. Ellis is always rational and, while stating opinions firmly, he listens to callers, explains his views calmly, and introduces ideas you haven’t heard all day on earlier programs. Bell is playful, the guy who applies a good-natured point of view to his reporting and is the life of the broadcasting party while remaining prepared and able to get down to business. Bell also has a worthy pre-game partner in Channel 3’s Pat Gallen, who seems nonchalant in approach but knows his topic thoroughly. Another who’s impressed recently is Channel 29 sportscaster Breland Moore. I enjoyed her take on the Eagles-Commanders game of Nov. 14. I also noticed that see chose as her “player to watch” in terms of being significant to the game at hand was a defender, Eagles safety Reed Blankenship, who came through with a timely interception of a Jayden Daniels pass.