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Continuing to honor International Women Month, for the first time the City of Hattiesburg's Police Department is lead by a woman, Peggy Sealy. Sealy, who was then Assistant Chief to now retired Chief Anthony Parker, took over effective January 1, 2021 after Parker officially retired. Sealy was appointed by Mayor Toby Barker, who's currently up for re-election, to serve as Interim Chief of Police, commanding one of the most powerful police forces in the state. The appointment received gratitude from the Hattiesburg Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #55. In a statement, the police organization said her appointment "sets the stage for the Hattiesburg Police Department to regain its position as one of the top agencies in the State of Mississippi and the Southeast Region." Sealy started with Hattiesburg Police Department as a meter maid in 1988. 4 years later, she passed the police academy to become an officer. Often times referred to as gentle and very polite, her beauty on the outside shines from within which in part showed during her skills when she served as the Special Tactics and Rescue Team's hostage negotiator. She went back to the academy to help train other officers, serving as the academy training instructor. Her career expanded as Sealy became a Sergeant and oversaw the city's detective division, solving hard cases and crimes. She then began to police the police. As her influence grew so did her power. She then became lieutenant of the Internal Affairs, going from investigating citizens to investigating officers themselves from complaints to misconduct. All that hard work finally paid off. Sealy came back from retirement in 2017 and was appointed Assistant Chief of Police. A long road from once serving as commander of the patrol department to being apart of the upper brass and the number 2 in command of the Hattiesburg Police Department. Women make up 12.6% of sworn police officers in the United States. Women entered the criminal justice system in the 1800's as prison matrons. Things began to change in the 1960s and 70s. However, it wasn't to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that made it much more harder for men to discriminate against woman in the work place that women in the policing field saw major promotions. Sealy, a servant of the people, has served the Hattiesburg community for over 3 decades. Sources say she's humble, polite, community oriented, and lead by example. Sealy is a JCJC and Arizona State University Alumni.

In celebrating Women's Day, we're releasing the 6 most powerful women in Hattiesburg's History, who dared dream big, became trendsetters and barrier breakers. These powerful women walked the stage in which no other woman has gone before, with grace, class and dignity. They're not just breaking that glass ceiling, they're shattering it. In no particular order, they are: Deborah Gambrell - Chancellor . The honorable Deborah Gambrell became the very first African American elected in the history of Forrest County in 1980. She was elected as a judge for the Forrest County Justice Court. She held that position until January 11, 2011 when she was appointed by then Governor Haley Barbour to serve as a Chancellor on Chancery Court to replace James Thomas who had won reelection despite his death a month earlier. She was re-elected in 2014 and again in 2018. She has since won numerous awards and honors including the Mississippi's Volunteer Lawyer's Project Beacon of Justice Award for her pro bono work of providing legal aid to the poorest of community. Johniece DuPree - First Lady . The honorable Johniece DuPree became the very first African America first lady, breaking a 117 year tradition of only white women to serve in this capacity dating back to the City of Hattiesburg's very first woman to serve as First Lady, First Lady Jones, wife of Mayor Oliver Hazzard Perry Jones. First Lady DuPree married Mayor Johnny DuPree Ph.D on Christmas Eve of 1972. In 1988, they started their own real estate company. The first lady is a dedicated servant of Christ, working relentlessly with the eldering, primary helping with senior care living. In 2001, she instinctly became Hattiesburg's leading lady with class after her husband became the first African American Mayor in Hattiesburg's history, dating back to 1884. First lady DuPree is said to be a powerful political force behind the scenes with grace and dignity. She's also a cancer survivor and advocate appearing as special guest speaker to countless events raising breast cancer awareness, inspiring families and giving hope by encouraging other families and friends alike. Deborah Delgado - City Councilwoman . The honorable Deborah Delgado became the very first African American woman to be elected to the most prestigious delegation of representatives in Hattiesburg, the powerful Hattiesburg city council, the first time since the mayor council system was adopted in 1985. Before then, the city was ran by a city commissioner. A legal expert Delgado has worked her entire career using her legal talents to help shape policy and local laws, also known as ordinances, to help those less fortunate, and improve or dismantle other ordinances that discriminate or make it difficult for people of color. She's an astute for history, creating a vision for Hattiesburg to prosperous in the poverish communities she represents under project name, Twins Forks, the original name of Hattiesburg before it was finally named Hattiesburg in honor of Hattie, Hattiesburg's founder 3rd wife. She's known as the people advocate, fighting for inequalities that exists within Hattiesburg. She also has a weekly radio show she host, expanding her platform even more. Raylawni Branch - Student . The honorable Lieutenant Colonel Raylawni Branch became the very first African American student to attend the prestigious University of Southern Mississippi on September 6, 1965, breaking a 11 year tradition, when President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered all public spaces to be desegregated a year earlier in 1964. This was 10 years after the Supreme Court of the United States of American declared in the famous Brown vs The Board of Education that segregated schools were unconstitutional. Branch at the time was secretary of the Forrest County Branch of the NAACP. After college, she served as a collegiate nursing educator and became a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, only 2 ranks below general. Sharon Thompson - District Supervisor . The honorable Sharon Thompson became the first woman to be elected to sit on the most eminent body of leaders representing the interest of Forrest County, by being elected in 2019 as the delegate for District 2 of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors, breaking a 113 year tradition when Forrest County was incorporated. Sharon is the epitome of breaking the glass ceiling, have tried at least twice to defeat then incumbent President Emeritus of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors, Charles Marshall. She leads often with a smile but is no stranger to leadership or the county in general. She had previously been appointed by the Board of Supervisors to oversee the Forrest County Justice Court in which she served for several decades as the Forrest County Justice Court Clerk. Now as District 2 Supervisor, she serves a greater portion of constituents including the Rawls Springs and Glendale community on the outskirts of the City of Hattiesburg. A powerful force behind the scenes, Thompson has over 825 hours of administrative training at the prestigious Mississippi Judicial College, all of which is used to expand her platform to advance youth recreation. Carol Jones Russell- Judge . The honorable Carol Jones Russell became the first African American to be elected to a county-wide position and the first woman ever to be elected as Youth and County Court Judge, breaking a 111 year old tradition. After returning from the studying at the world renown international King's College in London, UK, she returned home with her Cum Laude Juris Doctorate degree from the prestigious University of Mississippi Law School to work for her historic auntie, Chancellor Gambrell, at the Gambrell law firm. She also served as a public defender as well as City of Hattiesburg's Municipal Court Judge Pro Tem. A heart for youth, she was appointed as a parent attorney representative of Forrest County Youth Court. Now, she serves a Youth Court judge, overseeing family and youth matters, County Court Judges, where she hears matters related to Forrest County, and her county court serves as court of appeals from any justice court case. She rules her courts with empathy and compassion, with grace, dignity and beauty. What better way to honor national women's day during Women History month than to recognized the 6 most powerful women in history who changed the game forever. They didn't just break the glass ceiling, they've destroyed it.

City Council Ward 1 Candidate Ken Chambers responded back forcefully late Monday evening to a suit filed by one term city councilman Jeffery George in an effort to ask the courts to dismiss Chambers as a candidate in what is predicted to be a very close race. Chambers stated, "In response to the petition filed in Forrest County Circuit Court by Jeffrey George. I have been a registered voter and resident of the City of Hattiesburg for over 15 years. I view the petition as an attempt to suppress the vote, my candidacy, and the voting process." George is seeking reelection as a republican which is why according to Chambers this came as no surprise. "Jeffrey George is a republican and republicans across this country have attempted to disqualify, suppress, exclude, and disenfranchise voters." Many voters feel this is a common republican tactic that's been used to control and maintain power, especially in deep south. But Chambers spoke of a unifying message to voters asking them not to be intimidated or distracted. "We choose our leadership through the election process and there should not be voter intimidation, limitations, or suppression." As for the suit filed in court itself, Chambers says he will allow his attorneys work on the matter. He says he's "confident" in the decision of the Democratic Executive Committee who reviewed and dismiss the complaint filed by George. The news of the suit was initially leaked by an opinionated blogger in which information had to first be vetted seeing as since it didn't come from a reliable source. Once the courts confirmed that such a suit was filed, Chambers team then released a statement which ended upbeat and high in spirit. "I am confident it will be the voters and not the courts who will decided the next councilman for Ward One!" exclaimed an excited Chambers. This is a developing story.

The $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill passed early Saturday by the House of Representatives would extend unemployment benefits by more than five months and offer recipients an extra $400 a week according to CNBC. The Senate will now consider the legislation. Democrats in the chamber can pass the bill with a simple majority using a budget rule called reconciliation. Democrats aim to send the measure to President Joe Biden by March 14. At that time, millions would lose jobless benefits without additional legislation. More than 19 million Americans were collecting benefits as of early February, according to the Labor Department. The bill, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 , would increase the duration of benefits offered through temporary pandemic relief programs. Aid would end Aug. 29 instead of March 14 . Those programs include Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for self-employed, gig and other workers who don’t qualify for state-level assistance; and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which pays extra weeks of state benefits to the long-term unemployed. The bill would offer PUA recipients a maximum 74 weeks of benefits, up from 50. PEUC recipients would get up to 48 weeks instead of 24. Benefit recipients would also get an extra $400 a week through Aug. 29. State unemployment benefits replaced about 38% of pre-layoff wages for workers, on average, in the third quarter last year, according to the Labor Department. An extra $400 a week would raise that wage replacement to 86% . The bill would also provide an extra $100 a week for certain self-employed workers. Workers are eligible for this if they make at least $5,000 in net self-employment income and aren’t receiving benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The head of Mississippi’s prison system says he has started an internal investigation into the death of an inmate. Ronald Frederick Apgar, 39, died Friday at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. An autopsy will be done. “We have banned an employee in question at the front gate of CMCF and started an internal investigation into our response time,” Corrections Commissioner Burl Cain said in a news release Wednesday. He said all findings of the investigation, including documents and video, will be given to the Rankin County district attorney. The announcement of the investigation came one day after the prison system first released information that Apgar had died. He was serving 12 years for grand larceny and false pretense after being sentenced March 15, 2018, in Harrison County. At least 16 Mississippi inmates have died this year, according to the Department of Corrections. At least 106 Mississippi inmates died from late 2019 until the end of 2020. Several died during outbursts of violence in late December 2019 and early January 2020. The U.S. Justice Department announced in February 2020 that it is investigating the state’s prison system.

Residents in the PCS Community off WSF Tatum in the Timberton area experience power outages as a direct result of the cold that's ushered into Hattiesburg as of lately. The outages according to Mississippi Power crews on the ground come from so many people using their heaters at the exact same time. Mississippi Power crews said it's a common problem especially during these very unusual cold days. The colder the weather, the bigger the house, the more homes it is, all contribute to everyone pulling from the same source. If you experience a power outage call Mississippi Power 1-800-532-1502.

It took almost a week or so for The City of Hattiesburg to issue a public statement as many in the community were outraged that a 14 year old black boy was shot by Hattiesburg Police, at least 5 times according to a social media post made by family. That statement finally came Wednesday, February 3, 2021 when Mayor Barker issued a pre-recorded video on his social media page in which towards the end of the video he stated, "But also understand that if someone breaks the law and threatens the safety of the public, or school children or the officer that individual should be prosecuted." There was immediate outrage from his own supporters who spoke out against his comments as many questioned the timing of the video as to say the mayor's focus is on his campaign for re-election, not the hurt felt by the community. "A week was way too long.. The way this was handled did not build trust with police or government," commented Karen Aderer. Deidre Craft commented, "Do the math he came out with a few days after he announced he's running again that was his main priority." Others argued the city has a lack of transparency or accountability. "Why has there been a lack of transparency and accountability from the city of Hattiesburg?" asked Cassidy Legih. "It's the lack of immediate transparency that fuels rumors," commented Donna Ladd. Dusty Gerald commented, "I think it's the lack of transparency that many are having an issue with. And I believe that is a valid concern." While some questioned the timing of the video and others the lack of transparency from Mayor Barker, others were outraged that the city's official response was the 14 year old black boy was actually a man, not a child. "When something like this happens YOU'RE THE ONES who report little to no or FALSE information like telling the media this boy is a GROWN MAN buying you TIME to get your claws into as many people as possible," exclaimed Josh Nobles. Some believe the officers tried to play judge and jury, which is often the national complaint from lawyers and activists when they feel someone is unjustly shot. "It's not the cop's duty to prosecute, to determine the outcome of whatever potential rule or law was broken. That is the duty of a judge and a jury," said Harlee Allen. Josh Nobles commented, "The Hattiesburg PD doesn't get to play Judge Jury and Executioner with the People." Yet Barker did have few supporters to come to his defense. "Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. I usually don't comment but this was infuriating. I HIGHLY doubt the Mayor did this for political expediency," commented Warren C. Everett II, a black man himself. Anne Hyman Love commented in support of the Barker, "Thank you Toby! You're always "on top" of everything!" Doing a social crisis, one that appears evident within the boarders of the City of Hattiesburg, many African Americans are questioning their support for Mayor Barker who is famous for picking up paper in the Black community in wake of his comments which some perceive are insensitive at best towards the black community as a 14 year old black child still lay in a local hospital after being shot by his police officers. Toby Barker was elected in 2017 after defeating Hattiesburg's first elected African American Mayor, Dr. Johnny DuPree, in which voting turnout was low after an EF3 tornado had destroyed a huge portion of the African American community. No more updates have been giving about the shooting.

In a dramatic shift, the Forrest County Coroner, Butch Benedict, publicly apologized for the first time to the African American community regarding statements he posted on his social media page during a press conference held deep in the African American community at Vernon Dahmer Park, named after slain Hattiesburg's Civil Rights Activist, Vernon Dahmer, who was murdered by the Klu Klux Klan for registering blacks to vote which was first published by WJTV News in Jackson, MS. He spent the early part of the morning reaching out to African American leaders apologizing for his actions, including speaking with Councilman Nick Brown, who represents the biggest area in the city, which is predominantly black, and the honorable Clarence Magee, President of Forrest County NAACP, the largest branch in the State of Mississippi. Both community leaders, Magee and Brown were receptive. After going on almost 2 weeks of refusing to apologize, Coroner Benedict came forward to be held accountable for his remarks which he admitted were ignorant at best toward the hostilities that African Americans face on a day to day. Forrest County Board of Supervisors struggled with how to address his remarks which many blacks believed were racist and demeaning of the newly elected Vice President Kamala Harris, in which many believed he indirectly called her a monkey, a claim he absolutely denies. The Board, however, cited it had no real power over the coroner. He couldn't be censored, impeached, or recalled according to state law, neither could they suspend his salary or fire him because he's an elected official, hired by the voters not the county. Calls for him to resign by the highest of elected African American were ignored, including calls from Deborah Delgado and Nick Brown, the only two black members of the Hattiesburg City Council. No white elected official however called for his resignation. Protest were subliminal at best with no more than 20 or so people protesting, not the 1,000's blocking streets and major intersections seen across the country. However tensions were rising and the number of protesters were growing which were flamed by H attiesburg Police shooting of a 14 year old black teenage r near Hattiesburg High School. No public statement has been made by Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker to address either issues despite protest in front of City Hall demanding accountability and transparency. But things changed early Tuesday morning when the coroner had a meeting with a powerful young community leader, Derrian Moye, commonly referred to by local media as a local celebrity known throughout the community as Mr. Hattiesburg . Moye had recently created the historical Mississippi March, the Black Lives Matter protest of 5,000 or more peacefully protesters that marched from both Mobile Street & Vernon Dahmer Park to downtown Hattiesburg, the biggest demonstration in Hattiesburg's history. Moye for his part has successfully guided the African American Community through several crisis before including standing up against a powerful Hattiesburg lieutenant displaying a hanging noose in his locker that turned into a national story in which the officer later resigned as well as creating the largest disaster relief in the city's history after a deadly EF3 tornado destroyed much of the African American community . He was later dignified by the University of Southern Mississippi with the prestigious honor of "Hometown Hero." Benedict reference during the press conference it wasn't until he had a meeting with Moye that he understood how his comments had offended blacks in the community. Moye explained to the coroner that his comments disrespected black women and the black community as a whole. Moye explained using the word "monkey" in any context politically has generally only been used to demoralize blacks, specifically Black women in politics, something the coroner says he was unaware of, but still refused to apologize, citing it would be seen as guilt. Benedict consistently argued he didn't mean anything racial by no means and the fact that so many of his friends he's known for years thought he did moved him to even more frustration. He thought, "Why apologize for something I didn't even mean it the way some people think I meant it? Then that means I did mean it like that and I swear I didn't." Moye demanded a public apology as he knew tensions within his community was mounting with frustrations among the mistreatments and disregards of blacks. Moye knew the idea of a public apology let alone the coroner resigning was far fetched seeing as since the coroner had already spoken with members of the Board of Supervisors and others had called for his resignation to no avail, people with much more influence or power than he. Yet once again, as he did with the lieutenant, he stood up for his community, this time a little weaker than in times past having health complications. Nevertheless, he didn't back down but continued to demand he be held accountable publicly, so the entire community could see his statement. The coroner dug in with refusing to apologize as he was advised it would simply go away acknowledging the fact no one had any authority over him to manifest any consequences. He felt it would do more harm than good if he said anything publicly. But after 47 minutes, Benedict conceded and agreed to apologize after Moye made it clear the bigger issue is, 'powerful white men' can do what they want to offend others without any consequences or even acknowledgements of wrong doing & that time had come to an end. Benedict explained he's not a racist. He shared how horrible he felt about offending African Americans, specifically black women. "God I'd never say anything to disrespect or hurt women, especially black women. That's not me! That's just not who I am!" He went on to say, "I grew up around black people. I was raised up with black people. Some of my best of friends are black people! I'll do anything I can to make this right! You just tell me when and where!" he told Moye. He originally wanted to do it Friday or next week, but Moye insisted on something soon and moved forward with giving him only an hour to prepare his thoughts and a statement. Most leaders of the Black community didn't think he would actually go through with the plans to apologize. They felt like it was a waste of time because he wouldn't show up. They all stated they would be shocked if it actually happened given the fact so many people had reached out to him before, including elected officials and he always declined anything publicly. Benedict for his part agreed it's bigger than politics or party. A group of people, including his friends, community, and most importantly, voters of both races had been offended by his words and as a God fearing man, he should do exactly what the Bible says, stand up and apologize for offending his brother. After hearing a different perspective from Moye, he felt convicted by God to follow his heart to apologize especially to African Americans instead of following the advice others had given of letting it pass and attempt to let it die down. So a few hours later the two men stood not in front of the coroner's office or downtown at the county administrative offices, but in the heart of the African American community before cameras and on live stream with African American kids standing in the background. Standing next to the coroner Moye was dressed in all black wearing a 'Black Lives Matter' hoodie that depicted a large picture of Dr. Martin Luther King being arrested by two white men. As the coroner explained how he grew up in the same black neighborhood he was standing in as the only white to play football at Mary Bethune school in the 5th and 6th grade, he began to apologize: "Sometimes we can become offended by, hurt by, or angry with one another. Most of the time these offenses are totally unintended and often the person that causes an offense is not even aware that it has taken place. I realize that I have offended someone by the words that were written. I am truly sorry if the words used offended you, but the words written were in no way meant to offend anyone. I am truly sorry if I offended you." Benedict stated that if he had previously known the context of how those words had been used in the past to offend blacks, he would have never used those words at all. He said he learned alot from the situation in general and alot from talking with Moye. Moye said, "A white man that's an elected official for a county named after the leader of the Klu Klux Klan has come to the park named after a black leader the Klu Klux Klan murdered to apologize to the African American community for remarks that outraged African Americans is a huge step in the right direction. He didn't have to do it and nothing obviously could be done about it, but he did." Moye said he and the coroner also talked about other ways that the coroner can help contribute to the African American Community in the near future. He ended by saying, "Let's focus on resolving more issues within the community. As regarding the coroner, he's done something nobody else have done that's offended our community and that's coming out and owning up to it. We've addressed it. He's been held accountable. He's acknowledge it. He's publicly apologized. Now our community is looking forward to bigger issues."

Days after Forrest County Coroner Butch Benedict appeared to call the Vice President of the United States, the honorable Kamala Harris, a monkey, more and more Hattiesburg City Council Members are calling for Benedict to resign. Monday, January 25, Deborah Delgado, one of the most powerful women in the City of Hattiesburg, demanded he resigned. "He must resign!" an furious Delgado exclaimed. Many assumed that seem to signal other public figures would follow. And they have! Councilman Nick Brown, Hattiesburg's highest elected African American male, has followed suit of Delgado, demanding the coroner resign after what appears to be insensitive racist remarks. Brown called for an immediate resignation, "This is disrespectful, a sign of ignorance, and should not be tolerated! This should be a call for immediate resignation!" an angry Brown declared. This comes just days after Benedict was upset that Mississippi didn't file to impeach the newly elected President of the United States, President Joe Biden, according to a Facebook post made by Benedict. However, Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker did say he would not vote to impeach ex president Donald Trump for encouraging the insurrection at the US Capitol which left 5 people dead including a law enforcement officer. Councilman Brown says his point of view is clear, "As elected officials, we represent all races and genders. We are to uphold our duty and work for all these individuals." This comes at a time when President Joe Biden is calling for the nation to come together in unity as we are days from celebrating Black History Month, a historical month as Kamala Harris was elected the first Black Vice President of the United States. A dissatisfied Brown went on to say, "With that being said, the racist comments of referring to our Vice President as a monkey by the Forrest County Coroner shows racism and a lack of professionalism." It appears that the African American Community is coming together weeks before the 2021 city elections are to take place which could potentially be a problem for any candidate seeking office. According to President Biden, it's the African American community that decided to put him in office. A frustrated Brown said, "This is not how we should be represented within this country nor city!"

On January 21, Forrest County Coroner Butch Benedict shared a Facebook post from FOX News in which headlined, "Freshman GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene files articles of impeachment against Biden." Benedict shared the post to his page by saying, "My question is, why didn't our representatives for the state of Mississippi do the same? Glad she is taking a stand!!" Garrett Spiers then commented on Benedicts post by asking, "Who becomes president if he is impeached" in which the coroner wrote back an alarming response in which has angered the entire African American community, "Garrett Spiers must you ask? its' all monkey and footballs!" Forrest County Coroner Butch Benedict replies. Spiers then responded, "Butch Benedict Doesn't look good for us, the real backbone of the United States." These racist comments has set off a fiery round of rejections of once supporters for the once beloved Benedict. However, the validity of those rejections has come from one of the most powerful women in the City of Hattiesburg, Councilwoman Deborah Delgado. She has now demanded he resign. "He should resign!" the Councilwoman demanded. "The spirit the country just ushered out of the White House cannot be allowed to continue to fertilize the undercurrent of racism and domestic terrorism that caused the storming of the US Capitol," Councilwoman Delgado passionately explained. She is referring to Ex-president Donald Trump eviction from the White House by America in the 2020 presidential election, which in return led Trump to send violent criminals, which included some law enforcement, military, elected officials, and already FBI designated domestic terrorists, storming the US Capitol to try and overturn the democratic election in which 4 people were murdered by the insurrectionist. Furiously, the councilwoman proclaimed, "No matter what is said about love of country and patriotism, the fruit is bigotry. An elected official having the gall to refer to our Vice President as a monkey should not be allowed to hold office, especially when Black votes helped to get him there!"

Tom Brady took the Patriots to 13 AFC championship games, got to the Super Bowl nine times with them and won six rings. He's now 1 for 1 in NFC championship games with the Buccaneers, taking Tampa Bay to a home game in Super Bowl 55. According to this report by sportingnews.com, Brady can't match everything he did in New England in one year. But considering the degree of difficulty tied to new challenges — a virtual offseason and no preseason while starting somewhat from scratch at age 43 — this latest NFL playoff run is greater than anything we have seen before from the greatest of all time. Brady ended up being less pretty and more gritty Sunday in outdueling Aaron Rodgers and the Packers 31-26 in Lambeau Field. But despite three interceptions, Brady was plenty efficient (20-of-36 passing, 280 yards, three TDs, 7.6 yards per attempt, 108.6 rating) and made all the necessary winning plays — including his legendary 39-yard scoring strike to Scotty Miller right before halftime. The game played out much like most of Brady's first regular season in Tampa did. There were frustrating mistakes, including errant passes, missed connections with receivers who ran shaky routes and drops. The running game was inconsistent. The defense stopped the run as usual and delivered a strong edge pass rush, but it had lapses in coverage all over the field. Like in the regular season, in which the Bucs went 11-5 to earn a No. 5 seed as Brady's first wild-card team, the Buccaneers put it all together in the right situations. Like their two previous road playoff games with Brady, they found a way to shut the door in the fourth quarter with complementary football. Brady didn't come to the Bucs expecting them to roll through the top-heavy NFC the way many of his Patriots teams did in the often-weak AFC. There was a lot of unfamiliarity, both for him with his new coaching staff and his young teammates with him. There wasn't the automatic three-phase discipline he enjoyed so long with Bill Belichick, or an offensive playbook that had become second nature under Josh McDaniels. With New England no longer being the right place to support his talent, he had to hand-pick a team he thought had the potential to break through and win championships. To say he chose wisely with the Bucs is one of the biggest understatements in NFL history. Brady's 2020 season was one of his most brilliant statistically (40 TDs, 12 INTs, 7.6 yards per attempt, 102.2 rating), on par with his three MVP campaigns. Along the way, he had to mesh his quick-release and short-to-intermediate sensibilities from the Patriots with an aggressive downfield passing game with the Buccaneers. The Bucs had no doubts about Brady's arm strength, and he took every calculated opportunity to show it off, especially with field-stretching wide receivers as talented as Mike Evans, Antonio Brown and Miller. But when he needed different kinds of chain-moving and scoring plays, he went to his old reliable tight end, Rob Gronkowski, and his new reliable tight end, Cameron Brate. Through it all, slot ace Chris Godwin — when healthy — was his go-to guy and rookie Tyler Johnson was his secret weapon. That's how Brady operated a Bucs offense minus Brown to a tee against the Packers, while also knowing that Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones have been taking turns as the hot hand in the rushing attack. His offensive linemen overachieved for him as they continued to protect the GOAT. There was a lingering question whether the Patriots' dynasty was more Belichick or Brady. Belichick's Patriots missing the AFC playoffs while Brady's Buccaneers won the NFC championship doesn't end that argument, but it confirms the type of winning energy Brady takes away and gives to a team. The Bucs proved there is a lot of talent surrounding Brady. Many of their big defensive pieces in 2020 also played key roles in 2019, and the holdover wide receivers and tight ends were big attractions even before Brady recruited Gronkowski and Brown to put them over the top. Brady also has been a conduit to head coach Bruce Arians and an extension of general manager Jason Licht. He met the challenge of motivating and empowering a whole different group of players on and off the field. At the same time, he played at a very high level and answered those who doubted, including the Patriots, whether he could still do so while growing another year older. Brady went through Drew Brees' No. 2 Saints and Rodgers' No. 1 Packers in their buildings, and his Bucs went significantly farther than Russell Wilson's No. 3 Seahawks. Those are the NFC's three other active Super Bowl-winning QBs and future Hall of Famers. Brady pushed the Buccaneers to be better than all those teams in the end, much like he owned Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco over all those years in the AFC. It was as if Brady encapsulated 20 seasons with the Patriots into this memorable run with Tampa Bay, inventing the "Buccaneer Way" and perfecting it over a much shorter period of time. He did all of that with a chip on his shoulder and a smile on his face, to go with a rejuvenated mind and body. When it seemed as though Brady had passed the torch to Patrick Mahomes and other young guns, he dug deep to find one more way to impress us and pad his resume. With the Patriots, things began to look easy with the perennial Super Bowl trips. With the Buccaneers, everything was much harder, and it still didn't matter — the GOAT got his typical awesome results.

According to a report from ESPN, Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron, the Hall of Fame slugger whose 755 career home runs long stood as baseball's golden mark, has died. He was 86. The Atlanta Braves said in a release that Aaron died peacefully in his sleep. An assistant to Aaron said in a statement to ABC News that his family was asking for privacy at this time. "We are absolutely devastated by the passing of our beloved Hank," Braves chairman Terry McGuirk said in a statement. "He was a beacon for our organization first as a player, then with player development, and always with our community efforts. His incredible talent and resolve helped him achieve the highest accomplishments, yet he never lost his humble nature. Henry Louis Aaron wasn't just our icon, but one across Major League Baseball and around the world. His success on the diamond was matched only by his business accomplishments off the field and capped by his extraordinary philanthropic efforts. "We are heartbroken and thinking of his wife Billye and their children Gaile, Hank, Jr., Lary, Dorinda and Ceci and his grandchildren." One of the sport's great stars despite playing for the small-market Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves throughout a major league career that spanned from 1954 to 1976, Aaron still holds major league records for RBIs (2,297), total bases (6,856) and extra-base hits (1,477), and he ranks among MLB's best in hits (3,771, third all time), games played (3,298, third) and runs scored (2,174, fourth). But it was Hammerin' Hank's sweet home run swing for which he was best known. A 6-foot, 180-pounder, Aaron broke Babe Ruth's hallowed home run mark less than a week into the 1974 season, slugging his record 715th off Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Al Downing in the fourth inning as 50,000-plus fans celebrated in Atlanta. In one of baseball's iconic moments, Aaron trotted around the basepaths -- despite briefly being interrupted by two fans, including a young Craig Sager -- and ultimately touched home plate, where teammates hoisted him and his parents embraced him. Aaron went on to play two more seasons and finished with 755 career home runs, a mark that stood as the major league record until Barry Bonds broke it in 2007. Despite allegations that Bonds used performance-enhancing drugs, Aaron never begrudged someone eclipsing his mark. His common refrain: More than three decades as the king was long enough. It was time for someone else to hold the record. Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's career home run record when he slugged his 715th against the Dodgers early in the 1974 season. He finished with 755, a mark that stood as the most in baseball until Barry Bonds broke it in 2007. Aaron finished his career with a host of accolades. He was the National League MVP in 1957 -- the same year the Braves won the World Series -- a two-time NL batting champion (1956, '59), a three-time Gold Glove winner in right field (1958-60) and a record 25-time All-Star. He finished his career back in Milwaukee, traded to the Brewers after the 1974 season when he refused to take a front-office job that would have required a big pay cut. Aaron was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, receiving 97.8% approval in his first year on the ballot. In 1999, MLB created the Hank Aaron Award, given annually to the best hitter in both the AL and NL. Off the field, Aaron was an activist for civil rights, having been a victim of racial inequalities. Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama, and didn't play organized high school baseball because only white students had teams. During the buildup to his passing of Ruth's home run mark, threats were made on his life by people who did not want to see a Black man break the record. Aaron was shadowed constantly by bodyguards and forced to distance himself from teammates. He kept all those hateful letters, a bitter reminder of the abuse he endured and never forgot. "This is a considerable loss for the entire city of Atlanta," Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in a statement. "While the world knew him as 'Hammering Hank Aaron' because of his incredible, record-setting baseball career, he was a cornerstone of our village, graciously and freely joining Mrs. Aaron in giving their presence and resources toward making our city a better place. As an adopted son of Atlanta, Mr. Aaron was part of the fabric that helped place Atlanta on the world stage. Our gratitude, thoughts and prayers are with the Aaron family." After he retired, Aaron joined the Braves as an executive and hoped more Black players could find that type of work after their playing days were finished. "On the field, Blacks have been able to be super giants," he once said. "But once our playing days are over, this is the end of it and we go back to the back of the bus again." Aaron was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. The Associated Press contributed to this report.