CBS News
For San Francisco 49ers coach Johnny Holland, Super Bowl LVIII isn’t his biggest challenge
Las Vegas — With just three days to go until their Super Bowl LVIII matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s crunch time for the San Francisco 49ers. But win or lose, Niners linebackers coach Johnny Holland is cherishing every moment.
“Sunday is a great day because it’s game day,” Holland told CBS News. “But, you know, I found out now that every day is a great day. It’s taught me a lot to see life in a different perspective.”
Five years ago, after feeling pain in his shoulder and ribs, Holland was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare and incurable blood cancer.
“Immediately, I started chemo treatment and went on every day, going to work every day and go get chemo once a week,” Holland said. “It probably took about six months to realize that, ‘this is pretty serious that you’re going through.'”
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He’s now a part of a clinical trial at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center that’s testing new treatments.
“Immunotherapy utilizes the body’s immune system to help fight the cancer,” said Samantha Shenoy, a nurse practitioner who is coaching Holland through every visit. “To explain it simply, one arm attaches to the cancer cell, and one arm attaches to the body’s own T cell. And so what it does, is it basically revs up the body’s own immune system, revs up the body’s T cell, to help attack the cancer.”
The cause of multiple myeloma is unknown.
“Patients living with myeloma live with a lot of uncertainty,” Shenoy said. “He faces that uncertainty with a really positive attitude.”
Also unknown is why Black patients make up one in five new diagnoses, making Holland’s participation in the trial a game changer.
“It’s really important to have diversity within clinical trials so we can help answer some of these questions,” Shenoy said.
Holland says football is his medicine, and he hopes his story inspires others to keep going and to keep fighting.
“So for me, to get in these trials is really extending my life,” Holland said. “I just want to be able to use, and be in a trial that hopefully helps other people.”
Super Bowl LVIII will air on CBS and Nickelodeon and stream on Paramount+ on Feb. 11 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.
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CBS News
$100 million in federal funds released for North Carolina to rebuild roads, bridges damaged by Helene
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation released $100 million in emergency funds on Saturday for North Carolina to rebuild its roads and bridges damaged by Helene.
“We are providing this initial round of funding so there’s no delay getting roads repaired and reopened, and re-establishing critical routes,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement. “The Biden-Harris administration will be with North Carolina every step of the way, and today’s emergency funding to help get transportation networks back up and running safely will be followed by additional federal resources.”
The storm caused rampant flooding that has devastated several towns and killed more than 225 people – with CBS News confirming at least 114 people killed in North Carolina. There was more than 8 inches of rain across the western North Carolina mountains, with some areas seeing more than a foot.
Hundreds of roads across Western North Carolina remain closed, leading to an increase in air traffic as teams scour the region for survivors by air. Air traffic over Western North Carolina has increased by 300% due to relief efforts since the storm cleared, the Federal Aviation Administration and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Mudslides blocked Interstate 40 and other highways in North Carolina and about 400 roads were closed due to damage from Helene. Interstate 40 was damaged at several locations, the Department of Transportation said.
President Biden visited the Carolinas on Wednesday, surveying the flood damage by air from Greenville, South Carolina, to Asheville, North Carolina. Mr. Biden announced the federal government would cover “100%” of all debris removal and emergency protective measure costs in North Carolina for six months.
The Department of Transportation said these relief funds will allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation to act more quickly to fund eligible repairs to their damaged facilities.
Li Cohen and
contributed to this report.
CBS News
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf; forecast to strengthen into hurricane headed toward Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane headed toward Florida with possible impacts to its western coast, the National Hurricane Center said on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are expected to be at 40 mph with higher gusts and Milton is currently moving north-northeast, NHC said in an advisory.
Milton is forecast to undergo a period of rapid intensification before it makes landfall as a Category 2 hurricane across Florida’s west coast, CBS News Miami reported.
The forecast comes a little more than a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and across the Southeast, killing more than 200 people and causing immense destruction. President Biden on Thursday took an aerial tour of Florida’s Big Bend where Helene struck as a Category 4 storm. Hundreds of people are still missing and Mr. Biden said the work to rebuild will cost “billions of dollars” as communities suffer still without power, running water and passable roads.
NOAA
Milton is forecast to move across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico through Sunday night then across the south-central Gulf on Monday and Tuesday before reaching Florida’s west coast by the middle of the week, NHC said. Heavy rain is possible in the region starting Sunday into Monday, CBS Miami reported, and more rain and heavy winds will most likely arrive on Wednesday. Hurricane and storm surge watches will most likely be required for portions of Florida starting Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said.
Along with the heavy rainfall, the hurricane center said to expect risks of flooding.
Residents in the area should ensure they have a hurricane plan in place, the National Hurricane Center said, follow the advice of local officials and check back for forecast updates.
