setback

Nico Iamalealva is probably going to have a chance to go down in cross-town rivalry lore.

Barring a setback, UCLA’s quarterback is expected to play against USC on Saturday afternoon when the teams meet at the Coliseum, according to one person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to discuss it publicly because of the sensitivity of health matters.

After being limited by neck spasms earlier in the week, Iamaleava was a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday. If he continues to feel good in warm-ups, he’ll start the game for the Bruins (3-8 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) against the No. 17 Trojans (8-3, 6-2).

Iamaleava has sustained one injury after another in recent weeks. After missing the Bruins’ game against Ohio State because of a concussion, he returned to play against Washington the following week. Late in the game against the Huskies, Iamaleava absorbed a crunching hit and departed with neck spasms, forcing backup Luke Duncan to replace him.

Iamaleava has unquestionably become the Bruins’ top player since transferring from Tennessee, completing 63.5% of his passes for 1,728 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s also the team’s leading rusher with 641 yards and four touchdowns in 101 carries.

The Bruins are also expected to have tight end Hudson Habermehl back after he was cleared out of concussion protocol. But tight end Jack Pedersen (high ankle), wide receiver Rico Flores Jr. (calf) and running back Jaivian Thomas (unspecified injury) are considered doubtful.

Cornerback Rodrick Pleasant will not play after undergoing surgery this week to repair a shoulder injury.

WASHINGTON — During a political career that spanned three decades, former Sen. John Tower, who died Friday in a plane crash at the age of 65, was a recognized leader on defense policy. Yet he surely will be remembered as a tragic figure–the man whose alleged preference for wine and women prevented him from becoming defense secretary.

It was just two years ago this week that the Senate, where Tower had served as the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, decided in a close but humiliating vote to deny him his life’s ambition to head up the Pentagon.

He recently got his revenge by writing an intensely bitter book, aptly titled “Consequences: A Personal Memoir,” which savaged his many political enemies. A spokesman for his office in Dallas said he was on his way to Sea Island, Ga., for a party to promote the book when he died.

Tower was no ordinary politician. He was a man of unquestioned intellect with an extraordinary grasp of national security issues–the man to whom President Ronald Reagan turned in 1985 to negotiate a nuclear arms agreement with the Soviet Union and in 1987 to conduct the initial investigation of the Iran-Contra affair.

But he was also a highly complex personality who often rubbed people the wrong way. Many people believed that his sensitivity about his 5-foot-5-inch stature led to his many affectations–fancy clothes, beautiful women and expensive liquor.

Tower, a Dallas Republican, had been a political science professor before being elected to the Senate in 1961 at age 35. He replaced then-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, and his election represented a breakthrough for Republicans in the South at the time.

His mastery of defense issues and his ability to outsmart his political opponents made him a formidable force in the Senate. He initially was a staunch conservative but gradually moderated his views of government and later referred to himself as a “pragmatic.”

As a leading Republican and chairman of the Armed Services Committee, he was the primary proponent of Reagan’s military buildup. On Friday, Reagan issued a statement saying: “Though he will be remembered for many accomplishments, none will stand as tall as his commitment to a strong national defense.”

In California, President Bush called the death “a tragic loss.”

“I started with John Tower in politics in Texas 30 years ago,” Bush said, “and we became friends then, and we remain friends until this very moment. It’s very sad.”

From the day in 1984 that Tower resigned from the Senate after three terms, he let it be known that he aspired to serve as defense secretary. Instead, Reagan called on him first to serve as chief U.S. arms control negotiator in Geneva and later to head a commission that investigated the Iran-Contra affair.

Despite Tower’s loyalty to Reagan, the final report of the Tower Commission was by no means a whitewash of the Iran-Contra scandal. The panel’s findings were eventually corroborated by a lengthy congressional investigation. Moreover, the commission harshly criticized Reagan for paying too little attention to the policies of his Administration.

It was not until George Bush was elected President that Tower finally got his wish to be nominated as defense secretary. At first, he appeared to be a shoo-in. Never in the history of the Senate had it rejected a nominee who once had served in that body.

But, gradually, opposition grew as the Senate deliberated on the nomination for three months. Sordid stories of heavy drinking and womanizing were leaked to the press by senators who were given access to the findings of an FBI investigation into his background.

Tower denied most of the allegations and insisted that he did not have an alcohol problem. But he volunteered to quit drinking if confirmed.

Much of the derogatory information about Tower’s personal habits was derived from acrimonious divorce proceedings with his second wife, Lilla Burt Cummins.

“I went through a 90-day character assassination campaign,” Tower recently told the Washington Post, recalling his ordeal. “No public figure has been held up so much to scrutiny and has been so publicly pilloried as I have, without ever having been accused of anything very, very serious.”

The Senate was bitterly divided on the day it defeated the Tower nomination by a vote of 53 to 47, making him only the eighth Cabinet nominee in the history of the nation to be rejected by the Senate.

Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, who was named to the job after Tower was rejected, said Friday, “Our victory in Operation Desert Shield was due in part to men like John Tower and their vision . . . .”

In retrospect, some analysts saw Tower as a victim of a changing morality standard in American politics–the arrival of a new era in which public men are held accountable for their private lives. Others said Tower was simply being repaid for the arrogance and contempt he had shown for some senators during his 23 years in the Senate.

But Tower himself blamed one person: Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), who as chairman of the Armed Services Committee lobbied hard against the nomination of his former colleague. In his book, Tower accused Nunn of blind ambition, arrogance and duplicity.

Since his defeat, Tower had been living in Dallas. At the time of his death, he was working as a consultant and as chairman of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. In December, Dorothy Heyser, the woman whom he described as a “girlfriend” and who stayed by his side throughout the Senate confirmation hearings, married another man.

From his first marriage to Lou Bullington, Tower had three daughters, Penny, Marian and Jeanne. He remained close to them, and they frequently appeared with him during his confirmation hearings. Marian died with him in the plane crash.

Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Hauer shared an update with her fans on Instagram following a tough night with just hours to go until the latest live show

Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hauer shared an update on her dog Betty’s health after she underwent surgery. The pro dancer let her fans know that Betty is home and recovering following the procedure.

The beloved pet was recently diagnosed with cancer and has now been undergoing further tests to assess her condition. Betty was seen wearing a blue surgical recovery suit in a snap uploaded to Karen’s stories on Instagram.

She wrote over the post, “Our brave girl is home. A little bit out of it after surgery, but she’s doing so well. Now we wait for results.” She then shared a further update with a video where Betty was laying in her bed while Karen sat beside her on the floor stroking her ears.

In the clip Karen admitted that she and boyfriend, former rugby player Simon Davidson, hadn’t had much sleep with just hours to go before she had to head to work for tonight’s live Strictly show alongside her celebrity partner Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. However, she did admit that Betty had got a good night’s rest and was recovering well from her surgery.

Speaking in the clip Karen said, “Just a little update on Betty. She slept okay last night, even though there were fireworks, and she’s not a fan of fireworks. But she managed to get some rest. Simon and I, really we didn’t get much sleep.

“He’s about to go running in a bit and then I’m going off to work in a bit as well. But she is very comfortable in her little suit, and all the other doggies are giving her some love. Even though they want to give her cuddles and kisses they’re trying to be good and stay away from her now.

“But she’s doing good. Our little baby. One day at a time. “

Then, in a further update she showed Betty heading out for a gentle walk with Simon, while still wearing her surgery suit. Karen shared the devastating news of Betty’s diagnosis with her fans on social media last month.

At the time she shared pictures of Betty, including some from recent vet appointments, and explained, “Last week Simon felt two small lumps on Betty’s belly and under her armpit. We took her to the vet, and the results showed traces of cancer. Our hearts broke.

“It’s grade one as far as we know, and our vets have been absolutely incredible. They’ll be doing further tests to make sure they have all the info and can guide us through the next steps to give our Betty the best treatment possible.”

She then issued a warning to fans over their own pets as she continued, “Please check your fur babies for any lumps or bumps… early detection can make all the difference.”

Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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