Liberty beat Aces 94-85, tighten up race for top seed in WNBA playoffs

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:25:57 GMT

Liberty beat Aces 94-85, tighten up race for top seed in WNBA playoffs NEW YORK (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu scored 25 points and Breanna Stewart added 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to help the New York Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces 94-85 on Monday night in the final regular-season meeting between the teams.The Liberty cut the Aces’ lead in the race for the top overall seed in the playoffs to 1 1/2 games, with only a handful left to play. The teams potentially wouldn’t meet again until the WNBA Finals. They split their four regular-season games.New York (28-7) has won four straight since losing in Las Vegas on Aug. 17. Las Vegas (30-6) got off to a hot start and led 16-7 with 4 minutes left in the first quarter before New York took over behind Ionescu. The Liberty outscored the Aces 31-10 over the next 11 minutes to go up 38-26 with 3:10 left in the half. New York led 47-35 at the half as Ionescu had 17 points, much to the delight of the sellout crowd of 11,615 that showed up for the rare Monday night game.A’ja Wilson scored 15...

Mets closer Edwin Díaz throws bullpen and hopes for return to mound this season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:25:57 GMT

Mets closer Edwin Díaz throws bullpen and hopes for return to mound this season NEW YORK (AP) — After throwing his first outdoor bullpen following knee surgery, All-Star closer Edwin Díaz remained hopeful he can return to the mound for the New York Mets this season.The 29-year-old right-hander tore his right patellar tendon on March 15 while celebrating after getting the final out of Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic. The projected timeline for a return was six-to-eight months.“My goal was to be ready in six months,” Díaz said Monday. “And I’m working on that.”Díaz said he was clocked in the low-to-mid 90s on Sunday, when he threw from an outdoor bullpen mound to a catcher in the crouching position for the first time since getting hurt.“I know my stuff is there,” Díaz said. “A main thing for me is how my knee is good and healthy. I feel healthy right now and I’m pitching again. I just want to get that positive note to go home and relax, work hard for next year.”Mets manager Buck Showalter has been encouraged by Dí...

Trump chief of staff Meadows says actions laid out in Georgia indictment were part of his job

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:25:57 GMT

Trump chief of staff Meadows says actions laid out in Georgia indictment were part of his job ATLANTA (AP) — Mark Meadows testified in court Monday that actions detailed in a sweeping indictment that accuses him of participating in an illegal conspiracy to overturn then-President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss were all part of his job as White House chief of staff.The extraordinary testimony — from a former top presidential aide who now faces charges alongside his old boss — came in the first courtroom skirmish in a case that’s likely to have many. Meadows’ claims were part of his argument that the case should be moved from a state court to federal court. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones did not immediately rule. As Trump was consumed by claims of widespread election fraud in the weeks after his 2020 loss, Meadows said, it was difficult to focus on the things they needed to be doing to wind down the presidency. As a result, Meadows said, he took actions to determine whether the allegations were true, including actions prosecutors allege were improper.Mead...

Dodgers’ right-hander Tony Gonsolin will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on Friday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:25:57 GMT

Dodgers’ right-hander Tony Gonsolin will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on Friday LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Friday, the latest in a season-long run of injuries to Los Angeles’ rotation.Gonsolin will have his right torn ulnar collateral ligament repaired on Friday by head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, the Dodgers said before Monday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.The 29-year-old right-hander was 8-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 20 starts this season. He was placed on the injured list on Aug. 19 after allowing a career-high 10 earned runs and five home runs in 3 1/3 innings against Miami the night before.Manager Dave Roberts said Gonsolin has been dealing with an elbow issue for most of the season.“It is something he was dealing with, but there was a point where he felt he could get hitters out until he couldn’t,” Roberts said. “He was asymptomatic. To be honest, he could pitch right now but it isn’t productive.”Gonsolin had a $3.25 million salary this yea...

Man fires gun in neighborhood in broad daylight

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:25:57 GMT

Man fires gun in neighborhood in broad daylight DENVER (KDVR) — Neighbors are on edge after a man fired a gun in a Green Valley Ranch neighborhood in the middle of the day.A video sent to FOX31 captured a man dressed in all black as he fired a gun on Himalaya Road just after noon on Monday. The area was between 40th and 42nd avenues. CU student attacked in downtown Boulder, site of 3 stabbings in August The Denver Police Department said no one was hurt, but it's raised some concern for neighbors like Alice Lopez.“I thought it was a firecracker, but it sounded so loud,” Lopez said. “It echoed.”Video captured on Monday shows a man dressed in black firing a gun in broad daylight in a Green Valley Ranch neighborhood. (Submitted)Lopez said she’s lived in the area for years but has never experienced something like this. “I love it here, and I don’t want to move,” Lopez said. “You think that you’re feeling safe, but you just don’t ever know from one minute to the next."'Doesn't make you feel safe'Donald Lane, another neighbor, said he...

Colorado Marine killed in Osprey crash in Australia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:25:57 GMT

Colorado Marine killed in Osprey crash in Australia DENVER (KDVR) -- A man from Conifer was identified as one of three U.S. Marines killed after an aircraft crashed during a military exercise in Australia on Sunday.He was identified as U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Tobin J. Lewis, 37. He was born and raised in Conifer, according to the Marines. Denver approves $4.7M settlement with 2020 protesters Two others died in the crash as well, while three others remained hospitalized as of Monday. Seventeen others were treated for minor injuries.In total, there were 23 Marines aboard the Osprey aircraft, which crashed during a multinational military exercise.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said only Americans were injured in the crash during Exercise Predators Run, which involves the militaries of the United States, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and East Timor.Around 150 U.S. Marines are currently based in the mainland city of Darwin and up to 2,500 rotate through the city every year. They’re part of a realignment of forces in t...

Aurora City Council votes to reinstate reserve police force

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:25:57 GMT

Aurora City Council votes to reinstate reserve police force DENVER (KDVR) -- On Monday evening, Aurora City Council members voted 9-2 to reinstate the city's reserve police force.Council Members Crystal Murillo, Ward I, and Alison Coombs, Ward V, cast the votes against it. Car flipping scam growing in Denver The volunteer police force was originally dissolved in 2005. Council Member Danielle Jurinsky says she brought the proposal forward after hearing from the Aurora Police Department. Under the program, city employees, including medics, former officers from other jurisdictions and retirees in good standing may apply to take part in a six-week training program to become certified as a reserve officer. Videos capture bright meteor falling above Colorado Those for the plan say it could help with staffing and better protect the city from certain liabilities. The city manager noted some medics with SWAT may already carry concealed weapons.The second and final vote on the all-volunteer police force takes place on Monday night. The first vote ...

2 dead, 4 injured after BSFR helicopter crashes in Pompano Beach apartment complex

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:25:57 GMT

2 dead, 4 injured after BSFR helicopter crashes in Pompano Beach apartment complex Police responded to an aircraft emergency after a Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue helicopter went down as it headed to a call in North Lauderdale. Officials said two people onboard have been injured and one other person onboard is dead; one female also died after the helicopter crashed into an apartment complex. According to officials, on Monday, the chopper had just taken off from the Pompano Air Park at 8:42 a.m. and was heading to a call in North Lauderdale regarding a car crash where a vehicle hit a bus stop at Prospect Road and State Road 7. Three minutes later, the BSFR helicopter had an engine failure that occurred shortly after takeoff. The chopper ultimately crashed in the area of 1201 NW 6th Ave. into the complex. The crash set off a massive fire that destroyed at least two apartments.In a news conference just before 1 p.m., Broward County Sherrif Gregory Tony said Captain/Flight Paramedic Terryson Jackson, a 19-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, died in the crash. A ...

Can you foreclose on a church?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:25:57 GMT

Can you foreclose on a church? Back in 2006, a Miami-Dade church was fined by the county. They say they paid the fines. Now are being told there is a lien on their church and they are worried the county might seize the church, which is why they dialed up Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser.Its a big property with a small church. Led by a pastor who loves guiding her congregation.Pastor Vera Joy-Naylor: “Our job is to prepare people, help people and do whatever we can to support them.”But on Sunday, Vera wasn’t just thinking about caring for the people at church. She was worried about saving the church.Vera Joy-Naylor: “They’re not going to take this ministry. God will make a way when there is no way.”The problem goes back to 2006 when Miami-Dade County fined the Crown of Thorns Church $2,925 for code violations. Vera signed an agreement to pay it off.George Naylor: “If you count it up, we pay more than in $,2900. I add it up to be $3,100.”In 2010, George got a letter...

Putin’s crocodile tears

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:25:57 GMT

Putin’s crocodile tears Jamie Dettmer is opinion editor at POLITICO Europe. Eight years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin labeled the murder of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov a disgrace.“The most serious attention should be paid to high-profile crimes, including those with political motives,” he told officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. “We need to finally rid Russia of disgraces and tragedies like the one that we have recently endured and seen. I mean the murder, the provocative murder, of Boris Nemtsov right in the center of the capital,” he added.The apparent assassination of Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin didn’t happen on the streets of Moscow near the Kremlin though — it was in the skies, a few hundred kilometers northwest of the Russian capital.But it was every bit a lesson for others to heed.It is always instructive to observe how Putin reacts to the latest high-profile assassination. And the Russian leader’s public response to the violent death of a onetime friend betrays a ner...