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Residents near Mexico’s rumbling volcano stay vigilant

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:09:57 GMT

By María Verza | Associated PressSANTIAGO XALITZINTLA, Mexico — At the edge of this town near the Popocatepetl volcano, away from the din of traffic, there was an occasional low rumble Monday, like an idling engine.A cloud of superfine ash descended, slightly reducing visibility and coming to rest on vehicles’ windshields. For more than a week, the 17,797-foot mountain just 45 miles southeast of Mexico City and known affectionately as “El Popo,” has been increasingly explosive, spewing great plumes of gas, ash and incandescent rock into the air.The activity led the Mexican government to raise the warning level and to close schools in dozens of municipalities across three states. On Monday, local, state and federal officials held drills for the possibility of evacuations.“You hear it more at night,” said Violeta Fuentes, 39, who lives with her husband and two children, ages 9 and 12, on the outskirts of Santiago Xalitzintla. That’s also when they c...

Columnist seeks $10M from Trump for post-verdict remarks

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:09:57 GMT

By Larry Neumeister | Associated PressNEW YORK — E. Jean Carroll, the columnist who won a $5 million sexual abuse and defamation award against former President Donald Trump, is seeking at least $10 million more in a new court filing Monday that seeks to hold him liable for remarks he made after the verdict.An amended lawsuit seeking the $10 million in compensatory damages — and more in punitive damages — was filed in Manhattan by lawyers for Carroll, who say remarks by Trump in response to her rape allegations so spoiled her reputation that she lost her longtime job as an Elle magazine advice columnist.They said in the rewritten lawsuit that he “doubled down” on derogatory remarks about Carroll at a cable television appearance a day after the verdict.“Trump’s defamatory statements post-verdict show the depth of his malice toward Carroll since it is hard to imagine defamatory conduct that could possibly be more motivated by hatred, ill will, or spite,” t...

South Carolina school shooter asks for mercy from life term

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:09:57 GMT

By Jeffrey Collins | Associated PressCOLUMBIA, S.C. — A school shooter serving a life sentence without parole for killing a first grader on a South Carolina playground when he was 14 is asking a judge to lessen his sentence so he can eventually get out of prison.Jesse Osborne’s lawyer asked Judge Lawton McIntosh on Monday to reconsider his sentence so Osborne, now 21, could have some hope of freedom in his 50s or 60s.Attorney Frank Eppes said the judge didn’t fully consider a psychologist’s report that Osborne’s lashed out because of abuse and can be rehabilitated.“Give Jesse some hope to live with,” Eppes said at a televised court hearing.Osborne himself asked for a chance at life outside a prison cell, apologizing to the family of 6-year-old Jacob Hall who he killed and everyone at the school that day.“I would just like to say sorry to every single one of them. Because my evil actions hurt their lives,” Osborne said. “I’m...

Prep roundup: De La Salle wins NorCal team, individual golf championships

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:09:57 GMT

Boys golfDe La Salle’s Jaden Dumdumaya shot 4-under 68 on Monday at the Berkeley Country Club to win the California Interscholastic Federation NorCal golf championship.His sizzling round helped the Concord school capture the team title with a score of 357, 13 strokes lower than runner-up Crystal Springs Uplands.Campolindo and Stevenson tied for fifth, each finishing at 386.Dumdumaya had six birdies and two bogeys in his round. He was 2-under on the front nine and 2-under on the back nine.The junior edged Luke Price of Rocklin by one shot. Four others tied for third, two strokes back. That group included Foothill’s Brandon Knight, Nueva’s James Lee and DLS’s Joshua Kim.The top three teams and nine individuals who were not on a qualifying team advance to the CIF state championships on May 31 at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.The locals who qualified for state as individuals include Knight, Lee, Amador Valley’s Kush Arora and Serra’s Trevor Moquin.Arora tied for seventh at Nor...

Tom Brady to buy stake in Raiders, owner tells ESPN

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:09:57 GMT

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Recently retired and seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady will become a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, pending NFL approval, principal owner Mark Davis told ESPN on Monday.“We’re excited for Tom to join the Raiders, and it’s exciting because he will be just the third player in the history of the National Football League to become an owner,” Davis said.George Halas and Jerry Richardson were the other two.Brady and Davis also have a business relationship with the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces. Davis is the majority owner, and Brady has a stake in the club.At least 24 NFL owners will need to approve Brady’s deal with the Raiders.He also has a 10-year, $375 million broadcasting contract with Fox Sports than begins in 2024.Brady won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On the way to his first title, in 2002, Brady beat the Raiders in an AFC playoff game after having a fumble overtur...

Zunino hits 2-run homer, Gaddis gets 1st win, Guardians beat White Sox 3-0 to end slide

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:09:57 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie Hunter Gaddis pitched six strong innings for his first major league win and struggling Cleveland catcher Mike Zunino connected for a two-run homer, sending the Guardians over the Chicago White Sox 3-0 on Monday night.Gaddis (1-1) was recalled from Triple-A Columbus and gave the Guardians a badly needed quality start after they were swept over the weekend in New York, losing all three to the Mets by one run.The right-hander gave up just two hits, combining with four relievers on a three-hitter and ending Chicago’s modest three-game winning streak.Zunino, a free-agent signing who has been a target of criticism because he’s not been hitting, hit his third homer — and first since April 28 — in the seventh off Gregory Santos. The shot to right scored rookie Gabriel Arias, who walked with one out.Sam Hentges, Nick Sandlin and Trevor Stephan combined for two scoreless innings before Emmanuel Clase worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 21 chances.Th...

Denver weather: Smoke to start clearing on Tuesday

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:09:57 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's weather will stay warm into Tuesday with high temperatures close to 80 degrees. The smoke will finally decrease on Tuesday, with only a 10% chance of an isolated shower. Weather tonight: Smoky and dryTemperatures will dip into the low 50s tonight with smoky skies. The Front Range will be dry overnight. Smoke will begin to improve on Tuesday morning. Weather tomorrow: Less smoke The wildfire smoke from Canada will shift northeast on Tuesday, bringing better air quality to Denver with less smoke. Where miller moths hide during the day Most of the Front Range will stay dry on Tuesday, with only a 10% chance for an isolated shower or storm. High temperatures will reach the upper 70s in Denver, running about 5 degrees above average for this time of year. Looking ahead: Storms returnStorm chances will go up on Wednesday and Thursday, with a 60% chance each day. Some storms could turn severe and bring large hail and strong winds to the Eastern Plains. Temperature...

Ex-Denver schools administrator criticizes disciplinary system

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:09:57 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A former high-ranking Denver Public Schools safety administrator said the district needs to change the way it disciplines students to keep classrooms and teachers safe.Melissa Craven was an interim chief in the DPS Department of Climate and Safety. She said the current discipline model protects offenders but puts all other students and staff at risk.Craven spoke at a Parent Safety Advocacy Group, PSAG, news conference near East High School Monday.PSAG has been calling for improved security measures at Denver Public Schools ever since the shooting that took the life of 16-year-old Luis Garcia in March in front of East High School.At the time, Craven was the DPS Department of Climate and Safety interim chief of support services for the district. Craven said the district’s discipline matrix needs a major overhaul.“DPS protects the offender while abandoning the good students,” Craven said. She was let go from the district in April. Woman arrested in active shooter thr...

Debt ceiling explained: Why it's a struggle and how the impasse could end

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:09:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met Monday after a weekend of on again, off again negotiations over raising the nation's debt ceiling and mere days before the government could reach a “hard deadline” and run out of cash to pay its bills. The two sides are working to reach a budget compromise before June 1, when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the country could default. Ex-Denver schools administrator criticizes disciplinary system Speaking to reporters after Monday's meeting, McCarthy said the two sides had not yet reached an agreement but the meeting was “productive.” In his own statement following the Oval Office sit-down, Biden echoed those sentiments.“We reiterated once again that default is off the table and the only way to move forward is in good faith toward a bipartisan agreement,” Biden said. Their handpicked negotiators will continue to meet. McCarthy and Republicans are insisting on spending cuts in exchange for raising t...

Celtics look to pull off the impossible, as Heat stand on brink of making NBA Finals

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:09:57 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Blown out in Game 3, facing elimination in Game 4, tasked with engineering the sort of comeback that no team in their league has ever pulled off before.This may sound familiar to Boston fans.Yes, what the Red Sox did to the New York Yankees in 2004 was discussed around the Boston Celtics on Monday. A day after a debacle in Miami to fall into a 3-0 deficit in these Eastern Conference finals — “embarrassing,” Boston forward Jaylen Brown said — the Celtics will try to extend the series and at least delay a Heat celebration in Game 4 on Tuesday night.“We still believe we’re the better team,” Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon said Monday. “We have not played like it in any of the three games. But, you know, there is always a first.”No NBA team has rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win a series; it’s happened only once in Major League Baseball, when the Red Sox shook off a 19-8 drubbing in Game 3 to win four straight and top the Yankees in that 2004 AL championship series.Of co...