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Justin Fields knows there’s a typical timeline in the NFL. The Chicago Bears QB thinks he’s ‘just at the start.’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:03:42 GMT

Two years, eight months and one day ago, Chicagoan Carlos Nelson walked across the NFL draft stage, shook Commissioner Roger Goodell’s hand, removed his mask and announced the pick.With the 11th selection, the Chicago Bears were taking Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.Masked-up Bears fans at the first in-person draft after the emergence of COVID-19 cheered, and NFL Network analysts heaped praise.“This is an exciting moment here for the Chicago Bears,” analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “This is a team that has a pretty good defense in place. They just didn’t have any juice. There was no excitement on this offense. … He’s going to give this Chicago Bears team something they don’t have, and it’s going to be a lot more fun to watch.”Charles Davis cued up the comparison: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Davis cited the body and arm, the ability to move around and extend plays, the adaptability and toughness.After decades...

The chilliest start to last weekend of 2023 gives way to sunny Saturday

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:03:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Clouds have gradually cleared overnight and it's a cold start to the last weekend of 2023. The good news is that today will be a sunny day with highs above normal, in the upper half of the 40s. Clouds increase overnight and lows once again fall to around freezing. Sunday will be cold and brisk, with a mix of clouds and some sun. We could even have a few spotty flurries as well. New Year's Day will be quiet, with highs around 40. Slight rain chances return Thursday.

Paula Abdul sues 'American Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe for sexual assault

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:03:42 GMT

Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit Friday accusing Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her while she was working on “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”Lythgoe is best known as the executive producer of the hit reality competition shows — he produced "American Idol" from 2002 to 2014 and "So You Think You Can Dance" from 2005 to 2014.According to Variety, Abdul claimed in the early years of working on “American Idol,” Lythgoe had sexually assaulted her and again in 2014 when she was working on “So You Think You Can Dance.”During the first alleged assault, Abdul claims Lythgoe shoved her against the wall of an elevator before grabbing her genitals and breasts, and shoving his tongue down her throat. She pushed him away and when the elevator doors opened, she ran out and called her representatives for help.LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 27: Paula Abdul (L) and Nigel Lythgoe arrive at the Dizzy Feet Foundation's 3rd Annual Celebration of Dance Gala held at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on ...

Prep roundup: San Ramon Valley goes for gold again at Damien, Salesian loses thriller and more

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:03:42 GMT

Boys basketballSan Ramon Valley 67, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 62San Ramon Valley will be going for its second consecutive Gold Division championship at the Classic at Damien on Saturday night after defeating SPXSM. SRV’s opponent was ranked No. 25 in the country by MaxPreps. The Wolves will play Dixie-Utah in the final. “Could not be more proud of them!,” San Ramon Valley coach Brian Botteen wrote in an email to the Bay Area News Group. Luke Issak finished with 19 points, and senior big Seamus Deely had a double-double for the second straight game with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Jack Moxley put in 12 points as the third scoring option for the Wolves, which beat Ironwood in last season’s final at Damien. “When we went to Gridley we saw areas we had to improve upon in order to play with the best,” Botteen said. “They have really dedicated themselves to moving without the ball, getting assists and giving a complete team effort!”St. John Bosco 68, No. 2 Salesian 66Salesian pushed ...

Big 2023 Bay Area crime and public safety stories that will impact 2024

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:03:42 GMT

The close of 2023 caps a year in which Bay Area crime and public safety issues repeatedly surfaced to the top of news cycles and the public consciousness. Some events have been broad in reach and visibility, others primarily local — but with sweeping implications for 2024. Here are some of the highest-profile crime, court and public safety stories we’ll be watching in the new year. Antioch police corruptionThis year saw the conclusion of a sweeping, 18-month investigation into Antioch and Pittsburg police officers that resulted in federal and state charges against 14 current and former department employees.The worst accusations were leveled against three — Devon Wenger, Morteza Amiri, Eric Rombough — who were charged with civil rights violations via the use of dogs and less-than-lethal weapons.The investigation began with tips that several officers were fraudulently obtaining college degrees to receive incentive pay from both cities. When FBI agents seized An...

Mathews: Democracy will struggle to survive the world’s 2024 elections

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:03:42 GMT

2024 will be the biggest election year in history. About 4.2 billion people, or more than half of humanity, live in countries with upcoming elections.Can democracy survive it?That question may sound cynical. But, in the 21st century, romantic ideas of democracy are dying. The latest global reports show democracy contracting across every world region. And elections rarely renew faith in democracy. Authoritarian rulers use them to consolidate power. They inspire frustration, divide societies and spark violence.Elections can also make democracies vulnerable to outside attack. On my recent visit to Taiwan, which holds presidential elections Jan. 13, Vincent Chao of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party told me that the election itself was a form of national security against China, which insists it will reunify with the island nation — by force if necessary. “Democracy is our best defense,” Chao said.But democracy also makes Taiwan vulnerable. The Chinese government and its proxi...

A DC lifeguard died after falling underwater and going unnoticed for 7 minutes. Was her death preventable?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:03:42 GMT

Jazmin Jefferson was a 21-year-old lifeguard who fell into the pool and remained there for seven minutes before being noticed. (Courtesy Julius Jefferson)Jazmin Jefferson was a 21-year-old, fifth-generation Washingtonian who had been employed as a lifeguard at pools in the District for the three years since she’d graduated from the city’s School Without Walls.“She was always willing to put other people first and to make sure that other people are comfortable and taken good care of,” Jazmin’s father, Julius Jefferson, told WTOP. “So, she certainly was a lifeguard at heart — saving lives and making lives better.”Life for the Jefferson family was indelibly changed on Nov. 29, when Jazmin fell into the pool at the Roosevelt Aquatic Center in Northwest, where she worked, while suffering a cardiac arrest.Jazmin died on Dec. 23, having been in a coma since her fall.D.C.’s Parks and Recreation department said the facility was “fully staf...

Texas está enviando solicitantes de asilo a las principales ciudades en autobús sin previo aviso. Estos alcaldes quieren pisar el freno

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:03:42 GMT

(CNN) — Frustrados por los “autobuses deshonestos” de Texas que dejan a miles de inmigrantes, los alcaldes de Nueva York, Chicago y Denver están tratando de frenar el aumento exigiendo a los operadores de autobuses que coordinen las llegadas bajo la amenaza de confiscaciones, multas e incluso penas de cárcel.La semana pasada, 14 autobuses llenos de inmigrantes de Texas se dirigieron a la ciudad de Nueva York, el total más alto registrado desde la primavera de 2022, dijo el alcalde Eric Adams, citando el Centro de Llegadas de Solicitantes de Asilo de la ciudad.Hay más de 11.700 menores migrantes bajo custodia del Gobierno federal de EE.UU.Bajo la dirección del gobernador republicano de Texas, Greg Abbott, el estado de Lone Star ha transportado en autobús a más de 90.000 inmigrantes a “ciudades santuario” dirigidas por demócratas como Washington, DC, Nueva York, Chicago, Filadelfia, Denver y Los Ángeles desde abril de 2022. según cifras publicadas por la oficina del gobernador e...

Moscow accuses Kyiv of shelling Russian border city following its own aerial assault against Ukraine

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:03:42 GMT

Russian officials on Saturday accused Ukrainian forces of shelling the Russian border city of Belgorod, a day after an 18-hour aerial Russian barrage across Ukraine killed at least 39 civilians.Two children were killed in Belgorod, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a statement on social media. He also said that an unspecified number of people had been injured.While previous attacks on the region have generally taken place at night, images on social media showed flames in broad daylight in what appeared to be the heart of the city, with cars set alight and plumes of black smoke rising among damaged buildings.Air raid sirens sounded across the city, state media reported.Earlier on Saturday, Moscow officials had reported shooting down 32 Ukrainian drones over the country’s Moscow, Bryansk, Oryol, and Kursk regions.They also reported that cross-border shelling had killed two people in Russia. A man died and four other people were injured when a missile struck a private home i...

CNBC: esto es lo que debes hacer si te ganas el premio de $760 millones del Powerball

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:03:42 GMT

El premio del Powerball ha aumentado hasta unos $760 millones -el sexto mayor premio de la historia del juego- y los expertos tienen consejos sobre lo que debes hacer primero el afortunado ganador.Si aciertas el boleto ganador, podrás elegir entre uno de los dos pagos: pagos anuales por valor de $760 millones o una suma valorada en $383.6 millones, según Powerball. Ambas opciones son estimaciones antes de impuestos.El próximo sorteo de Powerball es el sábado a las 10:59 p.m. ET, y las probabilidades de ganar el premio gordo son aproximadamente de 1 entre 292 millones.Tanto si optas por el pago de la suma total o por el pago anual, tendrás que pagar una elevada factura fiscal, que incluye una tasa inicial del 24% de impuestos federales. Pero rápidamente alcanzará el 37% del impuesto federal sobre los ingresos, y la factura final será probablemente de millones más. (También es posible que debas impuestos estatales sobre las ganancias de la lotería). Lotería del Powerball...