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49ers-Ravens preview: 5 keys to gift-wrapping Christmas night win

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:32 GMT

SANTA CLARA – If the NFL is the gift that keeps on giving, here comes the greatest present of the regular season.It’s the NFC-leading 49ers (11-3) against the AFC-leading Baltimore Ravens (11-3) in the ultimate Christmas party at Levi’s Stadium on “Monday Night Football.”“It’s a hyped-up matchup. It’s Christmas. Everyone will be watching,” 49ers left tackle Trent Williams said. “In the football world, we’ve had some heavyweight matchups. Not just us, but every team. It’s been really good for the sport.”Only once before in NFL history have both conference’s leading teams met this late in a regular season, when Super Bowl-bound Seattle beat Indianapolis in 2005.Only once before have the 49ers played on Christmas, a 10-7 loss to the then-Houston Oilers at Candlestick Park 30 years ago. The Niners’ offensive coordinator was Mike Shanahan. His son, Kyle, is now in his seventh season as the 49ers’ coach, and this is looking like his best team.All of which paints this matchup as a potentia...

How Klay Thompson’s hot hand and patience fuels Warriors’ five-game win streak

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:32 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Nothing about Klay Thompson’s approach changed, he assures. But the numbers certainly have.It wasn’t long ago that Thompson reached the lowest point of his season, benched for the first time in his career during crunch time in a loss to Phoenix on Dec. 12. He threw towels, kicked chairs and yelled at anyone around him who could hear. For as ugly it looked, something sparked in his vexed mind.Since the Warriors game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 14, Thompson is averaging 25.7 points per game shooting 50% from 3 on 11 attempts per game. Golden State is a total plus-17 when Thompson is on the floor over those six games in which the Warriors have gone 5-1. He had 28 points, including 11 straight over a pivotal two-minute stretch in the Warriors’ 126-106 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.For the hot stretch coach Steve Kerr credits Thompson’s decision-making — better shot selection and making the extra pas...

Another issue crops up for reeling Sharks, who enter break on lengthy skid

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:32 GMT

Positivity has been hard to come by for the San Jose Sharks over the first two-plus months of the season, but at least they had a chance this weekend to carry some good feelings into their three-day Christmas break.Instead, the Sharks arrived back in San Jose early Sunday morning bearing the weight of a five-game losing streak, while still in last place in the NHL’s overall standings.The Sharks erased one Vancouver Canucks lead Saturday but couldn’t fully overcome another in what became a 7-4 loss at Rogers Arena.Mikael Granlund and Tomas Hertl both scored first-period goals to tie the game 2-2 after Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko scored twice in the first 6:51. But Vancouver scored three times in the second period to take the lead for good, with Dakota Joshua’s goal at the 19:13 mark standing up as the winner.During the skid, the Sharks lamented their lack of energy, their penalty kill, and how they sometimes cheated for offense.Saturday, another issue cropped up.“There’...

Pistons match NBA single-season record with 26th straight loss, fall 126-115 to the Nets

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Pistons players sat in stunned silence, staring blankly ahead in their locker room after yet another loss.The worst stretch of basketball in their lives now ranks as one of the worst in NBA history.Detroit matched the league record for the longest losing streak in a single season, falling 126-115 to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night for its 26th straight loss. “None of us went through this, ever,” center Isaiah Stewart said. “This is the hardest thing probably all of us went through, especially being in the pros.” The Pistons joined the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers, dropping to 2-27 in their first season under Monty Williams. They were in the game in the second half before the Nets put them away with a 15-0 run to open a 21-point lead and ensure that Detroit would remain winless since Oct. 28.The teams will meet again Tuesday night in Detroit, with the Pistons nearing the overall longest skid in league history. The 76ers lost 28 ...

Leesburg man charged with multiple counts of child pornography

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:32 GMT

A man from Leesburg, Virginia, has been charged with multiple counts of child pornography, according to city officials.Authorities said that 34-year-old Christopher Collins had, “sexually explicit material involving a child” after getting a tip earlier this year.He was arrested on Sept. 7 at his residence in the 600 block of Constellation Square Southeast and was originally charged with one count of possession of child pornography, according to officials who searched his home and gathered digital evidence.However, a forensic analysis revealed more sexually explicit material involving a child, according to investigators. As a result, Collins was charged with four more counts of possession of child pornography.“At the time of his rearrest, Collins was free on bond on the initial possession of child pornography charge,” the department said. “Collins once again remains held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center with no bond.”Source

A man is killed and a woman injured in a ‘targeted’ afternoon shooting at a Florida shopping mall

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:32 GMT

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — A man died in a shooting at a shopping mall in central Florida two days before Christmas in which the victim was “targeted” for the attack, police said. Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken told reporters Saturday evening that the man was killed after he was shot multiple times in a common area at Paddock Mall in Ocala, located about 79 miles (127 kilometers) northwest of Orlando. A woman also was shot in the leg. She was treated at a local hospital and expected to recover, Balken said.The suspect fled the scene and left behind the firearm, Balken said.Police arrived at the mall around 3:40 p.m. after a call of multiple shots being fired at the mall. “Officers immediately made entry into the mall (and) ultimately discovered that this was not what we would consider an active shooter,” Balken told reporters.The attack was likely a “targeted act of violence” against the man, Balken said. Several other mall patrons suffered injuries during the shooting, with one person havi...

CLOUDY CHRISTMAS EVE

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:32 GMT

Merry Christmas Eve, South Florida!After starting our weekend off with on & off showers, drier air moved in, which cleared our cloudy skies and salvaged the rest of the day.  So today we saw a very pleasant start to our Sunday.  The brief drier air made it feel so nice!  However, as the drier air began to move away, a few showers were able to push through portions of South Florida. And it looks like those showers could push through our area from time to time before thins begin to quiet down. Temperatures were in the 60s and low 70s across our area with an Easterly breeze making it feel very comfortable. However, we are about to undergo changes as we continue into the start of the last week of the year!Given the fact that it is a holiday, all of South Florida is left wondering if Christmas Eve or Noche Buena plans will be able to be outdoors or not. The answer is yes!  After starting the weekend off with on and off showers on Saturday, today’s rain chances will be on the lo...

Linguine with Clam Sauce / Belkys

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:32 GMT

Ingredients:1 pound linguine or other long pasta¼ cup olive oil10 garlic cloves, thin sliced½ tsp. red pepper flakes1 tsp. dried oregano½ cup dry white wine2 ten-ounce cans baby clams with juices2 tbs. unsalted butterzest of one lemon½ cup chopped Italian parsley1 tsp. salt… then more to tastefresh ground pepperMethod of Preparation:Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add your pasta. Cook until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water (if needed to thin the sauce later) then drain pasta and let aside.In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.Add garlic, red pepper flakes and oregano and cook until the garlic is pale golden- about two minutes.Add the white wine and reduce it by half for another 3 to 4 minutes.Stir in the clams with their juices and cook until just warmed through- a couple of minutes more. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.Add the butter, lemon zest and parsley until the butter melts.Stir well, then add the sauce to your pasta and toss to ...

Man suffers life-threatening injuries, 2 people shot in downtown Toronto

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:32 GMT

One man has suffered life-threatening injuries as two people were shot in downtown Toronto on Sunday morning.Police responded to reports of shots fired in the Adelaide Street West and John Street area just before 3:00 a.m.A victim, a male in his 30’s, was located at a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. A second victim was also located at a hospital, a male in his 30’s with non-life-threatening injuries.Police are on scene but there is currently no suspect information. Adelaide Street is closed between John Street and Peter Street.SHOOTING:Adelaide St W & John St2:51 am-reports of shots fired-a victim was located at a local hospital with life-threatening injuries-male in his 30's shot-no suspect info -police o/s-road closures in effect-Adelaide St closed between John St and Peter St#GO2942419^lm— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) December 24, 2023

British home secretary under fire for making joke about date rape drug

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:32 GMT

LONDON (AP) — British Home Secretary James Cleverly was under fire Sunday for joking about date rape just hours after announcing plans to crack down on what he had dubbed a “perverse” offense. Cleverly, who oversees national security and law enforcement in England and Wales, faced a call to step down after he reportedly joked at an event at the prime minister’s home about drugging his wife. He told women guests at a Dec. 18 reception that the secret to a long marriage was having a spouse who “is always mildly sedated so she can never realize there are better men out there,” the Sunday Mirror newspaper reported.Cleverly said “a little bit of Rohypnol” — the so-called date rape drug — “in her drink every night” was “not really illegal if it’s only a little bit.” The drug, colloquially known as a roofie when it is crushed and put into someone’s beverage without their knowledge, makes the subject drowsy and can lead to unconsciousness and memory loss. Cleverly ap...