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Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin won’t seek reelection, giving GOP a key pickup opportunity

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:04:10 GMT

By JOHN RABY and LEAH WILLINGHAM (Associated Press)CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced Thursday that he won’t seek reelection in 2024, giving Republicans a prime opportunity to pick up a seat in the heavily GOP state.Manchin, 76, said in a statement that he had made the decision “after months of deliberation and long conversations” with his family.“I believe in my heart of hearts that I have accomplished what I set out to do for West Virginia,” he said. “I have made one of the toughest decisions of my life and decided that I will not be running for re-election to the United States Senate, but what I will be doing is traveling the country and speaking out to see if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together.”His decision to retire severely hampers Democratic hopes of holding on to the coal country seat and marks the end of an era for West Vi...

Bruins notebook: Charlie McAvoy lost appeal, but appreciative of chance

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:04:10 GMT

Charlie McAvoy knows he screwed up. His hit on the Florida Panthers’ Oliver Ekman-Larson on Oct. 30, made in the heat of a 2-2 game he’d just tied up, was late and high and he understands there had to be consequences.But the Bruins’ defenseman appealed his four-game suspension because he felt it should have had a game lopped off of it. Commissioner Gary Bettman, who heard the appeal, did not agree and thus McAvoy was set to serve the fourth and final game of the suspension on Thursday.McAvoy spoke to reporters for the first time since the hit on Ekman-Larson on Thursday morning after the B’s morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena.“What we were hoping for was just to get it reduced. I understand the need for discipline there and take responsibility for my actions. I know I made a mistake on the play,” said McAvoy. “But really the way that we understood it, and sort of the way it was explained to us by (head of Player Safety) George (Parros) and Player Safety was t...

Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial will go on after lawyers seek early verdict ending case

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:04:10 GMT

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s lawyers were thwarted Thursday in their longshot bid to put an immediate end to the New York civil fraud trial that threatens the former president’s real estate empire.The judge didn’t rule on the request, but he indicated that the trial will go on as scheduled Monday with Donald Trump Jr. returning to the stand as the first defense witness.Trump’s lawyers had asked Judge Arthur Engoron to cut the trial short and issue a verdict clearing Trump, his company and top executives including Trump Jr. of wrongdoing. They made the request at the halfway point in the trial of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit, arguing that state lawyers had failed to prove their case. James alleges that Trump and other defendants duped banks, insurers and others by inflating his wealth on financial statements.Engoron said the defense’s arguments seeking what’s...

Widespread rainfall, mountain snow possible in San Diego County

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:04:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Take advantage of the warm, dry weather this weekend San Diegans as the forecast shows cooling, along with possible rainfall and snow come next week.The National Weather Service (NWS) said Santa Ana winds are expected to continue Thursday, peaking overnight. Wind data from the last 48 hours shows Boucher Hill on Palomar Mountain with the highest clocked speeds in the region at 50 mph. Winds at Sill Hill near Cuyamaca Rancho State Park slightly trailed at 46 mph. Did you see it? Venus and the crescent moon levitate over San Diego Before speeding up overnight, NWS said winds will decrease a bit Thursday afternoon with the dry air expected to stick around. Despite this, weather officials explained that circumstances will remain elevated to "near critical fire weather conditions" for inland areas Thursday.A weak onshore flow is expected to briefly return on Friday before a weak offshore flow returns for the weekend and into early Monday, NWS said. This means winds may b...

17 stolen vehicles recovered from Burlington warehouse, 2 men arrested

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:04:10 GMT

Police in Halton Region have recovered 17 stolen vehicles worth an estimated $1.5 million from an industrial warehouse in Burlington. Last month, the Halton Regional Police Service identified two suspects of interest believed to be responsible for shipping stolen vehicles overseas.Investigators determined that several stolen vehicles were brought to an industrial warehouse in Burlington and were later observed being loaded onto sea containers. Related: 1,000-plus cars recovered, over 200 arrested in stolen vehicle investigation across Toronto With assistance from the Canada Border Services Agency, police searched the shipping containers and located 17 stolen vehicles worth approximately $1.5 million. On October 24, a search warrant was executed at the Burlington warehouse, and two men were arrested. They were identified as 39-year-old Maxwell Asante and 37-year-old Isaac Osei Appiah, both of Brampton.Asante has been charged with nine counts of trafficking stolen pr...

Demonstrators brawl outside LA’s Museum of Tolerance after screening of Hamas attack video

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:04:10 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Street fights erupted between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside Los Angeles’ Museum of Tolerance after a private screening of video showing the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants.The Los Angeles Times reported that 150 people attended the private screening of “Bearing Witness to the October 7th Massacre,” that included graphic footage captured by Hamas militants’ body cameras and cellphones and was compiled by the Israel Defense Forces.Outside the museum, demonstrators waved flags and got into shouting matches, before dispersing as the event ended, the newspaper reported. But an hour later, a small group of demonstrators returned and fistfights broke out.“Two reports for battery were taken and will be thoroughly investigated,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement Thursday. “At this time, we do not have suspects in custody relating to the battery, or for any other reason relating to this event.”The video has also b...

Andre Iguodala takes over as acting executive director of NBA players’ union

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:04:10 GMT

Andre Iguodala is taking over as the acting executive director of the National Basketball Players Association after the resignation of Tamika Tremaglio, the union announced Thursday.Tremaglio, the union said, is “stepping down from the position to pursue new opportunities.” The NBPA’s executive committee has approved Iguodala’s appointment, the union said.Tremaglio was not even two full years into her four-year term as executive director. It was not immediately clear if Iguodala, the four-time NBA champion who retired after last season and was a longtime union officer, would be interested in the job in a permanent capacity.The change atop the union seemed to come as a surprise, given that Tremaglio revealed on Tuesday that she had just met with the Indiana Pacers — the second team she visited with this season, following time with the Atlanta Hawks in October — and was planning to be back in Indianapolis for All-Star weekend in February.“I am honored to take on this role and serve th...

Tensions between Dominican Republic and Haiti flare after a brief armed standoff at the border

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:04:10 GMT

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The Dominican Republic on Thursday accused Haiti of multiple border violations in the latest dispute involving their shared frontier on the island of Hispaniola.Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez held a news conference on the issue just days after an armed confrontation between Dominican soldiers and members of a Haitian environmental government brigade.The brief standoff stemmed from apparent confusion over border limits. It occurred Tuesday on the northern tip of the shared island near one of more than 300 concrete barriers that delineate the border.“What happened is a flagrant violation of Dominican territory,” Álvarez said. “We make a strong call to the Haitian authorities to assume control of order in their territory and avoid situations that continue to aggravate the already delicate situation.”A spokesman for the office of Haiti’s prime minister declined comment on Thursday and referred to a statement the government issued on Wednesday i...

Portugal’s president dissolves parliament and calls an early election after prime minister quit

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:04:10 GMT

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said Thursday that he was dissolving the nation’s parliament and calling an early election, the announcement coming two days after Prime Minister António Costa resigned with his government tainted by a corruption scandal.The new election, Rebelo de Sousa said, would be on March 10.Rebelo de Sousa made his decision public during a national televised address after he met with the nation’s Council of State, an advisory body made up of former politicians and other veteran public figures of renown. That came after he had met with the leaders of the parties in parliament on Wednesday.Costa, Rebelo de Sousa said, will stay on as the country’s caretaker prime minister until the election.Costa, a Socialist, has led Portugal since 2015 and won a landslide election just last year.But he stepped down immediately after Portugal was rocked by a major police raid on Tuesday as part of a corruption investigation that include...

Colorado legislature will convene to address skyrocketing property costs

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:04:10 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis hoisted a red baseball bat and smashed emergency glass Thursday in a silly demonstration for a very real crisis — Colorado homeowners are looking down the barrel of a potential 40% jump in property tax bills.After a ballot measure meant to quell soaring property taxes failed in Tuesday’s election, Polis turned to the emergency option of calling a special legislative session to begin Nov. 17 with the goal of providing homeowners relief before the year is out and many are stuck with unaffordable property tax bills.Colorado’s situation isn’t unique. The last several years brought the steepest rise in home values nationwide in decades. The consequent hike in property taxes threatens seniors on fixed incomes and families struggling to afford their mortgage payments. “The cost of inaction is too high,” Polis said at a press conference, the red bat lying on the floor behind him. The Colorado proposition that floundered in Tuesday...