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For Virginia’s Youngkin, potential presidential run would face logistical hurdles, voter skepticism

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:44:50 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Glenn Youngkin was waving off talk about running for the White House back in 2021, before he’d even made it to the Virginia governor’s mansion.Brad Hobbs, a childhood friend, told The Associated Press at the time that his ultimate goal was to see the Harvard-educated Republican businessman run for president. Hobbs said he brought it up nonstop, even in front of others, which irked Youngkin.“He doesn’t commit to that. He looks at me like, ‘Stop saying it; I don’t want to hear that,’” Hobbs said.Conjecture that Youngkin, who is set to host a major donor retreat Tuesday and Wednesday, might make a late entry into the 2024 presidential race has only grown since his victory nearly two years ago. It could further escalate after next month’s high-stakes legislative elections, where he’s aiming for a GOP sweep. At least some of the recent talk is coming from Republican donors still casting about for yet another alternative to former President Donald Trump.But the 56-yea...

Pan American Games set to open in Chile with many athletes eyeing spots at the Paris Olympics

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:44:50 GMT

The Pan American Games open Friday in Chile’s capital with more than 100 spots available for next year’s Paris Olympics and the usual contest to see who will finish second behind the United States in the medals chart.More than 6,800 athletes from 41 countries and territories will compete in Santiago over 17 days. Competitors in 20 sports, including gymnastics, boxing and swimming, will be looking to directly qualify for the Olympics. Other sports will offer spots based on quotas, ranking points or minimum qualification standards.The Pan American Games, the largest multi-sport event in the Americas, are held every four years and precede the Olympics by a year. Santiago, where the streets have been rocked by protests in recent years, will debut as host. About 17,000 volunteers and 3,000 security officers will work at the event.If injuries don’t get in the way, the U.S. team in Chile will include 93 Olympians and 32 Olympic medalists in a roster of 631 athletes. Of th...

VAR officials recalled after failure to award Luis Diaz’s goal for Liverpool against Tottenham

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:44:50 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Two soccer officials involved in Luis Diaz’s wrongly disallowed goal for Liverpool against Tottenham last month will return to Premier League duty this weekend.Video Assistant Referee Darren England and his assistant, Dan Cook, have been recalled for the first time since their error in Tottenham’s 2-1 victory.England will be the fourth official for Brentford’s game against Burnley on Saturday and Cook is an assistant for Sheffield United’s match against Manchester United on the same day.Their failure to award what would have been an opening goal for Diaz prompted Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to call on the Premier League to have the game replayed. It also led to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, which is the governing body of referees in England, to announce changes to video review protocols.The body admitted the mistake after VAR failed to award Diaz’s goal, despite replays clearly showing the forward was onside when he sc...

Trial begins for 3rd officer charged in Elijah McClain case

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:44:50 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Nathan Woodyard's trial begins Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the death of Elijah McClain.On Aug. 24, 2019, officers stopped McClain while he was walking home from a convenience store after receiving a 911 call. The caller reported McClain, who was wearing a runner’s mask and jacket and listening to music, and said he seemed “sketchy.” 1 officer found guilty of homicide in Elijah McClain case, 2nd officer acquitted Three officers approached McClain after he left the store. McClain was put in a neck hold by officers and pinned to the ground before he was injected with the sedative ketamine by paramedics.On Oct. 12, the jury came back with a split verdict for two officers' involvement in McClain's death.One officer, Randy Roedema, was found guilty on charges of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault. The other officer, Jason Rosenblatt, was acquitted of all charges.Less than 24 hours after the verdict, jury selec...

Miami the team to catch in NBA’s Southeast Division, though there will be challengers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:44:50 GMT

There wasn’t much in the way of collective success in the NBA’s Southeast Division last season.The division had one team finish with a winning record, that being Miami. It had one All-NBA player, that being Miami’s Jimmy Butler. It had one All-Star, that being Miami’s Bam Adebayo. And one team that won a playoff series, that being … yep, Miami, which went all the way to the NBA Finals as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.So in the Southeast, there’s the Heat. And everybody else.Yet Miami still feels like it is doubted after an offseason where it hoped to land Damian Lillard in a trade with Portland — only to see him sent to Milwaukee instead after the Trail Blazers simply didn’t engage much with the Heat in any talks.“We have enough motivation,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We have enough, everything we need, to be one of those teams and that’s what excites all of us as competitors.”The Southeast was the only division last season to have just one team finish over .500; M...

Miami-Dade County commissioners declare support for Israel, condemn Hamas terrorist group

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:44:50 GMT

Miami-Dade County commissioners have taken a stance on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East after they denounces the unprovoked conflict caused by Hamas terrorists. During their Tuesday commission meeting, Commissioners Rene Garcia and Micky Steinberg sponsored Resolution 11A11, declaring the county’s unwavering support for Israel and condemning the unprovoked and unjustified war initiated by Hamas terrorists on October 7.This resolution reaffirms Miami-Dade County’s stance on the international stage, standing in solidarity with Israel while denouncing acts of aggression that have escalated tensions in the region.

Sheriff: Florida man arrested after threatening to launch rockets at military aircrafts

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:44:50 GMT

A 39-year-old Marathon man was arrested Monday after allegedly threatening military aircraft, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.Michael Angelo Robulock faces charges of threatening to discharge a destructive device. Authorities said Robulock informed them that he would launch rockets at military helicopters flying over his home if they descended below 1,000 feet. He allegedly stated, “If these (expletive) keep flying over my house, they’re going to get a rocket.”Robulock was arrested without incident, and the Sheriff’s Office informed the U.S. Navy of Robulock’s statements and subsequent detention.

Manhunt underway for four inmates, including a murder suspect, who escaped a Georgia jail after the fence was cut, authorities say

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:44:50 GMT

(CNN) — Four inmates, including a man charged with murder, are on the run from authorities after escaping a central Georgia jail through a damaged second-floor window and getting through the perimeter fences, according to authorities.The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said the inmates escaped from the Bibb County Detention Center in Macon, about 84 miles southeast of Atlanta, around 3 a.m. Monday, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said.The four climbed through a broken day room window and through a cut fence, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.Sheriff David Davis told reporters someone driving a blue Dodge Challenger in the parking lot near the fence appeared to aid the escape.“(There is) some video footage of a vehicle that had been there earlier in the evening, that looked like they had been tampering with the fence, as well as bringing some items into the enclosed area of the fence that we believe were used by these inmates to escape,” Davis said at a news confere...

Greta Thunberg arrested in London during anti-oil protest

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:44:50 GMT

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained by police in London on Tuesday while protesting against the oil and gas industry. Thunberg had joined other protestors in front of the InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane in London where she warned that “the world is drowning in fossil fuels,” before being led away by police. Fossil Free London announced that Thunberg had been “arrested,” with an accompanying video of her being put into a van by police officers. In a statement, London’s Metropolitan police said: “Officers asked the protestors to move from the road onto the pavement, which would enable them to continue with their demonstration without breaching the conditions. A number of protestors failed to do so and we have now made a further 14 arrests”Six protesters were also arrested “for obstruction of the highway.” The protest takes place as oil executives meet in London for the three-day Energy Intelligence Forum held from...

House nears vote on Trump ally Rep. Jim Jordan for speaker but Republican holdouts remain

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:44:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are trying Tuesday to elect firebrand Rep. Jim Jordan as the new House speaker, elevating a chief ally of Donald Trump to a center-seat of U.S. power and showing just how far the hard-right flank has moved into the GOP mainstream.After two weeks of angry Republican infighting since the ouster of Kevin McCarthy, the House is to vote in a showdown for the gavel. At least a handful of holdout Republicans are refusing to give Jordan their votes, viewing the Ohio Republican as too extreme for the powerful position of House speaker, second in line to the presidency.But with public pressure bearing down on lawmakers from Trump’s allies including Fox News’ Sean Hannity, it’s not clear how long the holdouts can last. Jordan swiftly flipped dozens of detractors in a matter of days, shoring up reluctant Republicans who have few options left after McCarthy’s ouster.“The American people deserve to have ...