Falcons, Saints eager for a rivalry game that might also decide who wins the NFC South

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:29:50 GMT

Falcons, Saints eager for a rivalry game that might also decide who wins the NFC South NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The regular season-ending matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints symbolizes the NFL’s efforts to promote parity. Neither team has a winning record, yet both are still playing meaningful football. The Falcons (7-9) and Saints (8-8) remain mathematically alive for an NFC playoff spot heading into their meeting in the Superdome on Sunday. “Thankfully, luckily, we still got a chance,” Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu said.Winning the game won’t be enough by itself. But if Tampa Bay (8-8) slips up at Carolina (2-14), the winner of the Falcons-Saints game will win the NFC South. If the Buccaneers win, the Falcons, who’ve lost three of their last four, will be eliminated. The Saints, however, would still have a path to a wild-card spot with a win over Atlanta and losses by both Seattle and Green Bay. “The thankful thing for us is at least we have an opportunity,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “A little bit is obviously out of our control, b...

Warriors’ Steve Kerr: Giving Draymond Green space ‘important’ during suspension

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:29:50 GMT

Warriors’ Steve Kerr: Giving Draymond Green space ‘important’ during suspension SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State coach Steve Kerr didn’t confirm a report Thursday that suspended forward Draymond Green is expected to return to the team’s facility soon, while noting that giving Green space away from the team is important for both parties.ESPN reported that Green is “expected to return” to the Warriors’ facility in the next few days.“I don’t know that,” Kerr said. “Apparently someone else does, but I don’t.”Green was suspended indefinitely by the NBA three weeks ago, after he was ejected for hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face while the two were jostling for position.“This was not a sprained ankle, this was not a twisted knee,” Kerr said Thursday before the Warrriors’ game against Denver. “This is an issue that Draymond is trying to get help with. So space was important for him and us. We’re trying to win games and he’s trying to put himself in a position to come back.”Kerr said that Green not being at the facility during his suspensi...

No. 3 NC State stays undefeated, beats No. 22 Florida State in OT

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:29:50 GMT

No. 3 NC State stays undefeated, beats No. 22 Florida State in OT RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State’s River Baldwin scored 21 points against her former team before leaving with an injury and the third-ranked Wolfpack pulled out an 88-80 overtime win over No. 22 Florida State on Thursday night.Aziaha James had 18 points, Zoe Brooks scored 15 and Saniya Rivers posted 12 points for the Wolfpack (14-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who defeated a Top 25 team for the third time this season. N.C. State made only three 3-point baskets, but two came in overtime from Hayes and James.Ta’Niya Latson poured in 30 points for the third game in a row for Florida State (11-4, 2-1), which overcame a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit. O’Mariah Gordon had 15 points and Makayla Timpson added 13. N.C. State’s 63-51 lead from early in the fourth quarter shrunk to 67-64 on Gordon’s 3-pointer. The second of Latson’s back-to-back drives for baskets made it 72-70, and her two free throws with 1:01 left tied it.James scored on a move into the lane and Latson matche...

New legislation would prevent Va. prisons from using dogs to control inmates

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:29:50 GMT

New legislation would prevent Va. prisons from using dogs to control inmates Prisons in Virginia would no longer be allowed to use dogs to control inmates under legislation introduced by Democratic Del. Holly Seibold.“I’ve been hearing stories about attack dogs that are being used, and they are causing severe injuries,” Seibold said.Seibold cited a Business Insider investigation from July 2023 that claimed dogs in Virginia prisons attacked hundreds of incarcerated people from 2017 to 2022, which amounted to the most instances by far of any state.According to the investigation, there were 295 such instances in prisons across eight states, and 271 of them happened in Virginia.“The attacks here in Virginia are 90% of the attacks in the entire country,” Seibold said. “Clearly, there’s a major problem in our Virginia prisons.”Under Seibold’s bill, it would be “unlawful for any correctional officer, jail officer, or other employee of a state, local, or juvenile correctional facility to use a patrol or sec...

NFC North champion Lions face Vikings looking to regain momentum ahead of playoffs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:29:50 GMT

NFC North champion Lions face Vikings looking to regain momentum ahead of playoffs DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions won their first division title in three decades and had their hopes of possibly earning home-field advantage dashed in a seven-day stretch that brought the franchise joy and pain.Detroit beat the Minnesota Vikings, its opponent Sunday at home, to win the NFC North two weeks ago and then lost a shot to be the conference’s No. 1 seed with a setback at Dallas that ended when a successful 2-point conversion try was negated by a much-criticized penalty.The Lions (11-5) say they’re moving on and focusing on earning a momentum-building win against Minnesota (7-9) to close the regular season. Next week, the Lions will end a six-season playoff drought with their first postseason game at home since 1993.The loss to the Cowboys on a negated 2-point pass to offensive tackle Taylor Decker helped San Francisco secure the top seed, leaving Detroit with a slim chance to earn the No. 2 seed.If the Lions beat the Vikings as expected and the unexpected happ...

Long Island earns 69-67 victory against Wagner in Northeast Conference opener

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:29:50 GMT

Long Island earns 69-67 victory against Wagner in Northeast Conference opener NEW YORK (AP) — Tai Strickland scored 23 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:13 left to cap the scoring, and Long Island beat Wagner 69-67 on Thursday night in a Northeast Conference opener for both teams.Strickland added three steals for the Sharks (2-11). Eric Acker added 14 points while shooting 6 for 10, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc, and he also had seven rebounds and seven assists. Tana Kopa was 5 of 15 shooting (3 for 11 from 3-point range) to finish with 13 points. The Sharks ended a seven-game losing streak with the win.The Seahawks (6-7) were led by Tahron Allen, who posted 16 points. Melvin Council Jr. added 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Wagner. In addition, Javier Esquerra Trelles had 13 points, nine assists and two steals.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

No. 14 Indiana women perfect from field in first quarter, rout Michigan 80-59 for 11th straight win

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:29:50 GMT

No. 14 Indiana women perfect from field in first quarter, rout Michigan 80-59 for 11th straight win BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Sydney Parrish and Sara Scalia combined for 25 first-quarter points to help Indiana jump out early and rout Michigan 80-59 on Thursday night for its 11th straight win. Indiana (12-1, 3-0 Big Ten) has won five of its last six games against Michigan (11-4, 2-1). Indiana didn’t miss a field goal in the first quarter, shooting 13 of 13 that included six 3-pointers, and were 4 of 6 from the free-throw line while building a 36-17 advantage. Parrish scored 14 points with three 3-pointers in the opening quarter. Scalia was 3-for-3 shooting from long range and made a pair of free throws for 11 points, and she also had five assists. Mackenzie Holmes made 4 of 4 buckets for eight points and Chloe Moore-McNeil chipped in a 3-pointer. The Wolverines kept pace in the second quarter, but the Hoosiers opened the third on an 11-2 run for a 62-38 lead and cruised from there. Holmes finished with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting to lead Indiana, which shot 58% (26 of 45) ov...

Dos frentes fríos en México causarán bajas temperaturas en varios estados, algunos por debajo de los 0 grados Celsius

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:29:50 GMT

Dos frentes fríos en México causarán bajas temperaturas en varios estados, algunos por debajo de los 0 grados Celsius (CNN Español) –– Los frentes fríos 22 y 24 que afectan México “ocasionarán temperaturas muy bajas, vientos muy fuertes a intensos, lluvias y chubascos, posible caída de nieve o aguanieve y evento de norte, en diferentes regiones del país”, advirtió la Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil (CNPC) este jueves, mediante un mensaje en X.El frente frío 24 que cruza por México causará este viernes un descenso de las temperaturas, que caerán de los -10 grados Celsius hasta -15 grados Celsius en las zonas serranas de los estados de Sonora, Chihuahua y Durango, en el norte del país, informó este jueves el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN).En su reporte actualizado hasta las 6:00 p.m. (hora local), la dependencia del gobierno federal pronosticó que, además de “ambiente gélido”, en esas regiones habrá heladas y bancos de niebla.Otros estados para los que se pronostican bajas temperaturas son Baja California y Zacatecas, en cuyas zonas serranas se esperan de -10°C a -5°C.En tanto, para ...

Charleston defeats Hofstra 73-61 in Coastal Athletic Association opener

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:29:50 GMT

Charleston defeats Hofstra 73-61 in Coastal Athletic Association opener HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) — Bryce Butler scored 18 points as Charleston beat Hofstra 73-61 on Thursday night in a Coastal Athletic Association opener for both teams.Butler added five rebounds for the Cougars (10-4). Ante Brzovic scored 13 points while going 5 of 9 (2 for 4 from 3-point range). Frankie Policelli shot 4 for 7, including 3 for 5 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points, while adding seven rebounds. It was the sixth straight victory for the Cougars.Tyler Thomas led the Pride (7-7) in scoring, finishing with 21 points. Darlinstone Dubar added 20 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and four blocks for Hofstra. In addition, Jaquan Carlos finished with 14 points, five assists and three steals.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

With more records, world sees how Jeffrey Epstein leveraged powerful to abuse vulnerable girls

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:29:50 GMT

With more records, world sees how Jeffrey Epstein leveraged powerful to abuse vulnerable girls NEW YORK (AP) — A new batch of unsealed documents pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse of teenage girls was released Thursday, adding several hundred pages to a trove of information detailing how the financier leveraged connections to the rich, powerful and famous to recruit his victims and cover up his crimes.The 19 documents, or about 300 pages, were half as many as the over 40 released Wednesday. The documents so far — with more to come — were sprinkled with names of celebrities and politicians who socialized with Epstein or worked with him in the years before he was publicly accused nearly two decades ago of paying underage girls for sex.They also contained the accounts of some of Epstein’s young victims, many of whom were high school students who took payments of $200 to give him illicit massages.The records being unsealed were part of a lawsuit filed by one of those victims, Virginia Giuffre, against Ghislaine Maxwell, who was Epstein’s former girlfriend, househo...