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Hong Kong holds first council elections under new rules that shut out pro-democracy candidates

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Residents went to the polls on Sunday in Hong Kong’s first district council elections since an electoral overhaul was implemented under Beijing’s guidance of “patriots” administering the city, effectively shutting out all pro-democracy candidates.Turnout is expected to be much lower than in the last elections, held at the height of the 2019 anti-government protests. Some pro-democracy voters, dismayed by the drastic rule changes, including the elimination of most directly elected seats, are turning their backs on the polls.The final turnout will be a barometer of public sentiment toward the “patriots”-only system, the new political order under the Hong Kong government’s crackdown on dissidents following the 2019 protests — the most concerted challenge to Beijing since the former British colony returned to China’s rule in 1997.China promised the semi-autonomous territory could retain its Western-style liberties for 50 years under the “one country, t...

3 people killed and 1 wounded in Atlanta shooting, police say

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A shooting in Atlanta killed three people and left one victim wounded Saturday evening, police say.The Atlanta Police Department said officers responded to an address on Peachtree Road NE around 6:25 p.m., WANF-TV reported.Police said three victims were pronounced dead at the scene and the fourth was transported to a hospital, WANF reported.Additional details were not immediately available.The Associated Press

Man arrested for impersonating police officer, defrauding elderly woman of thousands of dollars

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

A 27-year-old man is facing a number of charges for pretending to be a police officer and tricking an elderly woman into paying money to get her grandson out of jail.Investigators say a woman in the area of Grenadier Road and Roncesvalles Avenue area received a call on Wednesday, Dec. 6 from someone claiming to be a police officer who told her she needed to pay $7,500 to a bondsman on behalf of her grandson and that he would be coming by her home to collect the money.The woman was told not to tell anyone about the money as it would compromise her grandson’s release.Later that day a man turned up at the woman’s home and collected the money.The next day, the same person impersonating a police officer contacted her again and demanded an additional $7,500 in bail money. He said the same man would stop by to collect the money.This time the woman called police who arrested the man at her home when he showed up later that day.Diego Armando Lillo of Toronto has been charged with...

LSU QB Jayden Daniels overcomes being out of playoff hunt to win Heisman Trophy with prolific season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels overcame being outside the playoff race with a prolific season that Heisman Trophy voters could not ignore.Daniels won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, becoming the first player since 2016 to win college football’s most prestigious player of the year award as part of a team that did not play for a conference championship.The fifth-year player, who transferred from Arizona State to LSU in 2022, received 503 first-place votes and 2,029 points. “This is a dream come true,” Daniels started his acceptance speech.Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. was the the runner-up with 292 first-place votes and 1,701 points and Oregon’s Bo Nix was third (51, 885), putting transfer quarterbacks in each of the top three spots. Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. finished fourth (20, 352).Daniels, who turns 23 on Dec. 18, won AP Player of the Year earlier this week. Daniels is the fifth quarterback in the last seven seasons to win the...

Ukrainian activists gather in Chicago to raise funds for country's war effort

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

CHICAGO — Top Ukrainian activists gathered in Chicago on Saturday night to raise funds for the country's war effort.Having flown from Ukraine just three days ago, Lyuba Shipovich shared firsthand the ongoing atrocities plaguing her country."There is no safe place currently in Ukraine," Shipovich said. Thieves target victims trying to purchase cell phones using Facebook Marketplace Lyuba is a trained software engineer who heads a non-profit called "Dignitas" which trains and provides Ukranian soldiers with technology to help defend the country."In the current war, we don't have enough military-grade technology, so we use civilian technology a lot," Shipovich said. "We use civilian drones, we use civilian tablets civilian smartphones."Lyuba is one of many who attended a Saturday night fundraiser at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art to help raise money for a veteran's center at Ukraine's oldest university in Kyiv. The center will help soldiers adjust back to civilian life after ...

How to brace for peak Cedar Fever season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — Yellow leaves and bare branches are sure signs that winter is on its way. For Texans, the month of December means peak Cedar Fever season as well.According to the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Agency, from December through the end of February, mountain cedar trees produce dense amounts of pollen which can lead to allergy symptoms.Texas experts also indicate the season may have started earlier this year due to an especially hot fall.Dr. Ryan Prudoff with Family Emergency Room at Georgetown said allergy symptoms often begin mildly with itchy eyes, runny nose, and scratchy throat. He said over-the-counter allergy medications are best used before allergy symptoms start. He said the drugs could be less effective against symptoms already in progress."I would definitely recommend taking some kind of allergy based medication," Prudoff said.Prudoff said antihistamines such as Benadryl should be used with caution as they can often make a person drowsy.He also recommends tha...

Keeler: No. 1 Colorado School of Mines, John Matocha are men on a mission. Next stop? Turning Golden into Titletown, USA

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

GOLDEN — The best college quarterback in Colorado drives around Titletown in a Toyota Tacoma. 2012. Two-wheel drive.“We bought it used. Very used,” Keith Matocha, father of Colorado School of Mines QB John Matocha, told me with a laugh as his son’s top-ranked Orediggers pounded Kutztown, 35-7, to punch a second straight ticket to the NCAA Division II football national championships.“And we weren’t very smart. We’re from Texas. It’s 2-wheel drive in a pickup, so he gets stranded quite often. So his lineman roommates ended up hauling him around quite a bit.”As the snow that frosted Marv Kay Field reminded Keith of the worst decision of his son’s young life, the party below us reminded him of the best.“Definitely the goal was to get back (to the NCAA championship),” the elder Matocha said of his son, who completed 30 of 37 passes, threw for three scores and ran for another to improve Mines’ record to 14-0 and...

Marciulionis scores 18, Jefferson gets 16, help Saint Mary’s upset No. 13 Colorado State, 64-61

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

By DENNIS GEORGATOS (Associated Press)FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Joshua Jefferson scored 16 points including a key 3-pointer down the stretch and Saint Mary’s sent No. 13 Colorado State to its first loss of the season 64-61 on Saturday night. Augustas Marciulionis led the Gaels (5-5) with 18 points before fouling out, and Aidan Mahaney added 10 points. Isaiah Stevens had 20 points to lead Colorado State (9-1). Patrick Cartier had 16 points and Nique Clifford added 15 points and 11 rebounds. “It was a huge step for us,” St. Mary’s coach Randy Bennett said. “We’ve had a tough schedule. We weren’t put together at the start of the year for a couple of reasons. But we’ve been building it, building it. I thought we were getting better. We have to get tougher. We have to get better so we can turn this thing around. But this was the best team we’ve played and it’s the best we’ve played so this was a good step in the rig...

Video shows school crossing guard thrown into the air during Lakewood crash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

Video captured the moment a school crossing guard was thrown into the air after a vehicle jumped the curb and smashed right into him in Lakewood.On Dec. 1, Eduardo Villalpando, 38, had just walked a group of children across the street when suddenly, a speeding driver slammed into him. As Villalpando was standing on the corner of Centralia and Pioneer Streets, a speeding Dodge Challenger slammed into a Honda Pilot SUV that was turning left at the intersection. The violent impact sent the Challenger barrelling into the street corner, through a cement shopping sign and directly into Villalpando who was propelled into the air by the nose of the vehicle.Villalpando’s left leg was completely severed and his right leg was severely injured. Although he survived the violent collision, he faces a long road to recovery ahead.Video captured the moment a school crossing guard was thrown into the air after a vehicle jumped the curb and smashed into him in Lakewood on Dec. 1, 2023. (Supe...

CIF state football championships: This weekend’s scoreboard

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:17 GMT

Saturday’s resultsOPEN DIVISIONSerra (12-0) vs. Mater Dei-Santa Ana (12-1), Saturday, 8 p.m. at Saddleback College in Mission ViejoDIVISION 1-AAt Saddleback CollegeFolsom 20, St. Bonaventure 14DIVISION 2-ALos Gatos (12-2) vs. Central Valley Christian-Visalia (14-1) on Saturday, 7 p.m. at Pasadena City CollegeDIVISION 3-AAAt Saddleback CollegeAcalanes 35, Birmingham 23DIVISION 3-AMarin Catholic (13-1) vs. Mayfair (11-3) on Saturday, 7 p.m. at El Camino College in TorranceDIVISION 4-AAt Pasadena City CollegePalma 42, Mission Oak 19DIVISION 5-AAt El Camino CollegeWoodland Christian 23, Banning 13DIVISION 6-AAt El Camino CollegeColusa 33, Sweetwater 17DIVISION 7-AAt Pasadena City CollegeStrathmore 42, Bell Gardens 7Friday’s resultsDIVISION 1-AAAt Saddleback CollegeMission Viejo 27, De La Salle 14DIVISION 2-AAAt Saddleback CollegeLa Serna 21, Grant-Sacramento 19DIVISION 4-AAAt Pasadena City CollegeSoquel 28, Jurupa Hills 7Related ArticlesHigh School Sports | State ...