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State of Texas: Fighting over how to fight fentanyl deaths

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:50:44 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Crammed into Texas Sen. Joan Huffman's office chanting "shame," a group of Texans confronted staffers on Thursday, demanding the senator uses her influence to take action on legislation related to addressing the fentanyl crisis.The protests highlight differences over how to reduce fentanyl deaths, pitting advocates for harm reduction against those calling for tougher drug penalties. The Texas Harm Reduction Alliance is calling on Huffman — a Houston Republican who is a member of the Criminal Justice Committee — to advance several bills that aim to decriminalize the use of fentanyl testing strips. Currently, under the Texas Controlled Substances Act drug testing equipment such as these strips are classified as drug paraphernalia, making it illegal for people to recreationally test.The test strips cost roughly a dollar and can be used to test drugs, powders and pills for the presence of fentanyl, which is significantly more powerful than other drugs and can be ...

13 arrested for stealing millions from low-income Southern Californians

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:50:44 GMT

Thirteen people were arrested for allegedly stealing millions of dollars from low-income Southern California residents.The suspects stole funds using card skimmers and ATMs to drain electronic benefit transfer (EBT) accounts, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.EBT cards allow participants to pay for food using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps.On April 25, authorities received a community tip about fraud and identity theft suspects residing at a Van Nuys motel on the 4700 block of Sepulveda Boulevard.With a search warrant, police recovered skimming devices, card readers, a large number of false identification cards and documents and $36,062 in cash.Investigators believe the suspects may be part of a Romanian syndicate known to “target persons experiencing economic hardship for their EBT cards.” Fentanyl deaths skyrocketing in SoCal, prompting outcry for stricter laws The group allegedly stole millions of dollars ev...

Kurtenbach: Game 7 is likely not win-or-go-home for the Warriors — it’s win-or-break-up

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:50:44 GMT

Everything is on the line for the Warriors on Sunday in Sacramento. Not just their season, but perhaps their dynasty as well.Game 7 isn’t just win-or-go-home for the Warriors; it’s win-or-break-up.No team in the NBA spends more on player salaries than the Warriors. The payoff has been championships. But if the Warriors —  a team that needed all 82 regular season games to claim their playoff spot in the Western Conference — lose in the first round to the younger, more frugal Northern California rivals, big, bold changes will come this offseason.The Warriors are right when they say they’ve experienced everything there is to experience in the NBA Playoffs. But amid their incredible dynastic run, the situation they find themselves in Sunday – a Game 7 on the road – is one they’ve experienced just once.That was in 2018, the Western Conference Finals, in Houston and there is little chance that the Warriors’ opponent this time around, the Kings, will follow the scri...

Verdugo’s single in 10th lifts Red Sox past Guardians 8-7

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:50:44 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Alex Verdugo drove in the winning run to cap a two-run 10th inning for the Boston Red Sox, who rallied for an 8-7 victory Saturday over the Cleveland Guardians despite blowing the lead an inning earlier. Rafael Devers had a long first-inning, three-run homer, and it seemed the Red Sox were in line for the victory before the Guardians notched four runs in the seventh and tied it on José Ramírez’s RBI single off closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth. Connor Wong had three singles for the Red Sox, who rebounded after losing the series opener for their fifth win in nine games.Josh Naylor had a three-run double, and Josh Bell and Andrés Giménez both hit a solo homer for the Guardians. Cleveland has lost five of its last eight.Myles Straw and Steven Kwan opened the ninth with singles before Ramírez lined one to center off Jansen. It was Jansen’s first blown save and run allowed this season.Mike Zunino singled home placement runner Gabriel Arias in the 10th against Brennan Bernar...

Sánchez helps Marlins hold off Cubs for 7-6 win

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:50:44 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Jesús Sánchez hit a two-run double in Miami’s five-run first inning, and the Marlins held off the Chicago Cubs for a 7-6 win on Saturday.Sánchez also singled home Luis Arraez in the fourth. Arraez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. each had three hits as Miami earned its third straight victory.Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera (2-2) struck out a career-high 12 in five innings. He was charged with two runs and three hits.Patrick Wisdom and Cody Bellinger homered for Chicago in its fifth loss in seven games. Trey Mancini had two hits and scored two runs.Caleb Kilian (0-1) struggled in his fourth career start for the Cubs. The right-hander, who was promoted from Triple-A Iowa before the game, was tagged for seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings.The 25-year-old Kilian hurt himself in the first. He hit two batters — plunking Chisholm with the bases loaded — and walked two. He also threw a wild pitch that brought home a run.Sánchez’s ground-rule double gave Miami a 2-0 lea...

Texans build for future in NFL draft with Stroud, Anderson

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:50:44 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — The day after C.J. Stroud was taken with the second overall pick in the NFL draft, the quarterback raved about the job Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio did to not only get him but to trade up to nab outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3.“Shout-out to Nick,” Stroud said. “You’re doing a great job.”Caserio looked sheepish amid the praise and had a simple message for Stroud. “Just play well,” Caserio said. “That’s all.”Many pundits believe the Texans won the 2023 draft with the addition of Stroud and Anderson. But Caserio won’t pat himself on the back until those two help Houston turn things around after the team won just 11 games combined in the last three seasons. “We’re not going to solve anything in one draft, one player, one night,” Caserio said. “It’s going to take a series of actions over time with the right people, with the right mindset that believe in the things that we’re doing, that believe in what we’re trying to build, and then hopefully ...

Saints went ‘big’ and addressed needs in NFL draft

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:50:44 GMT

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Three of the first four players the New Orleans Saints selected in the NFL draft were linemen, including the first player they traded up to take.While coach Dennis Allen did not necessarily foresee New Orleans focusing on the trenches with the bulk of their highest draft choices, he wasn’t surprised it turned out that way, either.“There’s not a lot of big, athletic humans roaming this earth right now, and when you find one that has the skill set to play football, those are valuable guys to get,” Allen said as the draft concluded Saturday.“Football’s a big man’s game,” Allen continued. “We had a chance to go get some big guys that we think can help us.”New Orleans’ draft class was headlined by Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee in the first round and Notre Dame defensive end Isaiah Foskey in the second. On Saturday, New Orleans traded with Chicago to obtain Old Dominion offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri at the top of the fourth round.In Bresee...

Chiefs address biggest needs during hometown NFL draft

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:50:44 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brett Veach knew he was utilizing the NFL draft’s biggest cliche at the scouting combine in February, when the Chiefs general manager insisted that the Super Bowl champions would take “the best player available” when they were on the clock.How fortuitous they must have been.The best player available wound up matching their biggest needs over three days of selections. The Chiefs added to their pass rush in the first round with Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah, gave Patrick Mahomes another playmaker in the second round with SMU’s Rashee Rice and some protection up front in the third with Oklahoma offensive tackle Wanya Morris.The final four selections Sunday provided some much needed depth: Virginia Tech safety Chamarri Conner in the fourth round, Stephen F. Austin linebacker BJ Thompson in the fifth, Texas defensive tackle Keondre Coburn in the sixth and Ball State cornerback Nic Jones in the seventh to wrap up a hometown draft held at Uni...

Georgia on their minds! Eagles bullish for Bulldogs in draft

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:50:44 GMT

Yo, Dawgs!The Philadelphia Eagles sure did have Georgia on their mind during the NFL draft — specifically Bulldogs defensive players — and they took cornerback Kelee Ringo in the fourth round Saturday to make it three picks overall off the national champions’ roster.Eagles general manger Howie Roseman had joked a night earlier when he passed on selecting more Georgia talent that he was worried the team would be relegated to the Southeastern Conference.Who knows, maybe Alabama and Auburn could be added to the NFC champion Eagles’ schedule after all. Many NFL teams make rookies sing their college fight song as a rite of passage in training camp. The newest Eagles could start a whole glee club.Philly selected troubled defensive tackle Jalen Carter with the No. 9 overall pick, edge rusher Nolan Smith with the 30th pick, and then Ringo with the 105th pick. They’ll be reunited with two former Georgia teammates — linebacker Nakobe Dean and defensive tackle Jordan Davis — ...

Falcons add RB Bijan Robinson to young core around QB Ridder

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:50:44 GMT

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The NFL draft left the Atlanta Falcons exactly where they finished the 2022 season: with the spotlight on quarterback Desmond Ridder.The Falcons will open next season with Ridder the key piece of a group of young playmakers that now includes running back Bijan Robinson.Robinson, Atlanta’s No. 8 overall pick, joins Ridder, running back Tyler Allgeier, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts as featured offensive playmakers from the last three drafts.If Ridder can hold the starting job he was given for the final four games last season, the Falcons’ offensive foundation will be set for the immediate future under coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot.If Ridder falters, the Falcons may have to look for a quarterback in next year’s draft. The Falcons, coming off a 7-10 finish, are trying to snap a streak of five consecutive losing seasons.Atlanta signed veteran Taylor Heinicke to a two-year deal this offseason, and Heinicke immediatel...