No. 8 Virginia Tech and star Elizabeth Kitley lead the preseason ACC women’s basketball picks

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

No. 8 Virginia Tech and star Elizabeth Kitley lead the preseason ACC women’s basketball picks CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Eighth-ranked Virginia Tech is the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball race.The league released its preseason picks Thursday after voting by media members at this week’s league media days. The Hokies won their first ACC title last year and earned 45 of 61 first-place votes to open as preseason favorite for the first time.In addition, two-time reigning league player of the year Elizabeth Kitley was the preseason pick to be player of the year again in a league loaded with all-ACC returnees and top scorers.No. 10 Notre Dame was picked second, followed by No. 16 North Carolina, No. 17 Louisville and No. 18 Florida State. Miami was picked sixth after the program’s unexpected run to the NCAA Elite Eight, while Duke was seventh, North Carolina State was eighth, Syracuse was ninth and Virginia was 10th.Clemson, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Wake Forest and Pittsburgh rounded out the predicted order of finish.___...

Giants’ Barkley struggled in his regular-season game against the Jets, but he liked the rivalry

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

Giants’ Barkley struggled in his regular-season game against the Jets, but he liked the rivalry EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Saquon Barkley has played once against the New York Jets in a regular-season game, and the Giants running back recalled the experience was fun.There was a lot of juice to the game in 2019 and fan excitement in the contest the Jets won 34-27.The Giants (2-5) and Jets (3-3) will renew that experience on Sunday when they meet again at MetLife Stadium in what will be technically a home game for Barkley and company.“I think it’s a great rivalry,” Barkley said Thursday after practice. “It’s always a fun game to play against a team like that. Two teams in the same area, share the same stadium, bragging rights for a long time till the next time they see each other. I’m excited. Definitely excited.”Barkley grinned when he was reminded about the previous meeting against the Jets. It was his second year in the league and the 2018 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was held to 1 yard on 13 carries, his lowest single-game total. The Giants finished with 23 yards on 17 c...

NBA looking into facts behind Harden’s absence from 76ers’ nationally televised opener in Milwaukee

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

NBA looking into facts behind Harden’s absence from 76ers’ nationally televised opener in Milwaukee MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers went to Milwaukee without James Harden and the NBA wants to know why.They league, which strengthened its rules about resting healthy players this summer, is investigating the reasons behind Harden’s absence from the 76ers’ nationally televised season opener against the Bucks. “We’re looking into the facts around James Harden’s availability tonight to determine whether an approved reason exists for his lack of participation,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement.Harden wants to be traded and was away from the Sixers recently until returning this week. Coach Nick Nurse said Wednesday that the point guard wouldn’t travel with the team so he could work on rebuilding his conditioning with team staff members at the 76ers’ training facility.The player participation policy requires teams to demonstrate an approved reason for a star player to miss national TV games (such as Phoenix listing injuries for D...

Travel alert: Snowstorm to affect roads this weekend

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

Travel alert: Snowstorm to affect roads this weekend DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to be prepared for the first major winter storm of the season, coming up this weekend.Department forecasters are predicting snow totals as high as 17 inches for Colorado's Central Mountains. Blowing snow and visibility will be a concern. Will this Halloween’s weather make history? “This weekend, I’m going up to Tabernash, pick up my girlfriend, then we’re going to DIA (Denver International Airport) and fly into Puerto Vallarta,” said Brandon Thorpe, filling up at an Idaho Springs gas station.If you are traveling up to the high country, CDOT is highlighting the need for snow tires or traction devices — words of advice that will be needed well into the spring."We had a decent fall," Thorpe said. "But I feel like it still came in real quick."Colorado prepares for snowstormCDOT said 95 snow plows will be ready to respond to the storm in the Denver metro area and another 30 plows along the Interstate 70 moun...

Busload moves to transitional housing ahead of Denver encampment cleanup

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

Busload moves to transitional housing ahead of Denver encampment cleanup DENVER (KDVR) — A busload of people moved off the streets of Denver and into transitional housing from a site targeted by the city's House1000 initiative.They were leaving a large encampment and Curtis and 21st streets in downtown Denver Thursday morning. The encampment had received a notice saying all items would be removed from sidewalks next Tuesday. Mayor: Denver on track to get 1,000 homeless people into transitional housing But on Thursday, two days after the notices were posted, FOX31 saw a number of people voluntarily boarding a bus headed for transitional housing. Among them was Tracy Gulley.“I’m going to get me a place and I’m going to be taking me a shower and eating and sleeping right. And not worry about nothing else about myself,” Gulley said.Denver announced it will clear this homeless encampment at 21st and Curtis streets. (KDVR)Denver focusing on 'most vulnerable populations'This is the second encampment the city of Denver has focused on in Mayor Mike Johnston’s H...

‘The Dummy’s Attic’ at Gulfstream Park invites audiences of all ages to enjoy high-flying spooky season fun

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

‘The Dummy’s Attic’ at Gulfstream Park invites audiences of all ages to enjoy high-flying spooky season fun Attics are made to hide your junk, like the winter coats that you never need in SoFlo — or your dummies, and we mean puppets, not idiot drivers on I-95.The puppets of “The Dummy’s Attic” come alive during this spooky season, and they invite you to trick-or-treat yo’self and the fam bam to check out their first show in SoFlo this weekend. Here’s a sneak peek.Le PeTiT CiRqUe performers (singing): “Welcome to Dummy’s Attic. A mesmerizing site.”Seeing someone bend like that is mesmerizing, which is why no one puts this circus in a box. Magic Town Events teamed up with Le PeTiT CiRqUe to bring you “The Dummy’s Attic.”Misha Varum, Magic Town Event: “We’re turning dreams into reality. We basically gather to create the best family-oriented events that exist in Florida. That’s the goal, at least.”Announcer: “This Hallows’ Eve, in this dark attic, Monsiuer Bojuette’s spirits retur...

Bruins blow late lead, suffer first loss of season

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

Bruins blow late lead, suffer first loss of season The Bruins had their record-setting victory in their sights on Thursday at the Garden and booted it away.Going for the franchise best 7-0 start, the B’s coughed up a two-goal lead late in the third period and then Mason McTavish scored at 2:52 of overtime to lose 4-3, suffering their first loss of the season in brutal fashion. They fell to 6-1.The B’s appeared to be well on their way sealing their seventh win when Patrick Brown took holding penalty with 4:00 left and the Ducks pulled goalie John Gibson for a 6-on-4. The B’s had several chances to clear but failed and with 1:55 left in regulation, Leo Carlsson scored a 6-on-5 goal to cut the Bruin lead to a goal.The B’s inability to clear the zone continued and Sam Carrick tied the game with 14.7 second left in regulation to make it 3-3.As we’ve come to expect in the first game back after a long, successful road trip, the Bruins were pretty lifeless in the first period. The Ducks, meanwhile, looked like ...

Ravens LB Roquan Smith returns to practice, says he’ll play vs. Cardinals; WR Odell Beckham Jr., OLB Odafe Oweh limited

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

Ravens LB Roquan Smith returns to practice, says he’ll play vs. Cardinals; WR Odell Beckham Jr., OLB Odafe Oweh limited Ravens fans could breathe a sigh of relief Thursday with inside linebacker and leading tackler Roquan Smith back at practice in Owings Mills after he missed Wednesday’s session with a shoulder injury.Though Smith didn’t elaborate on the extent of the injury, he said he plans to play Sunday in Arizona against the Cardinals (1-6).“As long as the sun rises on Sunday and the NFL don’t cancel any games, you’ll see me out there,” said Smith, a 26-year-old two-time All-Pro who leads the Ravens with 71 tackles and has started 57 games in a row. “I feel amazing. I did some good work preparing for the Cardinals.”The same could be said for most of the Ravens (5-2), with only safety Marcus Williams (hamstring) not practicing for a second straight day.Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder) and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (ankle) were added to the injury report, however, and were limited. Beckham has missed two games with an ankle injury amid ...

MCAS Miramar jet experiences landing gear issue on runway: report

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

MCAS Miramar jet experiences landing gear issue on runway: report SAN DIEGO -- A Marine jet based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar encountered a "main landing gear anomaly" after "a safe, routine landing as part of pre-planned training" last week, military officials said. The malfunction occurred Wednesday, Oct. 18, at MCAS Miramar involving a F/A-18C Hornet that belongs to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Maj. Natalie Batcheler, a spokesperson for 3rd MAW, told Military.com.Military.com described the video sent to them "shows what appears to be a fire under the belly of the aircraft as it lumbers along an airstrip.""Smoke can be seen billowing from the jet. Another cut of the video shows emergency personnel responding to the scene," the military website said. Maine police surround home in search for suspect in the fatal shooting of 18 Batcheler says the video appears to be the same incident, adding 3rd MAW is unsure who or where the video came from, and that the quality is low and dark.No personnel were hurt ...

China shows off a Tibetan boarding school that’s part of a system some see as forced assimilation

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

China shows off a Tibetan boarding school that’s part of a system some see as forced assimilation SHANGRI-LA TOWN, China (AP) — First-grade students, hands folded on their desks, watch a teacher write a brush-like stroke on a blackboard in their Tibetan alphabet. Outside, craggy mountains climb toward the brightest of blue skies. The air is clean and crisp at 2,800 meters (9,100 feet), if a bit thin. The Shangri-La Key Boarding School is an example of bilingual education, Chinese-style. Tibetan activists have a different term for it: forced assimilation. The issue is getting official attention this year, with U.N. human rights experts and representatives from the U.S. and a handful of other Western governments condemning the system.China has shuttered village schools across Tibet and replaced them with centralized boarding schools over the last dozen years. Many students come from remote farming villages and live at the schools. The practice is not limited to the region but appears to be much more widespread in Tibetan areas.Activists estimate 1 million Tibetan children study at...