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Celtics have more options, balance with addition of Kristaps Porzingis: ‘He brings a lot to our team’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:28:24 GMT

As the Celtics processed how their season ended in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Brad Stevens and the front office pinpointed a desire for more roster balance.They had a surplus of guards and not quite enough in their frontcourt, with Al Horford aging and Robert Williams struggling to stay on the floor. They targeted Kristaps Porzingis – the 7-foot-3 big man with elite skill and shooting ability – to be a solution and did everything in their power to acquire him, ultimately parting with Marcus Smart to do so.Porzingis, the No. 4 overall pick in 2015, has shown great promise over his first eight seasons while having trouble staying healthy. But he’s coming off arguably his best season after averaging a career-high 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, and the Celtics view him as a great fit in their system as a floor-spacing big who adds another dynamic scoring option and compliments what they want to do defensively, too.“Kristaps can play with any combination of our play...

Pence calls for his 2024 rivals to back a 15-week federal abortion ban on eve of Dobbs anniversary

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:28:24 GMT

By WILL WEISSERT and MICHELLE L. PRICE (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence used a Friday gathering of some of the nation’s leading Christian conservatives to urge his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination to support a 15-week federal abortion ban at minimum.The exhortation at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s annual conference, coming a day before the first anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, amounted to a challenge for the GOP front-runner, Donald Trump, who has been reluctant to endorse a federal abortion ban. The former president is set to address the evangelical assembly on Saturday night.“We must not rest and we must not relent until we restore the sanctity of life to the center of American law in every state in this country,” Pence said. “Every Republican candidate for president should support a ban on abortion before 15 weeks as a minimum nationwide standard....

What caused the Titan to implode? Right now, it’s not even clear who will lead the investigation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:28:24 GMT

By PATRICK WHITTLE and JENNIFER McDERMOTT (Associated Press)A day after revelations that the Titan submersible imploded, officials searched the ocean floor for evidence and grappled Friday with vexing questions about who is responsible for investigating the international disaster.A formal inquiry has not yet been launched because maritime agencies are still busy searching the area where the vessel fell apart, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday. Debris was located about 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) underwater, several hundred feet away from the Titanic wreckage it was on its way to explore. The U.S. Coast Guard led the initial search and rescue mission.“I know there are also a lot of questions about how, why and when did this happen. Those are questions we will collect as much information as we can about now,” Rear Adm. John Mauger of the First Coast Guard District said Thursday. It was not entirely clear Friday who would have the authority to lead what is sure to be a comple...

Man accused of assaulting Americans near King Ludwig’s castle in Germany detailed moments before attack

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:28:24 GMT

A woman who lives in Thailand connected months ago with a Michigan man while playing an online video game.They quickly struck up a friendship and chatted every day.Those conversations came to an end on the afternoon of June 14 — the day Troy Bohling, 30, of Lincoln Park, Michigan is accused of sexually assaulting and killing one woman and injuring another in Germany.Chanidtha Khumpuok said she is shocked to learn the man she knew online is now accused of choking and pushing two women down a steep ravine near a castle known for its fairytale appearance.Embed from Getty ImagesIt was less than an hour beforehand that Bohling sent her several selfies in an online chat — photos resembling the very area he was arrested, wearing the same clothing he had on when police took him into custody.In a chat log shared with The News-Herald, Khumpuok and Bohling began talking that day like any other day. Both said good morning to one another.Bohling then told her about a dream he had.“I had a dream ...

Passing North Carolina budget before new year looks out of reach for GOP legislators

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:28:24 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican lawmakers are preparing for extra time again in order to pass a state government budget and to reach other substantial policy agreements before adjourning for the summer. While state law doesn’t mandate when the General Assembly adjourns, legislative leaders had hoped to get a new budget enacted before the next fiscal year begins on July 1 and to send the remaining legislation to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk before July 4. But top Republicans said this week that neither is likely to happen, citing protracted negotiations between the House and Senate over the two-year spending plan. “The budget’s not done and there’s several decision points left to be made,” Sen. Ralph Hise, a Mitchell County Republican and one of the chamber’s chief budget negotiators, said Thursday. “I think everyone here wishes it was moving faster and that we were voting that out.”The General Assembly convened in January, and in the spring the ...

Woman carjacked from driveway in Brampton

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:28:24 GMT

Peel Regional Police are investigating after a woman was carjacked from her driveway in Brampton.Officers were called to a residence in the Countryside Drive and Russell Creek Drive area around 2:30 p.m. on Friday for reports of a carjacking.Police said the woman was carjacked in a driveway by a man believed to have been armed. The suspect was observed to have been wearing a ski mask and a black-hooded sweater, described as 20 to 30 years old.The woman was not physically injured, police said.The stolen vehicle is a grey BMW X5 with the Ontario licence plate CEND 796.CARJACKING:– Countryside Dr/Russell Creek Dr #Brampton– Woman carjacked in a driveway – Gun seen– Vehicle is grey BMW X5 *CEND796* If seen, call 9-1-1– Suspect: male, black, black ski mask, 20-30 yrs, black hooded sweater– No physical injuries– C/R 2:18 p.m.– PR23-0203892— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) June 23, 2023

Calls grow for Canada to accept more asylum claims for trans people from U.S., U.K.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:28:24 GMT

There is a push to change the practices of Canada’s asylum and refugee system in order to allow more transgender and non-binary people from the United States and the United Kingdom into the country.In recent months, lawmakers in many U.S. states and the U.K. have passed anti-trans laws or blocked access to gender-affirming care.Advocate Cait Glasson has started a House of Commons petition demanding more acceptance of asylum claims from Canada’s closest allies. As of Friday morning, it received more than 160,000 signatures.The e-petition is the third-largest ever to be presented to the House.“In the same way that we’re stepping up for people in Uganda, I absolutely think we need to be stepping up for people in the U.K. and the U.S., as their laws get worse,” Glasson explained.She tells CityNews that over the last seven years or so, there have been hundreds of asylum claims from trans and non-binary people coming from the U.S. However, Glasson says very f...

Military releases names of Air Force captains killed in Chinook helicopter crash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:28:24 GMT

OTTAWA — The military has released the names of the two Royal Canadian Air Force members who were killed in a helicopter crash in eastern Ontario on Tuesday. Capt. David Domagala and Capt. Marc Larouche were taking part in a nighttime training exercise near Garrison Petawawa when their Chinook helicopter crashed into the Ottawa River.Their families have allowed the military to share their names publicly.Larouche, 53, was originally from Quebec and joined the 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in 2019. Domagala, 32, was from Woodstock, Ont., and was posted to the squadron the same year.Two other crew members survived the crash, which is under investigation by the Air Force’s directorate of flight safety.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2023.The Canadian Press

Sikh Liberal MPs meet with public safety minister over Surrey, B.C., killing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:28:24 GMT

SURREY, B.C. — Member of Parliament Sukh Dhaliwal says the shooting death of a religious leader in the parking lot of a British Columbia temple has prompted a meeting with Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and members of the Sikh Liberal caucus.Dhaliwal, who represents the Metro Vancouver riding of Surrey-Newton where the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar took place, posted a statement on Twitter, saying Sikh members of the Liberal caucus met with the minister “regarding the tragic incident at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.”Dhaliwal says the caucus members were assured the federal government is working closely with law enforcement to solve the crime and protect the Sikh community and Canadians.Surrey homicide investigators say 45-year-old Nijjar was gunned down in his vehicle as he was leaving the temple parking lot on Sunday night and police are looking for two male suspects.Mendicino said on Twitter he is “disturbed” by the violence at the Surrey temple, sayi...

$100M year-round water park gives families more to do in Atlantic City

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:28:24 GMT

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — It was awful weather for the first full day of summer Thursday: rainy, cold and windy.But it was perfect for what Bart Blatstein is selling.The Philadelphia developer is about to open Island Waterpark, a $100 million indoor aquatic recreation facility designed to appeal to family tourism and give visitors something else to do besides gambling as Atlantic City seeks to become less dependent on the spin of the slot machine reels, the roll of the dice or the flip of the cards.It is an effort that Las Vegas has used with great success in recent decades as that city emphasized resort amenities, entertainment and most recently, professional sports, in addition to gambling.The Island Waterpark, which will formally open June 30, is another big bet on non-gambling entertainment in the seaside resort. In recent years, Atlantic City, its nine casinos and some non-gambling businesses have unveiled attractions including a giant Ferris wheel, high-end restaurants and sh...