Robinson scores 23 points, Heat top Hornets 115-104 to finish off home-and-home sweep

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:14:43 GMT

Robinson scores 23 points, Heat top Hornets 115-104 to finish off home-and-home sweep MIAMI (AP) — Sweeping a two-game set hasn’t been easy for the Miami Heat, and changing that was on coach Erik Spoelstra’s mind Wednesday night.His team responded.Duncan Robinson scored 23 points, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kyle Lowry each added 17 and the Miami Heat beat the Charlotte Hornets 115-104 — finishing off a two-game home-and-home series that started on Monday.“We haven’t been able to do it this year and, you know, not many teams have been able to do that,” Spoelstra said, noting that Miami had gone 1-1 in its other two-game series opportunities this season. “It’s a small thing. It’s not everything. But it’s something.”Lowry was perfect shooting — 5 for 5 from the floor, 4 for 4 of those on 3-pointers and 3 for 3 from the line. Jimmy Butler had 15 points and 10 assists, and Jamal Cain added 14 points for the Heat. Thomas Bryant finished with 11.Robinson made six 3-pointers, tying his season-best. The Heat are 8-1 when he makes at least four 3-...

‘Family Plan’ stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan talk about making new action comedy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:14:43 GMT

‘Family Plan’ stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan talk about making new action comedy Sometimes Lynn secretly eats bean burritos in her car. Pretty much everybody has secrets, but they’re usually not the “double life, need a new identity” kind. (I like eating in my car, too.) Those stories are saved for the big screen. Deco’s suiting up for action with the cast of “The Family Plan.”Michelle Monaghan (as Jessica Morgan): “Dan, my husband. He’s an amazing dad.”Mark Wahlberg (as Dan Morgan): “You’re almost ready to go a size 4S, huh? Ah, you’re so big. Look at the big muscles.”Michelle Monaghan (as Jessica Morgan): “I just wish our lives were … bigger.”Be careful what you wish for.Mark Wahlberg (as Dan Morgan): “I need new identities, I’m burnt. Me and my wife and three kids.”Saïd Taghmaoui (as Augie): “Have you told them yet?”Mark Wahlberg (as Dan Morgan): “I’ll tell them when I’m on the road. Meet me in Vegas in three days....

Firefighters remove boa constrictor that was threatening peacocks in Palmetto Bay

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:14:43 GMT

Firefighters remove boa constrictor that was threatening peacocks in Palmetto Bay PALMETTO BAY, Fla. (WSVN) — Firefighters made a reptile roundup in Palmetto Bay.Residents on Wednesday found what they thought was a large python threatening a group of peacocks in the middle of a road near Southwest 71st Avenue and 148th Terrace.Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Venom Response Team said it was actually a dangerous boa constrictor.Crews carefully grabbed the snake’s head before they put the reptile in a tarp.The boa will be handed over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Jack Hughes scores in OT to give the Devils a 2-1 win over the Bruins

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:14:43 GMT

Jack Hughes scores in OT to give the Devils a 2-1 win over the Bruins EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Jack Hughes scored with 2:13 to play in overtime and the New Jersey Devils rallied to beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Wednesday night despite an outstanding 34-save effort by Jeremy Swayman.Dawson Mercer tied the game in the third period and Vitek Vanecek made 23 saves as the Devils won for the seventh time in nine games. Jesper Bratt extended his scoring streak to six games with the assist on the game winner.Morgan Geekie scored for the Bruins, who are now 13-1-3 when leading after two periods. The Bruins have won four of their last six.Bratt found Hughes in the left circle for the game winner after Swayman had stopped him three times earlier in the overtime period.Mercer tied the game 1-all early in the third period, batting a rebound of Erik Haula’s shot that hit off the goalpost out of the air and past Swayman, who had 34 saves.Geekie had given Bruins a 1-0 lead at 16:51 of the first period after Boston had a hard-working shift deep in ...

Two San Diego universities face discrimination investigations

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:14:43 GMT

Two San Diego universities face discrimination investigations SAN DIEGO -- Two San Diego schools this year are under investigation for alleged shared ancestry violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), education officials said.University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and San Diego State University (SDSU) were among several schools being investigated, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) said on its website.The list of K-12 schools and institutions of higher education has gained attention as the Biden-Harris Administration addresses the nationwide rise in reports of antisemitism, anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and other forms of discrimination and harassment on college campuses and in K-12 schools since the Oct. 7 Mideast conflict.Title VI prohibits race, color, or national origin discrimination, including harassment based on a person’s shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, per the DOE.On Monday, the OCR opened an investigation on UCSD in La Jolla, who responded to FOX 5 with this statement:"We have been inform...

Colombian congressional panel sets probe into president over alleged campaign finance misdeeds

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:14:43 GMT

Colombian congressional panel sets probe into president over alleged campaign finance misdeeds BOGOTA.Colombia (AP) — A Colombian congressional committee on Wednesday ordered a preliminary investigation into President Gustavo Petro over allegations of crimes in the financing of his election campaign.The Commission of Investigation and Accusation, which has judicial functions in dealing with complaints against the president, said it ordered the probe after analyzing information provided by prosecutors following revelations of alleged irregular campaign contributions involving Petro’s son.Colombia’s presidents have immunity from being investigated by the prosecutor’s office.Prosecutors initially charged Petro’s son, Nicolás Petro, with receiving unjustified money — cash that was not from his earnings as a deputy from Atlántico. During their invesigation, prosecutors say, they found that a portion of those irregular funds allegedly went to his father’s 2022 presidential campaign.The son at first pledged to cooperate in the investigation but then backed ou...

Mayor Brandon Johnson faces rising pressure to address migrant crisis following failed Brighton Park site

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:14:43 GMT

Mayor Brandon Johnson faces rising pressure to address migrant crisis following failed Brighton Park site CHICAGO — Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Mayor Brandon Johnson fielded several questions regarding the ongoing migrant crisis."We have a real irresponsible, inhumane practice that's coming from the border," Johnson said. "And what I've said from the beginning, we have to create some structure and order and calm in this crisis, and my leadership has done just that."But after the plans for a migrant tent camp at 38th and California failed, there were still concerns about how much that work would cost taxpayers.When asked about nearly one million dollars spent on the Brighton Park site, Mayor Johnson said that money was used to clean up the site."Remediation, remediation that was needed, the work force, all of that, the contracts to remediate and the workforce," Johnson said.But there was confusion over who will foot the bill for a $29 million contract with a company called GardaWorld to construct and run the migrant shelter. City Council rejects ruling on police discipline, approv...

Kid Rock says he's done boycotting Bud Light: 'I think they got the message'

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:14:43 GMT

Kid Rock says he's done boycotting Bud Light: 'I think they got the message' TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- Kid Rock told Tucker Carlson in a recent interview that he was done boycotting Bud Light and said the company has learned its lesson. "They deserved a black eye, and they got one," Rock told Carlson. "Do I want to hold their head under water and drown them because they made a mistake? No, I think they got the message."Bud Light faced backlash over a brief partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney earlier this year. Mulvaney in April shared a sponsored post to her Instagram page promoting Bud Light’s annual March Madness sweepstakes. Kid Rock spotted apparently drinking Bud Light after calling for boycott Some right-wing celebrities, media personalities and politicians responded to Mulvaney’s post by uploading videos of themselves destroying cases of Bud Light to social media and calling for a nationwide boycott of the beer.Rock, who had also called for a boycott, said in his recent interview with Carlson that the punishment Anheuser-Busch has re...

Should some books be removed from school libraries? LTISD parents weigh in

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:14:43 GMT

Should some books be removed from school libraries? LTISD parents weigh in AUSTIN (KXAN) — Students and parents spent Wednesday night sharing their thoughts on banning and removing books in Lake Travis ISD."Books do not hurt impressionable minds," said Lake Travis High School student Carter Davis as he spoke to the school board.During a November school board meeting the district discussed new library policies and the removal of some books."The board did vote to remove several books from the shelves and also move one book from the middle to the high school so they have effectively banned these books by removing access to students," said LTISD parent Anna Lindsey, who also spoke at Wednesdays meeting.Lindsey was one of many parents that spoke out about banning or removing books from LTISD libraries."We are also seeing a new library policy being proposed that may make it easier to challenge books and get them off of shelves," Lindsey said. How new Texas law restricting some books stacks up nationwide Jennifer Fleck was also at Wednesday's meeting, her ...

Williamson County celebrates $1M light project, looks ahead to park changes

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:14:43 GMT

Williamson County celebrates $1M light project, looks ahead to park changes LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Local leaders and community members celebrated the completion of $1.1 million in lighting improvements at the Southwest Williamson County Regional Park Tuesday evening.Williamson County Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey greeted the crowd of city and county leaders, as well as the families of youth athletes that play at the park's sports facilities.She said the lighting project upgraded lights at the park's football, softball, soccer fields, and tennis and basketball courts to LED lights.She said the switch to LED lights will provide less light pollution and allow the county to save money to run the lights."We were able to replace 320 fixtures with only 196 fixtures and in doing so, save on electricity, save on energy which will cost the taxpayers less," Covey said.Williamson County said the $1.1 million used for the lighting project came from its Capital Improvement Fund.Williamson County voters approve $59 million in park improvementsThis is just the lat...