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New US House speaker tried to help overturn the 2020 election, raising concerns about the next one

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:15:51 GMT

The new leader of one of the chambers of Congress that will certify the winner of next year’s presidential election helped spearhead the attempt to overturn the last one, raising alarms that Republicans could try to subvert the will of the voters if they remain in power despite safeguards enacted after the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.Mike Johnson, the Louisiana congressman who was elected speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday after a three-week standoff among Republicans, took the lead in filing a brief in a lawsuit that sought to overturn President Joe Biden’s 2020 win. That claim, widely panned by legal scholars of all ideologies, was quickly thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court.After the 2020 election, Johnson also echoed some of the wilder conspiracy theories pushed by former President Donald Trump to explain away his loss. Then Johnson voted against certifying Biden’s win even after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.Johnson’s role three...

At least 16 dead in Maine shooting as police hunt for 'person of interest' and residents shelter

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:15:51 GMT

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — A man opened fire at a bar and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people, wounding dozens of others and throwing the state's second-largest city into chaos as hundreds of police searched for a person of interest and residents were ordered to shelter in place.A police intelligence bulletin identified Robert Card, who was trained as a firearms instructor at a U.S. Army Reserve training facility in Maine, as the person of interest. The document, reviewed by The Associated Press and circulated to law enforcement officials, says Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks in the summer of 2023. It did not provide specific details about his treatment or condition.The document also said Card had reported hearing voices and had threatened to carry out a shooting at the military training base in Saco, Maine. A telephone number listed for Card in public records was not in service.Lewiston Police said in an earlier...

Canyon in Malibu closed after mountain lion tries to attack dog, injures hiker

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:15:51 GMT

Officials with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in Malibu announced the temporary closure of Solstice Canyon after a young mountain lion attempted to attack a small, leashed dog walking with its owner.  The encounter, according to officials, happened Wednesday morning. While intervening to protect his dog, the hiker suffered a puncture wound and a scratch on his hand. The dog was uninjured. "A scratch basically, just minor injuries," Seth Riley, the wildlife branch chief for the US National Park Service, told LAist. "He was able to grab the dog and keep the lion from capturing it." National Park Service rangers provided the hiker with first aid on the scene.  Out of an abundance of caution and because a second young mountain lion was spotted in the immediate area, officials closed the park until 8 a.m. Thursday while wildlife biologists examined the area and assessed the situation.  Solstice Canyon in Malibu. (National Park Service)“Mountain lions a...

San Jose Earthquakes lose in penalty kicks, eliminated from MLS playoffs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:15:51 GMT

In a do-or-die game with unique rules that incentivized teams to push forward and go for the win, the San Jose Earthquakes might have played a bit too cautiously in their first MLS playoff game since 2020.Playing against Sporting KC in the MLS Western Conference play-in game on Wednesday night in Kansas City, the Quakes failed to score a goal and ended up tied after 90 minutes.But there was no extra time to be played; the play-in games are designed to go straight to penalty kicks. And Sporting KC featured a goalie, Tim Melia, who entered the game with the highest PK save percentage (42%) in MLS history.The Quakes struggled to score from the spot as they lost to KC, 4-2, in penalty kicks to see their upstart season come to an end.“I like how we grew into the game,” said first-year coach Luchi Gonzalez. “If we were in extra time, I have no doubt we could’ve had a good effort to win it there if there were no PKs.”Having finished their season with four straight draws and only one win in...

Teen arrested after dolls tied in nooses found hanging at three Saratoga schools last year

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:15:51 GMT

SAN JOSE — A teenager suspected of hanging several dolls with nooses from the trees of multiple Saratoga schools last fall was arrested Wednesday on felony terrorism charges, authorities said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Arrest made in deadly weekend Oakley house party shooting Crime and Public Safety | One dead, one wounded in San Leandro business shooting Crime and Public Safety | Fremont hotel guests recount fatal shooting inside room, as police detail how investigation went from suicide to murder Crime and Public Safety | State lawmakers seek help from CHP for Antioch police department thinned by scandal Crime and Public Safety | San Jose police say food delivery driver forced himself into motel room before sexually assaulting a minor The teen was booked into Santa Clara County’s juvenile hall on three felony counts of terrorism by symbol, all connected to incidents in mid-No...

Pregnant woman, baby killed in San Jose hit-and-run crash

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:15:51 GMT

(KRON) -- A pregnant woman suffered fatal injuries when her car was struck by a stolen vehicle on Blossom Hill Road in San Jose, police said. Her baby was delivered through an emergency surgery and died Wednesday night, a family friend confirmed to KRON4. The deadly crash happened at 8:42 p.m. Tuesday. A stolen 2013 white Hyundai sedan collided with the woman's 2008 black Nissan sedan at the intersection of Winfield Boulevard and Blossom Hill Road.Two men bolted out of the stolen car immediately after the collision and fled the scene, according to San Jose Police Sgt. Jorge Garibay. Police are still looking for the hit-and-run driver. A Santa Clara County coroner identified the victim as April Marie Zoglauer, 21, of San Jose."The pregnant female driver was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries where she was subsequently pronounced deceased. Emergency surgery was initiated on (Zoglauer). Her child was successfully delivered but remains in critical condit...

Mavericks spoil Victor Wembanyama’s NBA debut, beat the Spurs 126-119 in the teams’ opener

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:15:51 GMT

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Luka Doncic had 33 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists and the Dallas Mavericks spoiled the NBA debut of No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama, beating the San Antonio Spurs 126-119 on Wednesday night.Dallas forced two turnovers in the final minute to preserve the victory. Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving added 22 points and Grant Williams added 17 points in the season opener for both teams.Devin Vassell had 23 points to lead San Antonio. Keldon Johnson added 17 and Wembanyama had 15 points.Wembanyama scored nine points in the final seven minutes after struggling with foul trouble in the fourth quarter. The rookie was 6 for 9 from the field and had five rebounds and two assists and a block in 23 minutes.Doncic was cleared to play an hour before tipoff after being listed as questionable with a left calf sprain, and the All-Star guard played 32 minutes.Wembanyama dazzled in the preseason, but he never battled foul trouble as he did against the Mavericks. And, Dallas took ad...

Dániel Sallói converts winning penalty kick as Sporting KC advances in MLS playoffs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:15:51 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Dániel Sallói converted the winning penalty kick and Sporting Kansas City advanced in the MLS playoffs after a scoreless draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night.Sporting KC (13-14-8) won 4-2 on penalty kicks. Next up is a best-of-three series with rival St. Louis beginning on Sunday.San Jose (10-11-14) did not advance for the sixth time in seven playoff appearances since winning the MLS Cup in 2003, including eliminations by Kansas City in 2004 and ’20.Sporting KC captain Johnny Russell converted the first penalty kick and goalkeeper Tim Melia denied San Jose midfielder Cristian Espinoza. Erik Thommy and Gadi Kinda also scored for Sporting.Melia has won all seven penalty shootouts in his professional career, including a 5-0 mark with Sporting KC.Kansas City has lost only one of its last 21 home matches against San Jose dating to August 2004, including advancing in four single-leg knockout ties in that time.San Jose reached the playoffs with six...

No. 1 pick Wembanyama scores 15 points in NBA debut as Spurs fall to Mavericks in opener

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:15:51 GMT

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Victor Wembanyama era is underway in San Antonio.Wembanyama made his NBA debut with the Spurs against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night and made an immediate splash.The No. 1 pick in the NBA draft blocked a shot in the opening minute of the game and misfired on a 3-point attempt from the top of the key. But the 19-year-old who stands nearly 7-foot-4 found his spot and s cored his first NBA points with a 3-pointer — again from near the top of the key — at the 8:25 mark of the first quarter. He added another 3-pointer from the right wing with under two minutes left in the opening quarter.That six points was all the scoring for Wembanyama in the first three quarters as he was slowed by foul trouble. But he provided a glimpse of his outstanding skill by scoring nine points in the fourth quarter and finished with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting (3 for 5 from long distance), with five rebounds, two assists and a block in more than 23 minutes in a 126-119 loss to...

Packers secondary suffers setbacks with Eric Stokes, Darnell Savage going on injured reserve

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:15:51 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes’ comeback from a foot issue that sidelined him for nearly a year lasted only four plays before he got knocked out for multiple weeks again.Stokes went back on injured reserve Wednesday after hurting his left hamstring three days earlier in a 19-17 loss at Denver. The 2021 first-round pick from Georgia was playing his first game since injuring his right knee and foot last November in a 15-9 loss at Detroit.He’s joined on injured reserve by safety Darnell Savage, the latest setbacks for a Packers secondary struggling with depth issues because its top players can’t stay healthy. Savage suffered a calf injury in the Broncos game.“In Denver, I was down the whole time and all that stuff,” said Stokes, who was on the field for only four special teams snaps. “But the moment we landed back here, it was time to man up and just go ahead and face reality. It is what it is. In Denver, I was like saying, ‘Why me? Why all this?’ and a...