Wirtz’s wizardry puts Leverkusen back on top of Bundesliga. Brandt rescues a 3-3 draw for Dortmund

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:39:41 GMT

Wirtz’s wizardry puts Leverkusen back on top of Bundesliga. Brandt rescues a 3-3 draw for Dortmund LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Florian Wirtz scored one goal and set up another with dazzling dribbles as Bayer Leverkusen reclaimed the lead of the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win over Freiburg on Sunday, while Borussia Dortmund dropped points in a 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt.Leverkusen, coached by Xabi Alonso, restored its two-point lead over Bayern Munich at the top and made it eight consecutive wins in all competitions.Wirtz picked up the ball on the right flank and cut inside, jinking left and right to beat Nicolas Höfler and leaving the Freiburg player sprawled on the ground, before shifting the ball to his left foot and scoring with a shot fired through a crowd of defenders.For the second goal, he surged down the left flank and took on two defenders, losing the ball then winning it back to set up Jonas Hofmann, whose low shot bounced off the post and went in off goalkeeper Noah Atabolu’s back.Leverkusen’s pace caused Freiburg problems on the counterattack and Wirtz near...

Heinicke replaces Desmond Ridder at QB for Falcons after concussion evaluation

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:39:41 GMT

Heinicke replaces Desmond Ridder at QB for Falcons after concussion evaluation NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Taylor Heinicke replaced Desmond Ridder for the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter Sunday against the Tennessee Titans after the starting quarterback was evaluated for a concussion. Ridder was sacked five times in the first half, including twice by Titans two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons who stripped him of the ball once to set up a touchdown. Ridder was 8 of 12 for 72 yards passing as Atlanta trailed 14-3 at halftime. Heinicke was 1 of 2 for 7 yards on his opening drive and helped set up a 49-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo to pull Atlanta within 14-6. Heinicke stayed in the game for the Falcons’ second drive of the third quarter even after Ridder had been announced as having been cleared. Ridder watched from the sideline wearing a ballcap. ___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLSource

Jackson State kicker Armenta becomes 1st woman to score in HBCU game, kicks 3 extra points in win

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:39:41 GMT

Jackson State kicker Armenta becomes 1st woman to score in HBCU game, kicks 3 extra points in win PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AP) — Leilani Armenta became the first woman to score in a football game matching historically Black colleges and universities when she kicked three extra points in Jackson State’s 40-14 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday.Armenta was 3 for 3 on point-after kicks, with one in the second quarter and two in the fourth. The 5-foot-7 freshman from Ventura, California, made her first appearance Sept. 23 when she kicked off against Bethune-Cookman. She’s also a soccer player for Jackson State.In 2003, Katie Hnida of New Mexico became the first woman to score in a Division I game when she kicked two extra points against Texas State. In 2020, Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller’s two extra points against Tennessee made her the first woman to score in a Power Five game.Jacobian Morgan threw for five scores — three to DJ Stevens — as Jackson State controlled the game from the outset against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.Morgan, a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech who recently became...

Tua Tagovailoa throws for 3 TDs, Jalen Ramsey shines in debut for Dolphins, who beat Patriots 31-17

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:39:41 GMT

Tua Tagovailoa throws for 3 TDs, Jalen Ramsey shines in debut for Dolphins, who beat Patriots 31-17 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns, Jalen Ramsey intercepted a pass in his Dolphins debut, and Miami beat the New England Patriots 31-17 on Sunday.Miami won for the 16th time in its past 18 home games, and Tagovailoa moved to 6-0 in his career against Patriots coach Bill Belichick. The Dolphins, 6-2 for the first time since 2001, have a one-game lead over Buffalo for the AFC East lead.Tagovailoa completed 30 of 45 passes and moved his league-leading yardage total to 2,416. Jaylen Waddle had seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, and Tyreek Hill had eight receptions for 112 yards and a score, becoming the first player in the Super Bowl era to top 1,000 receiving yards through eight games.Mac Jones had another uneven day for the Patriots (2-6), throwing for 161 yards on 19-of-29 passing with two touchdowns and one interception.The Patriots trailed 24-10 midway through the fourth quarter when they drove inside the Miami 3 and scored...

‘Friends’ creators, actors, family mourn Matthew Perry: ‘The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken’

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:39:41 GMT

‘Friends’ creators, actors, family mourn Matthew Perry: ‘The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken’ (AP) — Matthew Perry was widely mourned this weekend by friends, co-stars and some very famous fans, including his childhood classmate, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; his “Friends” mom Morgan Fairchild; and even Adele.Perry, who played Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” for 10 seasons, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday. He was 54.“This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken,” “Friends” co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, along with executive producer Kevin Bright, said in a joint statement Sunday.“We are shocked and deeply, deeply saddened by our beloved friend Matthew’s passing,” Kauffman, Crane and Bright wrote. “We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment – not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.”Perry’s family also gave a statement to People Magazi...

Shooting kills 2 and injures 18 victims in Tampa street with hundreds of people nearby

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:39:41 GMT

Shooting kills 2 and injures 18 victims in Tampa street with hundreds of people nearby TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A fight between two groups turned deadly in Florida when a shooting in a Tampa street during Halloween festivities resulted in two deaths and 18 people hospitalized early Sunday morning, police said. One suspect is in custody and at least one more is being sought.At least two shooters opened fire just before 3 a.m. on the 1600 block of East 7th Avenue in the Ybor City area, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said during a press conference at the scene.The fight occurred in an area with several bars and clubs, and there were large numbers of late night revelers in the area at the time, Bercaw said. Police were not immediately sure if the people involved in the fight were inside any of the bars before the shooting.Tampa police spokeswoman Jonee Lewis said “hundreds” of people were out on the streets as numerous nightspots closed early Sunday. She said one person was detained but no charges were immediately filed. “They’re being questioned and we’ll go from there,” Lewis ...

Group of juveniles shout antisemitic slur near Parkland synagogue

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:39:41 GMT

Group of juveniles shout antisemitic slur near Parkland synagogue Broward Sheriff’s Office officials responded to a call reporting an antisemitic incident at a Parkland synagogue. Parkland District deputies received a disturbance call from witnesses at the Kol Tivah synagogue on Saturday afternoon stating that five juveniles wearing face coverings on bicycles rode by the Kol Tivah synagogue screaming “Death to Jews.”BSO deputies canvassed the area, but the subjects were not located. Kol Tivah’s president released a statement that reads in part: “On the afternoon of October 28, approximately 3-5 individuals believed to be teenagers shouted “Death to Jews” as they rode by the synagogue on bicycles. A small handful of our congregants were subjected to obscenities. These individuals never stopped their bicycles or set foot on our property. The incident lasted less than 20 seconds in total. At this point, we do not know who these individuals are.”Officials continue their investigation.

The Week… of Dominic Cummings’ return

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:39:41 GMT

The Week… of Dominic Cummings’ return Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Sky News On this episode, they look at where the UK’s response to the war in Gaza may go next, as more senior Labour figures call for a ceasefire between the two sides.Plus, Dominic Cummings returns to Whitehall this week, as he gives evidence to the COVID Inquiry. Jack and Sam take you through what Boris Johnson’s former adviser might say.And what exactly is Rishi Sunak trying to achieve with his much-heralded AI summit? POLITICO’s senior technology correspondent Vincent Manancourt joins Jack and Sam to discuss.Email with your thoughts and rate how their predictions play out:&nb...

Residents of Maine gather to pray and reflect, days after mass shooting left 18 people dead

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:39:41 GMT

Residents of Maine gather to pray and reflect, days after mass shooting left 18 people dead LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Church bells rang Sunday as Maine residents gathered at somber and sometimes joyful services to pray and support one another following a traumatic week in which a fellow Mainer gunned down 18 people in the worst mass killing in state history.The Rev. Daniel Greenleaf began services at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston with a moment of silence. Then, he told the congregation that it was good to be able to finally pray together after days of lockdown imposed while police searched for the 40-year-old gunman Robert Card.The body of Card was found Friday in a trailer at a recycling center in Lisbon Falls. Card died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, but it was unclear when, authorities said. Card is suspected of also injuring 13 people during the shooting rampage on Wednesday night in Lewiston.Several women wore black veils in the cavernous sanctuary, where a church official said they are raising funds to...

Hurricane Otis death toll climbs to 43 in Mexico

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:39:41 GMT

Hurricane Otis death toll climbs to 43 in Mexico (CNN) — At least 43 people have died after powerful Hurricane Otis tore through southern Mexico’s Guerrero state as a devastating Category 5 storm last week, the region’s governor said Sunday.The deceased victims include 33 men and 10 women, Gov. Evelyn Salgado Pineda said in a Facebook post.Shortly after midnight Wednesday, the record-breaking storm brought sustained winds of 165 mph ashore near Acapulco, leaving the popular southern Mexico tourist destination in ruins.Salgado Pineda’s statement said 340 people have been rescued by Mexican authorities.The hurricane impacted 220,035 homes and 80% of the area’s hotels were damaged, according to the Mexican government’s preliminary damage assessment.The health sector reported ground-floor flooding at one hospital, and electromechanical equipment and the medicinal gas supply were affected at another hospital, authorities said in a statement Saturday.Falling trees and landslides triggered by Otis resulted i...