Federal officials order grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners after plane suffers a blowout

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:24:44 GMT

Federal officials order grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners after plane suffers a blowout Federal officials on Saturday ordered the immediate grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners until they are inspected after an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage.The required inspections take around four to eight hours per aircraft and affect about 171 airplanes worldwide. Alaska Airlines in a statement said that of the 65 737 Max 9 aircraft in its fleet, crews had inspected the paneled-over exits as part of recent maintenance work on 18 planes, and those were cleared to return to service Saturday. The inspection process for the remaining aircraft in the fleet was expected to be completed in the coming days, the company said.An Alaska Airlines jetliner blew out a portion of its fuselage shortly after takeoff 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) above Oregon late Friday, creating a gaping hole that forced the pilots to make an emergency landing as its 171 passengers and six crew members donned oxygen masks.No one was seriously hurt as...

New FAFSA and Dream Act applications launched

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:24:44 GMT

New FAFSA and Dream Act applications launched (BCN) -- The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid and California Dream Act Application are now available online for students seeking financial aid for college.Both financial aid forms, typically launched in October, were delayed while major revisions were made to the applications, according to the California Student Aid Commission. Man with cancer marries love of his life at Wilma Chan Highland Hospital The Federal Student Aid Office integrated tax data into the FAFSA form so most families will have prepopulated data on the form, making filing it more efficient. The formula to determine eligibility also has been updated to make more students eligible for aid, according to a news release from the California Student Aid Commission.The new FAFSA application is in a soft launch phase, so it may not always be available initially while the office continues to make technical updates to the site. If information is submitted during the soft launch, it will be saved.The Californ...

Jaguars QB Lawrence and WR Kirk are on track to start team’s regular-season finale at Titans

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:24:44 GMT

Jaguars QB Lawrence and WR Kirk are on track to start team’s regular-season finale at Titans Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and receiver Christian Kirk are on track to start Jacksonville’s regular-season finale at Tennessee on Sunday that will decide the AFC South champion.Lawrence flew with the team to Nashville on Saturday after practicing in a limited capacity the last three days, and Kirk was activated from injured reserve after missing the last four games following groin surgery.If the duo plays, the Jaguars (9-7) would have all 22 starters available for the first time since Week 11 against the Titans (5-11). Receiver Zay Jones (hamstring/knee) also has been cleared to return after missing the last two games.Lawrence sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder while diving for a first down on a fourth-and-1 play at Tampa Bay two weeks ago. He was unable to throw for days and sat out last week against Carolina, the first game he’s missed since Jacksonville drafted him first overall in 2021.C.J. Beathard made his first start in three years and helped the Jagu...

Wahl leads balanced attack as No. 21 Wisconsin trounces Nebraska 88-72

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:24:44 GMT

Wahl leads balanced attack as No. 21 Wisconsin trounces Nebraska 88-72 MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Tyler Wahl scored 17 points to lead five Wisconsin players in double figures and the 21st-ranked Badgers beat Nebraska 88-72 on Saturday to snap the Cornhuskers’ five-game winning streak.Wisconsin (11-3, 3-0 Big Ten) has won four straight and 10 of 11.Chucky Hepburn had 13 points, Connor Essegian scored 12 and AJ Storr and John Blackwell scored 10 each as the Badgers never trailed. Wisconsin shot 55% from the floor and went 13 of 26 from beyond the arc while posting its highest 3-point basket total of the season.Keisei Tominaga had 17 points, Rienk Mast scored 16 and Brice Williams scored 10 for Nebraska (12-3, 2-2). Williams was helped off the floor after appearing to hurt his ankle late in the second half.Wisconsin’s depth made a big difference. The Badgers had a 36-18 edge in bench scoring.Essegian led the bench production by making the most of an early opportunity and going 4 of 7 on 3-point attempts.After scoring 11.7 points per game as a freshman las...

15-year-old driver dead following Prince George’s Co. crash involving stolen vehicle

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:24:44 GMT

15-year-old driver dead following Prince George’s Co. crash involving stolen vehicle A teenage boy driving a stolen minivan in the wrong direction is dead after crashing with a pickup truck Friday in Clinton, Maryland.Shaun Shelton, 15, of Accokeek, was driving a Kia Sedona minivan in the wrong direction in the southbound lane of Piscataway Road when it collided head-on with a pickup truck near King Gallahan Court around 12:30 p.m., according to Prince George’s County police.Shelton was pronounced dead at the scene. A teenage passenger in the minivan was transported to a hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.The male driver of the pickup truck was also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.Prince George’s County police said the minivan driven by Shelton had been reported stolen earlier Friday from Charles County.Anyone with information is asked to contact the Prince George’s County police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit at 301-731-4422. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Solvers through its...

Michigan Republicans vote to remove chair Kristina Karamo as she promises not to accept result

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:24:44 GMT

Michigan Republicans vote to remove chair Kristina Karamo as she promises not to accept result LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Republicans have voted to remove state GOP Chairwoman Kristina Karamo during a meeting Saturday after many of the party’s leaders called for her resignation following a year of leadership plagued by debt and infighting.A large majority of those present voted to oust Karamo, said Bree Moeggenberg, District 2 State Committeewoman.Karamo did not attend the meeting and has made it clear she will not recognize the vote if removed, claiming the meeting was not official and had been illegally organized. The unfolding situation could set the stage for a court fight to determine control of the highest position within the Michigan GOP.The internal dispute takes place as Michigan Republicans look to rebound from 2022 midterms in which they suffered historic losses. The party is aiming this year to flip an open U.S. Senate seat while also helping the Republican presidential nominee win the battleground state.Michigan is among several swing states where parties ove...

Parker, Taylor score 15 each, NC State rolls past Virginia 76-60

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:24:44 GMT

Parker, Taylor score 15 each, NC State rolls past Virginia 76-60 RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Dennis Parker Jr. and Jayden Taylor scored 15 points each and North Carolina State defeated Virginia 76-60 on Saturday in the conference home opener for the Wolfpack.NC State, 3-0 in the ACC for the first time since the 2012-13 season, got 14 points, six rebounds and three assists from DJ Horne.The Wolfpack (11-3 overall) led 35-28 at halftime then opened the second half on an 11-4 run in which Parker scored four points and Horne hit a 3-pointer to give them a 46-32 lead at the first media timeout.The lead reached 21 when MJ Rice hit a 3-pointer and Michael O’Connell followed with a three-point play with 11:49 to go. The Cavaliers trailed 60-39 and were headed toward another blowout loss on the road. The Cavaliers are 2-4 away from home and 0-3 in true road games with 20-point losses to Wisconsin, Memphis and Notre Dame; and now 16 points in this one.Isaac McKneely had 18 points and Ryan Dunn scored 16 points to go with seven rebounds for the Cavaliers (11...

Residents across eastern US and New England hunker down as snow, ice, freezing rain approach

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:24:44 GMT

Residents across eastern US and New England hunker down as snow, ice, freezing rain approach BOSTON (AP) — Residents across the eastern U.S., particularly in New England, are gassing up snow blowers, dusting off shovels and gearing up for a wintry mix of precipitation as a potent storm system bringing snow, freezing rain and ice bears down on the region.The system was expected to track along the northeastern coastline throughout the weekend, with the heaviest snowfall expected in Pennsylvania, parts of the Hudson Valley and portions of New England. Winter storm warnings and watches were in effect throughout the Northeast.In Massachusetts and portions of Rhode Island, the National Weather Service declared a winter storm warning from 4 p.m. Saturday through 1 a.m. Monday, with snow accumulations of 6 inches (15.2 centimeters) up to a foot (30.4 centimeters) and winds gusting as high as 35 mph (56 kph).The weather service predicted similar levels of snow in portions of Maine and New Hampshire, with slightly less — 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 centimeters) — in areas of Vermont.B...

No. 11 Kansas State women top UCF 72-56 for ninth straight victory

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:24:44 GMT

No. 11 Kansas State women top UCF 72-56 for ninth straight victory ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Serena Sundell totaled a season-high 22 points to top 1,000 for her career, Jaelyn Glenn did not miss a shot and scored 16 and Kansas State cruised to a 72-56 victory over Central Florida on Saturday for its ninth victory in a row.Kansas State (15-1, 3-0 Big 12 Conference) has equaled its longest win streak under coach Jeff Mittie, tying the 2016-17 squad. The Wildcats have won 15 of their first 16 games for the fourth time in program history.Sundell, a junior, made 10 of 14 shots with two 3-pointers for K-State. She became the 45th Wildcat to reach the scoring mark, but she is the first to have at least 400 assists and 50 blocks to go along with it. Sundell, who needed eight points, reached the milestone on a jumper to open the second-half scoring. Glenn sank all seven of her shots with two 3-pointers, adding four steals.Ayoka Lee finished with 12 points and six rebounds for the Wildcats. She is 23 points shy of becoming the third active player to score 2,000 p...

Cryer scores 20, No. 3 Houston stays unbeaten with 89-55 win over West Virginia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:24:44 GMT

Cryer scores 20, No. 3 Houston stays unbeaten with 89-55 win over West Virginia HOUSTON (AP) — L.J. Cryer scored 20 points, Damian Dunn added 14 points and No. 3 Houston improved to 14-0 with an 89-55 win over West Virginia in the Cougars’ inaugural Big 12 contest on Saturday.Cryer scored 16 points in the first half on 6-of-7 shooting, including four 3-pointers, as Houston shot 58% as a team and took a 48-22 lead into halftime. Cryer has scored at least 20 points in five games this season.Ja’Vier Francis had 13 points and five rebounds, and Jamal Shead had eight points and 11 assists for Houston, which shot 53% overall, including 9 of 18 on 3-pointers.Houston extended its home winning streak to 14 games. The Cougars improved to 14-0 for the third time in school history, joining the 1967-68 and 2018-19 teams.The Cougars forced 12 turnovers and turned them into 14 points. Houston also had a 48-20 advantage in points in the paint.Patrick Suemnick had 12 points and five rebounds, and Noah Farrakhan added nine points for West Virginia (5-9, 0-1 Big 12). The Mountain...