UConn a step from Final Four after 88-65 blowout of Arkansas

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:16:05 GMT

UConn a step from Final Four after 88-65 blowout of Arkansas LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jordan Hawkins scored 24 points for UConn and the Huskies are one step away from the Final Four after an 88-65 rout of Arkansas in a West Region Sweet 16 matchup Thursday.The fourth-seeded Huskies (28-8) will play the winner of UCLA or Gonzaga in an Elite Eight game Saturday in Las Vegas. Arkansas’ season ended at 22-14.UConn played like a team capable of winning its fifth NCAA Tournament title and first since 2014. The Huskies have outscored their three March Madness opponents by 62 points.They won their first two games by outscoring Iona and Saint Mary’s by a combined 86-49 in the second half. UConn surged early against Arkansas with a 14-point run and took a 46-29 lead into halftime. The Huskies never trailed and led by as many as 29 points when they went up 62-33. Arkansas answered with a 10-point run in just 27 seconds, but the outcome was never in doubt.UConn, which has won nine of its past 10 games, shot 57.4% compared to 31.7% for Arkansas. The H...

Argentina beats Panama in 1st match after World Cup title

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:16:05 GMT

Argentina beats Panama in 1st match after World Cup title BUENOS AIRES (AP) — The 83,000 screaming fans were not disappointed in Lionel Messi and his Argentina team’s first international match since lifting the World Cup title last December.Messi’s Argentina beat Panama 2-0 with two late goals Thursday night at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires, in the first of two matches for the team to celebrate its triumph in Qatar.Thiago Almada opened the scoring in the 78th minute, pushing the ball into an empty net after a free kick taken by Messi hit the post. Eleven minutes later, the Argentine great netted the second with another free kick to the delight of the capacity crowd.“I always dreamed of this moment, celebrating with you,” an emotional Messi said after the match, standing with his family on the pitch. He lifted the World Cup trophy once more in front of his fans and took a slow victory lap with his teammates, who carried miniatures of the same trophy, as fireworks erupted over the stadium.It was Messi’s 80...

Okoro’s 3-pointer sends Cavaliers past Nets 116-114

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:16:05 GMT

Okoro’s 3-pointer sends Cavaliers past Nets 116-114 NEW YORK (AP) — Isaac Okoro hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 0.7 seconds remaining and finished with 11 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Brooklyn Nets 116-114 Thursday night.Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, Evan Mobley had 26 points and 16 rebounds and Jarrett Allen finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds against his former team. Cleveland won for the eighth time in 10 games.Mikal Bridges scored 32 points, Spencer Dinwiddie had 25 points and 12 assists and Joe Harris hit five 3-pointers and finished with 15 points as the Nets lost their fifth straight game.Cleveland trailed 112-104 with 2:13 left before closing the game on a 12-2 run. Trailing by one, Mitchell missed the a second free throw that would’ve tied the game. But the ball bounced to Okoro in the corner, who drained the 3-pointer to give Cleveland the lead.A heave from half court by Bridges at the buzzer fell short.Bridges secured his eighth 30-plus point game as a member of the Nets through three quarters. ...

TikTok ban on city worker phones comes into effect

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:16:05 GMT

TikTok ban on city worker phones comes into effect The City of Kingston is following the lead of the federal and provincial governments and banning TikTok on employees’ work devices. The City’s Chief Information Officer, Jeff Bumstead, says there was already some discussion of a ban and the Canadian government’s decision helped move that along. “We had been having some internal discussions prior to the announcement from the feds about the risks and the possible restrictions on usage,” Bumstead said.“That was really just kind of the final incident that put us over to make the decision.”The removal was implemented as of March 20th and is still underway.The federal government brought the ban in over security and intelligence concerns from the China based app, and Bumstead said the same concerns were at the centre of discussions within the city.Bumstead says while he can’t speak much to city employee’s feelings around the app, in some conversations he’s had people are definitel...

Domestic violence suspect running away from police killed after being hit by truck

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:16:05 GMT

Domestic violence suspect running away from police killed after being hit by truck GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) -- A 31-year-old man accused of assaulting his partner was hit and killed by a commercial truck while evading police, the Greeley Police Department said in a release. Police responded to a disturbance call in the 5500 block of 29th Street just after midnight Wednesday. The caller told police a man was "punching and kicking" a woman then got multiple knives and continued to assault her, the release said. Colorado’s violent, motor vehicle crimes are concentrated in these counties Before first responders got there, the suspect took off in his car, and officers in the area began a search for the vehicle. The suspect and car were spotted shortly after driving back to the scene, according to GPD.When officers tried to stop the vehicle, the suspect took off and police pursued him until he hit a dead-end, police said. He got out of the car and ran off. He jumped a fence a tried to cross Highway 34 when a large commercial truck struck him, the department said. The sus...

Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula reach Miami Open 3rd round

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:16:05 GMT

Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula reach Miami Open 3rd round MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Sixth-seeded Coco Gauff opened her 2023 Miami Open with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Rebecca Marino on Thursday and advanced to the third round where she will face 27th-seeded Anastasia Potapova.After her victory, Gauff, coming off a quarterfinals appearance at Indian Wells, said in a television interview that it wasn’t her best outing, despite converting five of her nine break points.“It was a shaky performances honestly,” Gauff said. “I knew it wasn’t going to be a straight forward match, even if I was up a break sometimes.”Gauff came back from a break down twice in the second set to claim her second career win versus Marino. Gauff defeated Marino in the first round at Roland Garros in 2022.Gauff said she was a bit nervous playing in her hometown — she’s a native of Delray Beach, Florida, a small city about 40 miles north of Hard Rock Stadium, where the tournament is played. Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat was among those in attendance Thursday.“Ji...

Brothers skip Pride jerseys; Panthers lose to Maple Leafs 6-2

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:16:05 GMT

Brothers skip Pride jerseys; Panthers lose to Maple Leafs 6-2 SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Brothers Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers declined to wear special Pride-themed warmup jerseys ahead of the team’s 6-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.The jerseys were part of Florida’s Pride night game in support of the area’s LGBTQ community, and the brothers cited their religion as the reason for the decision.“We carry no judgement on how people choose to live their lives, and believe that all people should be welcome in all aspects of the game of hockey,” the Staal brothers said in a statement. “Having said that, we feel that by us wearing a Pride jersey it goes against our Christian beliefs.”After the loss, Eric Staal said he wanted to stick with the brothers’ statement and “try my best to move forward.” Marc Staal was not made available to the media.While the Staal brothers declined to participate, Russian goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was one of the Panthers who went ahead with the Pride-themed jerseys.The Chicago Blackhaw...

Historic building in downtown Miami evacuated after being deemed unsafe

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:16:05 GMT

Historic building in downtown Miami evacuated after being deemed unsafe Fire officials ordered an emergency evacuation after a building in downtown Miami was deemed unsafe.Offices were cleared out on Thursday at the historic Huntington Building, located along the 100 block of Southeast First Street.The order was given after a fire inspection revealed illegal remodeling compromised emergency escape routes.Management for the 13-floor building is working with city officials to determine the necessary repairs before people can safely return to the structure.

Meet Rachel Reeves — Britain’s next chancellor?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:16:05 GMT

Meet Rachel Reeves — Britain’s next chancellor? Listen on Spotify Apple Music Google Play EN_Google_Podcasts_Badge Created with Sketch. Stitcher .st0{fill:#EB8A23;} .st1{fill:#FAC617;} .st2{fill:#612368;} .st3{fill:#3792C4;} .st4{fill:#C33727;} Acast Westminster Insider profiles the woman who could be running Britain alongside Keir Starmer in a year’s time. Host Ailbhe Rea sits down with Labour Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves to explore her backgr...

Rachel Reeves: ‘I’m sure I have’ kissed a Tory

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:16:05 GMT

Rachel Reeves: ‘I’m sure I have’ kissed a Tory LONDON — Rachel Reeves is “sure” she has kissed a Tory and says she would encourage others to be less “tribal, in politics and in life.”The shadow chancellor joins the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, in dismissing the “never kissed a Tory” badge of honor favoured by some of her more left-wing Labour colleagues. “I’m sure I have,” she tells a new episode of POLITICO’s Westminster Insider podcast. “Unlike maybe some of my colleagues I don’t go around voter ID-ing people.”The debate was rekindled last year when Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell wore a T-shirt emblazoned with “never kissed a Tory” to a Pride event in Manchester. The slogan was popular in some Labour circles, particularly during the leadership of the left-winger Jeremy Corbyn, but is seen by the more centrist Starmer and Reeves as alienating crucial swing voters.“I don’t think we need to be quite so tribal in politics and in life,” Reeves says of the phrase. “It’s good to be challenged p...