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Things to do in the DC area: Unique trivia nights, a 2000s dance party … and more!

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:46:36 GMT

There’s much to do in the D.C. area in the coming days, and WTOP has you covered with our weekly roundup of area events worth anticipating.Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the D.C. area.Get your thinking caps ready because this Thursday is National Trivia Day. To celebrate the occasion, WTOP spoke with two organizations that have both been a part of the local trivia community for over a decade now.Pour House Trivia, which was founded around 2010, is one of the largest team-based trivia companies in the region. According to founder Denny Grizzle, the company hosts approximately 90 to 100 games per week, with about 70 to 80 of those located across the D.C. area.Grizzle said that his company has found “that sweet spot” that both entertains and challenges the public at the same time. Also, part of his approach is to veer away from trivia apps or technology.Instead, Grizzle said, “We stare at our cellphones so much during the day. I just think ...

Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club pits famous figures in bloody tournament across DC and Baltimore

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:46:36 GMT

Elvis Presley and Kittie Glitter host the "Elvis Birthday Fight Club." (Courtesy of Astro Pop Events) Elvis Presley and Kittie Glitter host the "Elvis Birthday Fight Club." (Courtesy of Astro Pop Events) Imagine famous pop-culture figures duking it out on stage in a “life-or-death” tournament bracket.That’s what the 13th annual Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club is all about. The evening of combat returns to GALA Hispanic Theatre in D.C. on Friday, Jan. 5, and Saturday, Jan. 6, followed by a run at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore on Jan. 12 and Jan. 13.“Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club is things and/or people that you’ve always wanted to see fight each other in big, fake, glorious fa...

Coastal Carolina visits Texas State for conference matchup

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:46:36 GMT

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (3-9, 0-1 Sun Belt) at Texas State Bobcats (6-7, 0-1 Sun Belt)San Marcos, Texas; Thursday, 8 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bobcats -9.5; over/under is 141.5BOTTOM LINE: Brandon Love and the Texas State Bobcats host John Ojiako and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in Sun Belt play.The Bobcats have gone 3-0 in home games. Texas State is fifth in the Sun Belt with 10.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Tyler Morgan averaging 3.0.The Chanticleers are 0-1 against conference opponents. Coastal Carolina is 1-1 in games decided by at least 10 points.Texas State scores 69.6 points per game, 9.2 fewer points than the 78.8 Coastal Carolina gives up. Coastal Carolina has shot at a 45.9% clip from the field this season, 3.1 percentage points greater than the 42.8% shooting opponents of Texas State have averaged.The Bobcats and Chanticleers face off Thursday for the first time in conference play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Dylan Dawson is shooting 29.2% from bey...

Youngblood leads South Florida against Temple after 26-point game

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:46:36 GMT

Temple Owls (7-6) at South Florida Bulls (7-4)Tampa, Florida; Thursday, 7 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bulls -5.5; over/under is 145.5BOTTOM LINE: South Florida hosts the Temple Owls after Chris Youngblood scored 26 points in South Florida’s 73-70 win against the Alabama State Hornets.The Bulls have gone 6-2 at home. South Florida averages 76.5 points while outscoring opponents by 6.7 points per game.The Owls are 2-1 on the road. Temple has a 2-1 record in games decided by less than 4 points.South Florida scores 76.5 points per game, 3.3 more points than the 73.2 Temple allows. Temple averages 8.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 7.3 per game South Florida gives up.The Bulls and Owls meet Thursday for the first time in conference play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Youngblood is averaging 14.7 points for the Bulls. Selton Miguel is averaging 13.9 points over the last 10 games for South Florida.Hysier Miller is scoring 17.6 points ...

EU and UK slam Israeli ministers’ call for ‘voluntary emigration’ from Gaza Strip

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:46:36 GMT

European governments hit out at statements from two far-right Israeli ministers calling for the resettlement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism Party, on Wednesday doubled down on a call for “voluntary emigration” from Gaza once the current Israel-Hamas war ends, despite criticism from the United States. And Itamar Ben-Gvir, national security minister and leader of the ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit party, this week issued a call “to encourage the migration of Gaza residents” as a “solution” to the humanitarian crisis.This “will allow us [Israel] to bring home the residents of the Outaf and the residents of Gush Katif,” he said, referring to former Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip.Josep Borrell, the EU’s top foreign policy official, condemned the calls to resettle Palestinians living in Gaza as “inflammatory and irresponsible” on Wednesday. “Forced displacements are strictly prohibited as a grave vio...

1 dead, 3 in hospital after early morning Dorchester crash, Morrissey Blvd. closed

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:46:36 GMT

An early morning crash on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester Thursday claimed the life of one person and sent three others to the hospital.Just before 3:30 a.m. authorities responded to the accident, in which a car rolled over on the street, which is closed in both directions. Boston and Massachusetts State Police were both present at the scene. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

MA state employee overtime in ‘fantasy world,’ $100K earners up 25%

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:46:36 GMT

First in a series on Your Tax Dollars at WorkThe ink is now dry on 2023, and the number of six-figure overtime earners in state government soared 25.4% in Gov. Maura Healey’s first year, a Herald payroll analysis shows.Related ArticlesLocal News | Your Tax Dollars at Work: 2023 top overtime earners [2,000+] That’s based on Comptroller data showing 276 state troopers, MBTA workers, nurses, prison guards, and a social worker all pocketed $100,000 or more in OT last year — a double-digit jump year-over-year.The total payroll for 2023 was $9.33 billion — a 4.2% increase.“No business in America can operate like this,” said Mass Fiscal’s Paul Craney. “That’s a huge jump. They seem to live in a fantasy world.”The big winners in the bonus pay line item were the $200,000-plus clock punchers, with a State Police lieutenant earning an arresting $430,796 — off $251,014 in overtime, records show. (His base pay was $171,9...

Airstrike in central Baghdad kills Iran-backed militia leader as regional tensions escalate

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:46:36 GMT

BAGHDAD (AP) — An airstrike on the logistical support headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad Thursday killed a high-ranking militia commander, militia officials said.Thursday’s strike comes amid mounting regional tensions fueled by Israel-Hamas war and fears that it could spill over into surrounding countries. The Popular Mobilization Force – a coalition of militias that is nominally under the control of the Iraqi military – announced in a statement that its deputy head of operations in Baghdad, Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, or “Abu Taqwa,” had been killed “as a result of brutal American aggression.”It was not immediately clear who had carried out the strike.Officials with the U.S. military and embassy in Baghdad did not immediately respond to requests for comment.The strike killed two people and wounded five, according to two militia officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.One of the officials said al...

Germany’s CO2 emissions are at their lowest in 7 decades, study shows

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:46:36 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Carbon dioxide emissions in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, dropped to their lowest level in seven decades as the use of coal declined unexpectedly sharply in 2023 and economic pressures weighed down production by energy-intensive industry, according to a study released Thursday.Germany aims to cut its emissions to net zero by 2045 and is working to ramp up the use of solar and wind power and other renewable sources. The Agora Energiewende think tank said its preliminary calculations show that Germany emitted 673 million metric tons of CO2 last year, a decline of 73 million metric tons compared with 2022 and the lowest level since the 1950s. The figure was 46% below the country’s emissions in 1990. On Tuesday, Germany’s Federal Network Agency said that renewable energy sources accounted for more than half of the country’s energy production in 2023. Renewables rose to 56% of energy production, from 47.4% in 2022. At the same time, electricity ...

Extreme cold leaves thousands without power in Nordic countries while floods again hit Germany

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:46:36 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Extremely cold temperatures compounded by gale-force winds and snow wreaked havoc across the Nordic region Thursday, leaving thousands without power while others braved the cold for hours stuck in their cars along clogged highways. In Germany, heavy rains again caused floods in regions that have seen persistent flooding in the last two weeks.The deep freeze disrupted transportation throughout the Nordic region amid reports of traffic chaos following closures of sections of highways and major roads. Problems with rail service have also been reported.Electricity was cut to some 4,000 homes in Arctic Sweden where temperatures plummeted to 38 degrees Celsius (minus 36.4 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Swedish public radio. In the southern part of the country, motorists were stuck in the cars or evacuated to a nearby sport complex where they spent the night. In neighboring Denmark, police urged motorists to avoid unnecessary trips as wind and snow battered th...