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Ask Amy: Annual charity column shows ways to give

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:56 GMT

Dear Readers: As I offer my 20th annual year-end “charity roundup,” I’d like to remind readers that while charity truly does begin at home, it need not stay there.Those who can afford to share their material wealth should give abundantly, donating locally to the local library, after-school program, hospice center, arts organizations, historical society and animal shelter.Acts of kindness and compassion are always worth their weight in gold: Shoveling a walk for a neighbor, writing a letter to an elder and volunteering at the local food bank are all ways to express your generosity.All of the organizations I recommend have the highest rating by Charity Navigator, a trusted source. Always do your own research before donating, and choose organizations that align with your own values.Supplying shelter:Habitat for Humanity: In 2023 Habitat for Humanity helped 13.4 million people build or improve a place to call home. You can honor the humanitarian generosity of President Jimmy Carter and ...

What We’re Reading

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:56 GMT

Nonfiction“The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance,” Rebecca ClarrenThat Rebecca Clarren’s Jewish ancestors escaped antisemitic persecution in Russia, received free land from the U.S. government at the turn of the 20th century, and settled in South Dakota is a foundational part of her family lore. What went unquestioned over the years is whether they had any right to that land in the first place. In this timely and unflinching book, Clarren investigates how her family benefited from genocidal U.S. policies against the Lakota and other Indigenous peoples. Crucially, as a beneficiary of stolen land, Clarren also consults with her rabbi and Indigenous elders about how to begin to repair those harms. That yearslong process resulted in, among other things, a reparations project to help “return Indian lands in the Black Hills (He Sapa) to Indian ownership and control.” As Israel rains bombs on Gaza, it’s hard to read this book and...

Los lugares que no podrás visitar en 2024

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:56 GMT

(CNN) — Este año se trató de recuperar el tiempo perdido. Después de la pandemia, los visitantes inundaron las ciudades más grandes de Europa y los parques nacionales de Estados Unidos como una forma de “ viaje de venganza ”, yendo o regresando a algunos de los destinos que habían sido inaccesibles durante la pandemia de Covid-19.Sin embargo, el mundo ha cambiado mucho desde el inicio de la pandemia. Muchas empresas cerraron cuando la gente pasó a trabajar de forma remota y no todas las atracciones turísticas sobrevivieron ilesas a ese período.Ya sea que cierre permanente o temporalmente, aquí hay una lista de lugares que no podrá visitar en 2024.Centro Pompidou, ParísAunque el museo de París por dentro y por fuera todavía parece sorprendentemente moderno, el Centro Pompidou se encuentra en realidad en su sexta década. Después de los Juegos Olímpicos de verano en la capital de Francia este verano, el Pompidou se tomará un descanso para someterse a un programa de modernización ...

Analysis: Kansas City Chiefs still in AFC West driver’s seat despite so many blunders, butterfingers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:56 GMT

The AFC West title was ripe to get wrested from the Kansas City Chiefs this season, yet their division rivals dug themselves into big holes once again.There’s still a mathematical chance the Raiders (7-8) or Broncos (7-8) could catch the Chiefs (9-6) following Las Vegas’ 20-14 win at Arrowhead on Christmas Day, but a lot would have to line up for one of them to unseat K.C.The defending but teetering Super Bowl champions have owned the division since 2016, when Patrick Mahomes was still slinging it in Lubbock, Texas, and few Swifties knew who Travis Kelce was unless they also happened to be fans of the star tight end’s reality dating show “Catching Kelce.”If the Chiefs hold on to claim their eighth consecutive division crown, they’ll nonetheless head into the playoffs with more question marks than they’ve had since Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018 after serving a year as Alex Smith’s apprentice. The Chiefs can no longer earn the No...

Top matchups in Pac-12 highlight the week ahead in women’s basketball

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:56 GMT

After a relatively quiet December between exams and the holidays, it’s time for women’s basketball to start heating up with the beginning of conference play. The Pac-12 has been dominant in non-conference play and boasts five of the top 12 teams in the country led by No. 2 UCLA and sixth-ranked USC. The two Los Angeles schools are both in the top 10 this season for the first time since 1981. They’ll meet on Saturday.The Bruins won both matchups last season by a combined four points and the Trojans didn’t have star freshman JuJu Watkins. She’s averaging 26.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists so far this season.UCLA has had a potent inside-outside game with transfer Lauren Betts dominating the interior. She’s averaging 16.9 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting 77.1% from the field. Kiki Rice and Charisma Osborne have been providing the offense from the outside.The Los Angeles rivalry isn’t the only big matchup in the Pac-12 on Saturday. E...

Analysis: Christmas was rough on Super Bowl contenders except for the Ravens

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:56 GMT

On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here.___The Chiefs lost again. The Eagles struggled against the lowly Giants. The 49ers were embarrassed at home.Christmas Day was rough on Super Bowl contenders except for the Ravens.Lamar Jackson boosted his MVP chances and Baltimore made a major statement with a convincing 33-19 victory over San Francisco in a prime-time matchup Monday night that featured the NFL’s two No. 1 seeds.The Ravens (12-3) would earn a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win at home against Miami (11-4) on Sunday.“I’m honored to be in the conversation,” Jackson said about improving his bid for his second AP NFL MVP award. “We just have to keep winning to get to February. That’s all.”The goal for Jackson isn’t an individual award. He wants a Super Bowl ring. The Ravens have win five in a row and can’t let up with the Dolphins coming up next.The 49ers (11-4) were...

Pistons try to avoid 27th straight loss and a new NBA single-season record Tuesday against Nets

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:56 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons won’t deny it. They are fully aware of the unwanted history they’ve been tumbling toward for two months. “I could sit here and say I don’t think about it,” coach Monty Williams said. “I mean, it’s in my face.”And if the Pistons can’t bat it away Tuesday night, they will own the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history.Detroit will be trying to avoid its 27th straight loss when it hosts the Brooklyn Nets in the back end of a home-and-home series. The Nets beat the Pistons 126-115 on Saturday in Brooklyn, handing Detroit its 26th consecutive defeat. The Pistons matched the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers for the most losses in a row within one season.Next up is the overall record of 28 straight losses, set by the 76ers from late in the 2014-15 season through early 2015-16.The Pistons got off to a 2-1 start in their first season under Williams, but haven’t won since beating Chicago in their ...

No. 10 Marquette faces No. 22 Creighton in light AP Top 25 slate this week

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:56 GMT

Creighton came within a few seconds of the Final Four last spring and has the type of roster that could make another deep run this season.After a solid start to the season, the Bluejays have hit a few bumps in the road, losing two of their past three games to plummet down the AP Top 25.No. 22 Creighton gets a big chance to get back on track Saturday at home against No. 10 Marquette.“Any time you’re in a position in the Big East to beat a good team, it stings when you lose, especially when you did a lot of things right,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said after the Bluejays’ 68-66 overtime loss to Villanova last week. The Bluejays (9-3) opened the season with five straight wins before losing to No. 15 Colorado State at the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City. Creighton pulled out a solid win against Oklahoma State and crushed in-state rival Nebraska before losing to UNLV and Villanova dropped the Bluejays 10 spots in this week’s poll.The Bluejays will c...

Analysis: With Trae Young, the numbers are rarely in question. Other things are up for debate

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:56 GMT

The numbers that Atlanta guard Trae Young are putting up are historic: 28.3 points and 11.2 assists per game entering Tuesday. Keep that up for an entire season, and he’ll do something that only Oscar Robertson, Tiny Archibald and James Harden have accomplished.Stats like those typically get a player at least mentioned in an MVP conversation.With Young, it might not even be a guarantee that he’ll be in the All-Star conversation.The Hawks open their post-Christmas schedule at Chicago on Tuesday night, with Young trying to do something that nobody has ever pulled off in NBA history. He’s had at least 30 points and 10 assists in each of his last seven games, tying Robertson’s league-record stretch done in the 1964-65 season. Other than Robertson, until now, had ever managed that in more than five consecutive games.“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m going to stop you right there,” Young said after he tied Robertson’s mark. “Let’s go to another question. I d...

Live updates: Several roads closed due to blizzard conditions, high winds

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:24:56 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Tuesday is a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day as blizzard warnings are in place for the Eastern Plains and the Palmer Divide.If you are coming back to the metro from areas like Kansas and Oklahoma, you may want to delay your trip. The Colorado State Patrol said travel will be “very dangerous and is highly discouraged.”The blizzard warning covers the Northeast Plains and Palmer Divide, including Interstate 70 east of Denver and northeast portions of Interstates 76 and 25 south of Castle Rock. This will be in effect until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Denver weather: Pinpoint Weather Alert Day for the Eastern Plains due to blizzard conditions The metro is also being impacted by the snow. According to the National Weather Service, 1-2 inches of snow has already fallen as of 5 a.m. Roads will be snowy and icy during the morning commute, especially south of I-70 from Highlands Ranch to south Aurora.The Pinpoint Weather team will be tracking the storm all morning long.Get real-time update...