House GOP pursuing two-step plan to avert government shutdown

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:47:02 GMT

House GOP pursuing two-step plan to avert government shutdown (CNN) — House Republicans are pursuing a two-step plan for funding the government, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN, as Congress barrels toward another spending deadline Friday.Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the plan on a GOP conference call with members Saturday afternoon and argued, “I wasn’t the architect of the mess we are in,” according to a source on the call.While Johnson embraced the right-wing members of his conference by pitching the two-step approach, he didn’t fully cave to their wishes. The package does not include the deep spending cuts his right flank pushed for but instead extends funding at its current levels.“This two-step continuing resolution is a necessary bill to place House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative victories,” Johnson said in a statement Saturday.The first bill would extend funding until January 19 and would include funding for military construction, Veterans Affairs, transportation, housing ...

Joe Espada will be introduced as manager of the Houston Astros on Monday, replacing Dusty Baker, AP source says

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:47:02 GMT

Joe Espada will be introduced as manager of the Houston Astros on Monday, replacing Dusty Baker, AP source says HOUSTON (AP) — Joe Espada will be introduced as manager of the Houston Astros on Monday, replacing Dusty Baker, AP source says.Source

14-year-old arrested for shooting 19-year-old in Fairfax Co.

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:47:02 GMT

14-year-old arrested for shooting 19-year-old in Fairfax Co. A 14-year-old has been arrested for shooting a 19-year-old in Fairfax County, Virginia, on Saturday.Fairfax County police responded to reports of a shooting in Hybla Valley on Saturday evening, according to a news release.Police say a 19-year-old man was shot in the arm and lower body around 5 p.m. in the 7400 block of Vernon Square Drive. He was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.The 19-year-old was walking to an apartment nearby when a 14-year-old boy approached him and shot him, police said.A house nearby was also struck by a bullet in the shooting, which police do not believe was random.Authorities extensively searched the area and did not find the suspect. He was found later after his mother was contacted by police and she brought the boy to the Mount Vernon Police Station, but the firearm was not recovered.He is being held at the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center and is charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of ...

Lewandowski scores twice to rally Barcelona to 2-1 win over Alaves in Spanish league

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:47:02 GMT

Lewandowski scores twice to rally Barcelona to 2-1 win over Alaves in Spanish league MADRID (AP) — Robert Lewandowski came to the rescue of Barcelona, scoring twice as the Catalan club rallied to beat Alaves and keep pace with Real Madrid and Girona in the Spanish league. The 2-1 home victory on Sunday moved Barcelona back within two points of second-place Madrid, which routed Valencia 5-1 on Saturday. Barcelona is four points behind fellow Catalan club Girona, the surprise leader that came from behind to win 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano, also on Saturday.Alaves took the lead in a breakaway one minute into the match in Montjuic, but Lewandowski helped the hosts rebound with a header in the 53th and a penalty kick in the 78th.Lewandowski, who was sidelined recently with an injury, hadn’t scored in six matches since getting a double in the 3-2 win against Celta Vigo in September.“We played a bit better, but we are not going through our best moment,” Barcelona coach Xavi said. “We came through in a match that became difficult. The international break will be good for us...

More than 100,000 people march in Paris against soaring antisemitism amid Israel-Hamas war

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:47:02 GMT

More than 100,000 people march in Paris against soaring antisemitism amid Israel-Hamas war PARIS (AP) — More than 100,000 people marched in Paris on Sunday to protest against rising antisemitism in the wake of Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, representatives of several parties on the left, conservatives and centrists of President Emmanuel Macron’s party as well as far-right leader Marine Le Pen attended Sunday’s march in the French capital amid tight security. Macron did not attend, but expressed his support for the protest and called on citizens to rise up against “the unbearable resurgence of unbridled antisemitism.” However, the leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, Jean-Luc Melenchon, stayed away from the march, saying last week on X, formerly Twitter, that the march would be a meeting of “friends of unconditional support for the massacre” in Gaza.Paris authorities deployed 3,000 police troops along the route of the protest called by the leaders of the Senate and parliament’s lower house, the National Assembly, am...

Edmonton Oilers fire coach Jay Woodcroft and name Kris Knoblauch the replacement

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:47:02 GMT

Edmonton Oilers fire coach Jay Woodcroft and name Kris Knoblauch the replacement Jay Woodcroft is out as coach of the Edmonton Oilers after a team that was supposed to be a Stanley Cup contender lost 10 of its first 13 games.Woodcroft was fired Sunday at the end of the team’s road trip, which wrapped up with a 4-1 win at Seattle on Saturday night. That victory was not enough to save Woodcroft’s job in the aftermath of a four-game losing streak, including an embarrassing 3-2 loss at the NHL-worst San Jose Sharks earlier in the week.Kris Knoblauch, Connor McDavid’s junior hockey coach, was named Woodcroft’s replacement, and Hall of Famer Paul Coffey joins his staff as an assistant, with Dave Manson also dismissed. Knoblauch becomes the organization’s 10th coach in 15 seasons and the fifth since McDavid joined the team in 2015.After the loss in San Jose on Thursday night, Woodcroft said he wasn’t worried about his job security.“No one’s happy with where we’re at,” Woodcroft said. “We all own it. We can be better, and that’s where...

Jonathan Taylor runs for early TD and Colts hold off Patriots 10-6 in Germany

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:47:02 GMT

Jonathan Taylor runs for early TD and Colts hold off Patriots 10-6 in Germany FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Jonathan Taylor ran for a first-quarter touchdown and Mac Jones threw a crucial interception in the fourth quarter and the Indianapolis Colts held on for a 10-6 win over New England Patriots in Germany on Sunday.The NFL’s 50th regular-season game outside the United States, and last of this season, was dominated by defense and Taylor’s first-quarter touchdown was the only one of the game.Jones was sacked five times in the first half and was replaced with backup Bailey Zappe late in the fourth quarter.Trailing 10-6 late in the fourth quarter, Jones drove the Patriots inside the red zone but was intercepted by Julian Blackmon on a pass intended for tight end Mike Gesicki at the 1-yard line. Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew threw a 28-yard pass to Josh Downs for a first down that forced the Patriots to start using their timeouts. Minshew was 18 for 28 for 194 yards and Taylor had 69 yards on 23 carries. Michael Pittman had eight receptions for 84 yards.After e...

Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:47:02 GMT

Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating NEW YORK (AP) — Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Sunday, two days after he publicly criticized officiating following his team’s loss to Utah.Utah took 29 foul shots in that game, while Memphis took 13. The Jazz won 127-121, in a contest where Memphis center Jaren Jackson Jr. was ejected in the third quarter after getting two technical fouls, and Jenkins got a technical in that same sequence as well.“Saddle up. One of the most poorly officiated games I’ve ever seen,” Jenkins said after that game. “Record it. I’m fine with it. (Expletive) atrocious.”Memphis was taking an NBA-worst 1-8 record into its game Sunday afternoon against the Los Angeles Clippers.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nbaSource

Bailey Zappe blows another opportunity with Patriots starting QB job on the line

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:47:02 GMT

Bailey Zappe blows another opportunity with Patriots starting QB job on the line FRANKFURT, Germany — Patriots backup quarterback Bailey Zappe had a golden opportunity to overtake Mac Jones as the Patriots’ starting quarterback in Sunday’s 10-6 loss and frankly, flopped.The Patriots benched Jones after an ugly interception inside the red zone Sunday and put Zappe on the field with the game on the line in a two-minute drill while trailing by four points. Zappe started the drive 3-of-6 for 25 yards before taking a snap at the Patriots’ 40-yard line on first-and-10 with 36 seconds on the clock.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick not committing to Patriots QB Mac Jones after third benching New England Patriots | Mac Jones benched again for Bailey Zappe in 10-6 loss to Colts in Germany New England Patriots | Patriots owner Robert Kraft broke his silence on the Patriots’ ‘disappointing’ season New England Patriots | Patriots rookie WR Kayshon Boutte b...

Bill Belichick not committing to Patriots QB Mac Jones after third benching

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:47:02 GMT

Bill Belichick not committing to Patriots QB Mac Jones after third benching FRANKFURT, Germany — Mac Jones’ future as the Patriots’ starting quarterback is officially up in the air.Jones was benched for a third time in Sunday’s 10-6 loss to the Colts at Frankfurt Stadium, but this time was different. The game was on the line with 1:52 left in the fourth quarter with the Patriots trailing by four points when Jones was officially pulled with Bailey Zappe being inserted into the offense.Patriots head coach Bill Belichick previously said he had pulled Jones because the score was out of hand in consecutive losses to the Cowboys and Saints. This time?Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bailey Zappe blows another opportunity with Patriots starting QB job on the line New England Patriots | Mac Jones benched again for Bailey Zappe in 10-6 loss to Colts in Germany New England Patriots | Patriots owner Robert Kraft broke his silence on the Patriots’ ‘disappointing’ season New England Patriots | ...