Longtime AP State Department reporter George Gedda dies at 82

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:39 GMT

Longtime AP State Department reporter George Gedda dies at 82 WASHINGTON (AP) — George Gedda, a workhorse veteran of The Associated Press whose coverage of the State Department and international relations spanned more than four decades and played a major role in explaining U.S. foreign policy to the American public from Vietnam to Cuba, Afghanistan and Iraq, has died. He was 82.Gedda was also the author of three books, including one on his time as an AP diplomatic correspondent, one on Cuba’s communist revolution, and one on his first love, baseball. He died Sunday while in hospice care in Altamonte Springs, Florida, said Ellen James Martin, his former partner of 14 years. The cause was bladder cancer, she said.Gedda had retired to central Florida in 2007 after a 41-year career at the AP, most of which was in Washington, beginning during Lyndon Johnson’s administration and not ending until George W. Bush was president.During his time in Washington, Gedda covered every secretary of state from Dean Rusk to Condoleezza Rice, carving out a niche f...

Kamau, ‘charismatic and iconic’ African lion at California’s Sacramento Zoo, dies at 16

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:39 GMT

Kamau, ‘charismatic and iconic’ African lion at California’s Sacramento Zoo, dies at 16 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Kamau, the African lion who was a star attraction at California’s Sacramento Zoo, has died at age 16, officials said. The zoo said Kamau was euthanized Saturday, a day after the big cat was pulled off an exhibit because of declining health due to his advanced age. The lion was considered elderly with worsening gastrointestinal problems, “and the difficult decision to proceed with humane euthanasia was made when medical treatment options failed to provide sufficient relief from his condition,” the zoo said in a statement.The statement called Kamau one of the zoo’s “most charismatic and iconic animals.”He came to Sacramento from the San Diego Zoo in 2008 and in the years since attracted crowds who hoped to hear his impressive roar. In 2014, the lion sired a litter of cubs. A few years later, his habitat doubled in size, and a glass viewing wall allowed guests to get “nose-to-nose” with both Kamau and his mate, Cleo, the zoo said. Cleo,...

This is the most popular dad joke in the U.S.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:39 GMT

This is the most popular dad joke in the U.S. Some people love dad jokes, some people hate them and some people secretly love them, but pretend to hate them. For Father’s Day, a new study by betting.us revealed the most popular dad jokes in the United States, why fathers use, reuse, and re-reuse popular dad jokes, and how their partners and kids really feel about them.Whether it’s a corny joke, quip, or phrase, dad jokes are pretty common across the U.S. According to the study,  “Hi Hungry, I’m dad” is the most common dad joke used across the country. “I’m not sleeping, I’m just resting my eyes” is the next most common dad saying, followed by “Back in my day” as the third-most common dad-ism, which also happens to be the most popular in California. Many kids have fallen victim to the embarrassment that comes from corny dad jokes, but many dads across the country take pride in making their kids laugh. More than one in three dads say they tell dad jokes because they make their kids laugh while 23% say it’s their fa...

Athletics fall to Phillies, end homestand with fifth straight loss

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:39 GMT

Athletics fall to Phillies, end homestand with fifth straight loss OAKLAND — Getting three pinch-hits in a span of six batters in the late innings was enough to stir up the crowd, but the Athletics wound up losing 3-2 Sunday to the Philadelphia Phillies and being swept in a three-game series.The A’s, 19-55, haven’t won since their 2-1 “reverse boycott” win Tuesday night. This recent losing streak is different than others the A’s have experienced this season, with close losses replacing blowouts that have given Oakland the biggest negative run differential in baseball.After their seventh-straight win Tuesday night, the A’s fell twice to the Tampa Bay Rays, who have the best record in baseball, and dropped nail-biters both Saturday and Sunday against Philadelphia (38-34), the defending National League champions.The A’s trailed from beginning to end as Kyle Schwarber led off the game with an opposite field home run against starter Hogan Harris (2-1). It was Schwarber’s 20th home run of the season.P...

Popular ABC7 TV personality announces she is leaving station and Bay Area

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:39 GMT

Popular ABC7 TV personality announces she is leaving station and Bay Area Popular ABC7 weekend news anchor Liz Kreutz surprised TV viewers on Sunday with the announcement that is she is leaving the station — and the Bay Area as well.“I do have some personal news to share with all of you,” Kreutz said on-air at the end of the morning broadcast. ” This is my last day anchoring the weekend morning news at ABC 7 News.”She dubbed the departure “bittersweet,” but didn’t give any details behind her decision other than to say that she is “leaving the Bay Area for an exciting opportunity.” She added that she looked forward to sharing more about the opportunity “very soon.”“For now, I just want to say what an honor it has been to sit in this chair for the last 3 1/2 years,” she said. “I feel so lucky to have worked with truly some of the best, smartest journalists in the business here at ABC 7.”She also took the time to show her gratitude to those who have helped her dur...

Driver dies after overnight crash on Hwy 101 near Santa Rosa

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:39 GMT

Driver dies after overnight crash on Hwy 101 near Santa Rosa (KRON) -- A driver died after an overnight crash Sunday on Highway 101 in the North Bay, California Highway Patrol announced on social media. The crash happened around 3:25 a.m. on the southbound lanes of US-101 south of West Sierra Avenue in Cotati. Authorities said a Honda Civic drove off the roadway, crashed into a freeway sign and hit a large redwood tree. Firefighters helped remove the driver from the car and took him to the hospital.The driver later died at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.The driver was male, but his identity was not released, according to CHP. Officials are waiting to notify the family first. KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }It is unknown at this time why or how the Civic lost control. CHP did not say whether or no...

Leona Maguire wins Meijer LPGA Classic; Ricky Castillo wins pro debut on Korn Ferry Tour

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:39 GMT

Leona Maguire wins Meijer LPGA Classic; Ricky Castillo wins pro debut on Korn Ferry Tour BELMONT, Mich. (AP) — Leona Maguire played her final six holes in 6 under and shot an 8-under 64 on Sunday to win the Meijer LPGA Classic by two strokes, her second tour victory.Maguire made six birdies and an eagle in her bogey-free round at Blythefield to finish at 21-under 267. She caught playing partner Ariya Jutanugarn with an eagle on the par-5 14th hole to reach 18 under, then closed with three straight birdies to pull ahead of Jutanugarn and Xiyu Lin.Maguire was solid but unspectacular on the front nine, birdieing both par 3s, and was 2 under for the day through 12 holes. She then birdied the par-3 13th to kick off her torrid closing stretch.Jutanugarn, a 12-time winner on tour including two majors, shot her second straight 66 and finished alone in second. Lin, playing in the final group, birdied the 14th to reach 19 under but played her final four holes in 1 over to shoot 68 and finish tied for third with third-round leader Amy Yang (69).Hyo Joo Kim (69) was fifth. Defendin...

Wyndham Clark takes 1-shot lead over Rory McIlroy into back 9 on final day of US Open

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:39 GMT

Wyndham Clark takes 1-shot lead over Rory McIlroy into back 9 on final day of US Open LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wyndham Clark had a one-shot lead over Rory McIlroy with nine holes left Sunday in the 123rd U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.Clark, a 29-year-old Denver native playing in only his seventh major, separated from third-round co-leader Rickie Fowler with three early birdies while Fowler bogeyed three of his first seven holes.Clark then persevered through trouble before the turn to stay in the lead. He bogeyed the par-5 eighth after getting stuck in some tough greenside rough, and he got up-and-down from a bad lie on the ninth to preserve his one-stroke advantage over McIlroy, who went into the turn with eight straight pars.Clark and Fowler began the final round atop the leaderboard at 10 under, with McIlroy just one shot behind. Clark and Fowler were both chasing their first major titles, while McIlroy was seeking to end a prolonged major drought after getting all four of his titles from 2011-14.Clark made a 2 1/2-foot birdie putt on the first hole, and he added...

Josh Naylor has four hits, 3 RBIs, leads Guardians to 12-3 win over Diamondbacks

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:39 GMT

Josh Naylor has four hits, 3 RBIs, leads Guardians to 12-3 win over Diamondbacks PHOENIX (AP) — Josh Naylor had four hits and three RBIs, and the Cleveland Guardians avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-3 on Sunday.The Guardians cruised through the series finale, scoring two runs in the first, three in the second and six more in the fourth for an 11-1 lead. Right-hander Tanner Bibee (3-2) gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings, striking out six and walking three.Cleveland pounded out 16 hits. It accomplished much of its damage off D-backs starter Zach Davies, who has struggled since his return from the injured list in late May. Cleveland scored two in the first after leadoff batter Steven Kwan reached on an error by shortstop Nick Ahmed. José Ramírez drove Kwan home with a triple and Josh Naylor’s double scored Ramírez.Kwan was in the middle of the action again in the second with a two-run triple that scored Will Brennan and Myles Straw. Amed Rosario’s sacrifice fly pushed the Guardians’ advantage to 5-0....

Machado and Musgrove power the Padres to series-clinching 5-4 win over MLB-leading Rays

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:39 GMT

Machado and Musgrove power the Padres to series-clinching 5-4 win over MLB-leading Rays SAN DIEGO (AP) — Manny Machado drove in two runs, Joe Musgrove worked six solid innings and Fernando Tatis Jr. and catcher Austin Nola teamed up to punch out a potential tying run at home plate as the San Diego Padres beat the MLB-leading Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Sunday to take the three-game series.The Padres were ahead 5-4 in the top of the eighth inning when Tatis threw a near-strike to Nola at the plate to get Manuel Margot, who was trying to tie the game by scoring from second base on a single to right field by Christian Bethancourt.The Padres slumped badly in May, going 10-16. San Diego has turned it around in June, piecing together a 10-6 and winning seven of its last 10 games. The Padres have won their last three series, beating the Rays, Cleveland Guardians and Colorado Rockies.Musgrove (5-2) has won his last four decisions. Against Tampa Bay, he lasted six innings, allowing two runs and six hits with one strikeout. Closer Josh Hader worked a scoreless ninth for his 18th save....