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Portugal barely containing excitement for first Rugby World Cup appearance in 16 years

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:42 GMT

NICE, France (AP) — Patrice Lagisquet has been trying hard to rein in his Portugal players, so eager are they to step on the Rugby World Cup stage after 16 years on Saturday against Wales in Nice.“Players are very excited, maybe too much,” Lagisquet said on Thursday. “The session this afternoon was a bit difficult, everybody was a bit nervous on the pitch. Because we are close to the game it was a bit difficult for all of them, to keep controlling what they do in the session.“Everybody’s not expecting Portugal to qualify for the quarterfinal, but all of the players want to show they deserve to be at this World Cup and that they can play good rugby.”There are no survivors from Portugal’s only previous World Cup appearance in 2007 but 13 of the matchday 23 play for clubs in France, though only one, hooker Mike Tadjer, for a Top 14 team, Perpignan.“The 2007 squad really inspired some of these players to play at their very best,” captain Tomas Appleton said. “We ...

Explosion at Union Pacific railyard in Nebraska prompts evacuations because of heavy toxic smoke

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:42 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An explosion inside a shipping container at the world’s largest railyard prompted evacuations in western Nebraska Thursday because of the toxic smoke generated when one of the chemicals aboard caught fire.Around noon, an explosion occurred inside an intermodal container on a railcar at Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard in North Platte, though it wasn’t clear what caused the explosion, railroad spokeswoman Robynn Tysver said. No one was injured, and no cars derailed.Authorities evacuated everyone within a four-mile radius of the railyard, which is about 280 miles (451 kilometers) west of Omaha, was evacuated because of the smoke, and U.S. Highway 30 was closed between North Platte and Hershey. Interstate 80 wasn’t affected by the smoke. North Platte has a population of about 23,000.The North Platte Fire Department said in a post on X at 1:25 p.m. that the fire has been contained. The department said the evacuations were done because of the fire at...

Detroit-area businessman gets more than 2 years in prison for paying bribes for marijuana license

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:42 GMT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A Detroit-area businessman who bribed the head of a Michigan marijuana licensing board was sentenced Thursday to more than two years in federal prison.John Dalaly said he provided at least $68,200 in cash and other benefits to Rick Johnson, including two private flights to Canada.Johnson was chairman of the marijuana board for two years before the board was disbanded in 2019. The board reviewed and approved applications to grow and sell marijuana for medical purposes.Dalaly, 71, had a stake in a company that was seeking a license. He paid Johnson’s wife over several months for help with the application process. U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering sentenced Dalaly to 28 months in prison.“John is proof that good men can make bad decisions,” defense attorney Ray Cassar said in a court filing. Johnson, a Republican, was a powerful Republican lawmaker years ago, serving as House speaker from 2001 through 2004. He has admitted accepting at least $110,000 in...

Blue Jays activate Gold Glove 3B Matt Chapman off 10-day IL

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:42 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman was activated off the 10-day injured list before Thursday’s game against Texas.The Blue Jays have fallen out of a wild-card position after losing the first three games of a four-game series against the Rangers.Chapman has been sidelined because of a sprained right middle finger since leaving an Aug. 27 game against Cleveland. The former All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner jammed his finger returning a dumbbell to its rack in Toronto’s weight room last month.Chapman was the AL player of the month in April, when he hit .384 with five homers and 21 RBIs. He’s batting .248 with 15 homers and 50 RBIs in 125 games. Chapman was traded to Toronto in March 2022 following five seasons with Oakland. He’s in the second season of a $25 million, two-year contract and is eligible for free agency after the World Series. Toronto optioned outfielder Nathan Lukes to Triple-A Buffalo.___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Louisiana, 9 other states ask federal judge to block changes in National Flood Insurance Program

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:42 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Increases in federal flood insurance premiums that are projected to surpass 700% over the coming years are already leading people to back out of home purchases and will likely lead to an exodus of residents and businesses from southern Louisiana, officials told a federal judge Thursday in New Orleans.The testimony came in a hearing in a lawsuit Louisiana and nine other states filed against the federal government to block sharp increases in national flood insurance rates. A phase-in of the new rates began in 2021. Annual increases are limited to 18%. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said the new method of computing rates has resulted in reductions or little or no increase for most policy holders. But FEMA figures also show huge impending increases in some Louisiana ZIP codes. State and local officials who testified Thursday said the increases are expected to result in some people in working-class southern Louisiana to abandon their mortgages, try to sell hom...

RTD stabbing suspect linked to 2nd killing near Regis University

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Police say the suspect in a deadly stabbing on an RTD bus Thursday is also connected to a second stabbing death later in the morning near Regis University.Vinchenzo Moscoso, 29, was arrested in the 5500 block of North Lowell Boulevard, the Denver Police Department said Thursday just after 3:45 p.m. He faces two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of a man on an RTD bus and a woman near the Regis University campus."Based on evidence recovered and surveillance video a detective reviewed late this morning from the homicide that occurred on the bus, investigators believe Moscoso to be responsible for both of these homicides," the department said in a release. Driver nearly hits 20 children while leaving Aurora park The first stabbing happened just after 5 a.m. on an RTD bus at 32nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard."The attack appears to have been unprovoked," police said, citing surveillance video.The second was around 9:50 a.m. near West 50th Avenue and North Fe...

Suspect in custody after deadly stabbing near Regis University

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:42 GMT

UPDATE: Denver police arrested a man suspected in deadly stabbings near Regis University and on a RTD bus. Earlier:DENVER (KDVR) — Regis University was placed under a lockdown while police took a homicide suspect into custody.Just before 10:30 a.m., Regis University tweeted that the campus was on lockdown and everyone needed to shelter in place and get to a secure location.Denver Police said they were conducting a homicide investigation at 50th and Federal following a report of a stabbing. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Moments later, the university provided an update that the suspect had been arrested at W. 55th Avenue and Lowell Boulevard, which is less than half a mile away from the Regis campus.The lockdown was then lifted.Denver Police are investigating a possible connection between this stabbing to another deadly stabbing on an RTD bus at 32nd and Federal.

Denver weather: Good chance for rain before a warm and dry weekend

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for Denver's weather this evening. Some of the thunderstorms can produce heavy rain in spots. Possible rain totals look good and could be enough to get totals back to September levels for this time of the month. Colorado vs. Colorado State: TV channel, time, what to know Some showers could linger past midnight along the Front Range according to Pinpoint Weather, Colorado’s Most Accurate Forecast.Possible rain totals through FridayWeather tonight: Showers overnightShowers and thunderstorms will still be possible during the overnight hours especially from Denver to the south. Skies will remain mostly cloudy overnight and it will be breezy at times. Temperatures will be cool across metro Denver with lows in the 50s. It will be chilly again in the Colorado mountains with 40s and some colder 30s.Overnight low temperatures by Friday morningWeather tomorrow: Rain early and cooler dayShowers will be possible early on Friday in...

Mother bear, cub relocated from Louisville

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A mother bear and her cub were hanging out in Louisville and were relocated early Thursday morning to their natural habitat, the Louisville Police Department said.The bears were only in the area for about a day, as far as officers knew, but a spokesperson for the department told FOX31 that the relocation was necessary because the bear and cub were near residential homes and neighborhood schools. Why bears in Colorado like trash Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers responded to handle the actual relocation of the bears, which LPD announced on Facebook early Thursday morning.Today, we have the privilege of being the BEARER of good news. We are BEARY happy to announce that moma bear and cub have hitched a ride back home and will no longer be in town to have their PAWTRAIT taken.Louisville Police DepartmentLouisville police said Colorado wildlife officers were able to get the young cub to follow its mother around 1 a.m., and they were "returned to their natural habita...

Man shot and killed in parking lot of Miami Gardens strip mall; 2 at large

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:21:42 GMT

An investigation is underway after, police said, a young man was shot and killed in the parking lot of a strip mall in Miami Gardens.Miami Gardens Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene at 18367 NW 27th Ave., Thursday afternoon. 7Skyforce hovered above the scene where the victim was inside a car that crashed. According to Miami Gardens Police, they received a call at around 2:07 p.m, regarding shots that were fired. Once they arrived at the scene, they found the victim inside a dark SUV suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police said the victim appeared to be leaving a parking spot when two subjects fired multiple shots at him. The victim was mortally wounded and crashed their vehicle into a parked car.“Two suspects approached him and began shooting,” said Miami Gardens Police Officer Diana Gourgue. “The suspects then fled in a white sedan in an unknown direction.” 7News cameras captured the victim’s car riddled with bullet...