casino game machine Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flightsAP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:51 p.m. ESTCutting in line? American Airlines’ new boarding tech might stop you at now over 100 airports

Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row

Shoppers bemused as Easter eggs hit shop shelves before New Year’s EveBy ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

She takes the most Christmassy Uber and the driver surprises her with a letter: “it’s creepy”Friedman Industries director Max Reichenthal buys $27,440 in stockIt should have been a straightforward flight for Nomusa Mwale. The mum of two was on her first trip to Australia, making the move from Manchester to Melbourne to do a Masters in social work. Only things didn’t go to plan. Flying solo, with her husband and children to follow days later, Ms Mwale started to feel unwell. With around 13 hours still to go before reaching Melbourne, she put it down to the altitude. Sally Neilson and Flora Markogiannakis are two of the hospital’s team of 380 ICU nurses. Picture: Mark Stewart But something was wrong, seriously wrong. Just before the flight landed Ms Mwale, 33, fainted on her way to the bathroom. She heard later that her heart had stopped. “The room started spinning, my chest felt like someone was sitting on it and I couldn’t breathe,” she said. She was raced to the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) where doctors told Ms Mwale a blood clot had moved from her foot to her lungs. The following day, sitting up in bed in the RMH’s intensive care unit , Ms Mwale said she thanked god this was the closest hospital. “You guys might have just saved my life; I’m rooting for Australia now,” she said. “I didn’t know it was that serious. I thought I had just fainted.” These are the unique health crises that the highly trained team at the hospital’s ICU see every hour, every day. ICU nurse Anu Sherpha with patient Nomusa Mwale who was rushed to the RMH for lifesaving care. Picture: Mark Stewart More than 3000 critical patients pass through its doors a year, making it one of the country’s biggest and busiest ICUs in Australia. ICU critical care nurse Sally Neilson, 53, is a former journalist who said she decided to study nursing in 2017 because of the equality of nursing. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, when you step through the front door of a hospital, a nurse is going to help you and give you the very best lifesaving care that we can give to anybody,” Ms Neilson said. Her writing days are not done. Ms Neilson recently described an overnight shift in the ICU in a piece she called Daybreak. Moving, powerful words. She writes about how sunrise hits differently when it comes at the end of a 12-hour night shift in ICU, which is a typical rotation. ICU critical nurse Sally Neilson: ‘A nurse is going to help you and give you the very best lifesaving care that we can give to anybody’. Picture: Mark Stewart Sally Neilson says sunrise hits differently when it comes at the end of a 12-hour night shift in ICU. Picture: Mark Stewart Mr Neilson shares the profound moments when nurses get to be with someone, not long ago a stranger, for what will be their last ever sunrise. “For nurses, it’s the light at the end of the tunnel. No matter what challenges the night has delivered, sunrise means the finish line is in sight and the next shift will be rolling through the double doors and taking over any minute. “It’s also a reminder that we are the lucky ones. After the sun has fully risen, we get to walk our healthy bodies out the door and go home to our lives and our families – unlike the people whose lives we’ve spent the last 12 hours trying to save.” Ms Neilson says the dawn of a new day is a major milestone for the critically ill, who have survived the night in their fight against a life-threatening emergency. Today she is caring for a patient who has survived a high-speed crash. Amid constant beeping monitors and intermittent alarms, there is such a tenderness in her care, something you see with all the ICU nurses. A genuine compassion delivered to strangers in need. “ICU is one of the few places in the world where judgement is suspended, we treat everyone the same,” Ms Neilson said. There is also the teamwork: each patient in ICU has a dedicated nurse caring for them 1:1. If a nurse needs to leave the room, even for a split second, they “tag team” to the colleague next door. No patient is ever left alone. Teamwork: ICU nurses provide 1:1 care and make sure no patient is ever left alone. Picture: Mark Stewart It is their responsibility to watch, monitor and be alert for any changes in a critically ill patient. It can be subtle like a change in breathing, perhaps sudden telltale signs of irritability that may indicate a patient is waking up. They must decide if a sudden change in blood pressure needs them to hit the alarm to bring a team running. “You get to see everything here, it’s a major trauma centre, cardiothoracic centre, neurosurgery centre,” Ms Neilson said. “And it’s intense.” Her patient today is intubated; their body shocked by spinal and internal injuries and medicated to help with the long road to recovery. “When a patient is critical, everything just gets more complex and it can change quickly,” Ms Neilson said. Next door another patient is in a fight for life as sepsis threatens to shut down organs. Across the corridor another has heart failure and anxious family members are urging the patient to rally. Royal Melbourne Hospital ICU nurse Flora Markogiannakis has a special interest in trauma patients. Picture: Mark Stewart Flora Markogiannakis, 30, started her ICU nursing career during Covid. “I wouldn’t say Covid inspired or deterred me,” she said. “I was really thrown into it and for me that worked really well, it gave me purpose.” She has a special interest in trauma patients and likes the feeling that in ICU she has the resources, knowledge, skills and support to help people. “You feel like you’ve achieved something by the end of a shift.” Ms Markogiannakis did a Bachelor’s of Nursing and Business Administration and may move into health administration. Not just yet. For now she wants to work as a nurse to make an impact at a different level. She also acknowledges the job can be tough, mentally and physically. Sally Neilson says when families visit patients in the ICU the humanity ‘floods in’. Picture: Mark Stewart “You really have to check in with yourself before every shift and when you go home, to know that you can come back the next day,” Ms Markogiannakis said. “We go through so much in our own personal lives and then caring for the patients and their families who are experiencing some of the worst days of their lives.” Ms Neilson says when the families visit the humanity floods in. “When you see a family see their loved one awake for the first time after something really big has happened, that they may not have survived, that’s really moving,” she said. “The best is seeing their joy and relief when things have gone the right way.” But ICU nurses also help prepare families to say a final goodbye to a loved one, and there are always the patients who will stay forever in their minds. For Ms Neilson it was the young woman who had suffered a brain bleed and did not survive. “I was with her; her husband on a pull out bed, we spent the night with her. They were newly married and had just built their home; it was terrible. That one sticks with you.” But nursing also brings her much joy. “Every day you are doing something worthwhile, something good.” She says one of the great things about nursing is the work-life balance that’s encouraged. “So when you hand over and leave, you’ve switched off. You’re not answering emails and phone calls. You’re out the door. Until the next shift.” ICU AT A GLANCE • The RMH has a team of 380 ICU nurses • About 3000 patients are admitted every year • There are 42 beds, making it one of the Australia’s busiest ICUs • Intensive care is around the clock More Coverage Inside the trauma team's ‘life and death’ battle Sarah Booth Victoria Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News. Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories News Full list: Every Victorian childcare centre rated The top rated and underperforming childcare centres across Victoria have been revealed. Search and see the list and watch our exclusive videos. Read more Victoria Archbishop warns Allan govt against proposed anti-vilification laws Victoria’s top Christian leader has warned the Allan government that newly proposed hate speech laws threaten religious speech and risk sparking more division. Read more

St. Thomas police officers were called to attend a south end restaurant for an assault Friday. Police learned that two individuals were having dinner when a dispute between them turned physical, resulting in a woman assaulting a man with cutlery. No injuries were sustained. According to police, the woman was on conditions not to be around the man. A 47-year-old female was arrested and charged with assault with a weapon and two counts of fail to comply with probation. The male has also been charged with party to the offence and a summons has been requested. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks Here Are All The Best Amazon Boxing Day Deals You Can Find On Beauty Products In Canada These Walking Pads Will Help You Get 10,000 Steps Every Day (And They're On Sale In The Name Of Boxing Day) 10 Family Calendars And Planners That'll Help You Keep Track Of Everything In The New Year Home If You're Headed Somewhere Warm On Vacation, Don't Forget To Pack These 16 Things Our Guide To The Best Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) 14 Of The Best Home Security Devices You Can Find Online Right Now (And They've Got The Reviews To Prove It) Gifts The Clock Is Ticking — Shop These 25 Last-Minute Amazon Prime Gifts Now If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 70+ Crowd-Pleasing Gifts Will Still Arrive Before Christmas If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 50 Brilliant Stocking Stuffers Will Still Arrive Before Christmas Beauty 20 Products Your Dry, Dehydrated Skin Will Thank You For Ordering 14 Hydrating Face Masks That’ll Save Your Skin This December 12 Budget-Friendly Products To Add To Your Winter Skincare Routine Deals 11 Bestselling Coffee Makers And Espresso Machines You Can Get On Sale Right Now Don’t Walk, Run! These LEGO Kits Are On Sale For Boxing Day 2024 The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 41% Off For Boxing Day London Top Stories St. Thomas fraud victim loses nearly $100K to job scam Ending the year with above seasonal temperatures Assault at restaurant leads to charges in St. Thomas Despite best efforts, Cowan and Knights couldn't help Canada past Latvia at World Juniors Power restored in east London following outage, police investigating crash Two seriously hurt in passenger vehicle collision with horse drawn carriage Wortley Village business pillar to rise again as 'homage to what it was' 'I really hope that our connection is not complete': Could South Bruce be home to a different nuclear waste project? CTVNews.ca Top Stories Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal joins growing chorus of Liberals calling for Trudeau to step down Calgary Liberal MP George Chahal has publicly released letters he sent to the Liberal caucus and president of the Liberal Party of Canada, calling on them to begin the process of moving on from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. DEVELOPING | Delta, B.C., port terminals closed after 'machinery fire' Saturday morning A large fire at the port in Delta, B.C., sent a plume of smoke into the sky Saturday morning. Magnus Carlsen quits World Rapid and Blitz Championships after refusing to change out of jeans World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen quit the World Rapid Chess Championship on Friday after he refused to change out of the jeans he was wearing, according to the International Chess Federation (FIDE). If you're mentally struggling during the holidays, here’s how to cope For many people, celebrating New Year’s Day can include reflecting on a life well lived or a chance to start anew. But for some, the holiday may have dark undertones, according to a recent large study. Friend of Quebec man killed in Florida boat explosion says his sister also injured A childhood friend of the Quebec man killed in a Florida boat explosion earlier this week says one of the victim's sisters was among the other six passengers injured in the blast. Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with members of Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Beware the slithering scales: Monkeys fear snakeskin even when it's not on a snake, study suggests A new study suggests monkeys can identify snakes by their scales, and know to fear them, even when those scales aren't on a snake. What is known about a plane crash in Kazakhstan after Putin apologized for a 'tragic incident'? Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a 'tragic incident' following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people, but stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible. G2 driver stopped going more than 100 km/h over the speed limit on Hwy. 401 in eastern Ontario A 17-year-old driver is facing charges after being caught speeding and driving dangerously on Highway 401 in eastern Ontario Friday evening, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). Kitchener Minor flooding possible with snow melt, rain on way: GRCA The Waterloo Region and the city of Guelph will be wrapping up 2024 with unusually warm weather over the weekend. Stretch of Kitchener road closed after gas leak at abandoned building Kitchener Fire is investigating after a "strange odor" was reported on Courtland Avenue East Saturday. Cambridge structure fire leads to road closure Emergency Services are on scene of a Cambridge structure fire Saturday morning. Barrie 43-quintillion combinations: Speedcubers solve Rubik's Cubes in record breaking times On Saturday, Barrie is testing the abilities of some of the fastest cube solvers from across the province and around the world. County Road 56 reopens following afternoon collision County Road 56 in Essa Township was closed for an afternoon collision. How winter donations can save lives at local cat shelter As the brisk weather settles in, staff at a local non-profit shelter in Barrie are seeing an influx of cats and kittens coming through their doors from all walks of life. Windsor Community partners in Windsor propose education campaign to veer people away from payday loans In a move aimed at combatting the financial strain caused by payday loans, the City of Windsor is considering the launch of a comprehensive education campaign to promote alternative financial options. Ex-boyfriend arrested for violating bail conditions Chatham-Kent police have made an arrest after a man allegedly violated his bail conditions. $15M plan to shift Sandpoint Beach away from hazardous drop-off heading to council A $15-million plan to relocate and revitalize Sandpoint Beach — shifting its swimming area away from hazardous waters and adding features like a splash pad and accessible playground — will go before Windsor city councillors at their first meeting of the new year. Northern Ontario Serious crash closes Hwy. 11 near North Bay A serious collision has closed Highway 11 between the Bay Truck Stop in North Bay and Highway 64 in Marten River. Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal joins growing chorus of Liberals calling for Trudeau to step down Calgary Liberal MP George Chahal has publicly released letters he sent to the Liberal caucus and president of the Liberal Party of Canada, calling on them to begin the process of moving on from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Sault Ste. Marie Man shot by officer after firing at police car near Thunder Bay: SIU Ontario's Special Investigations Unit is probing a shooting near Thunder Bay in which a man was shot and wounded by a police officer on Boxing Day. Alleged impaired driver crashes into police cruiser on Boxing Day While on general patrol in northwestern Ontario on Boxing Day, an Ontario Provincial Police officer’s vehicle was struck. Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Ottawa G2 driver stopped going more than 100 km/h over the speed limit on Hwy. 401 in eastern Ontario A 17-year-old driver is facing charges after being caught speeding and driving dangerously on Highway 401 in eastern Ontario Friday evening, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). Here's how you can watch CTV News at Six tonight during the NFL game With CTV broadcasting tonight's NFL game, CTV News at Six will be broadcasting live on our website and the CTV News App. FREEZING RAIN WARNING | Freezing rain warning in effect for Ottawa this Saturday Environment Canada says a freezing rain warning is in effect for Ottawa this Saturday. Toronto One person injured, suspect charged with arson following Etobicoke apartment fire A suspect has been charged with arson after a two-alarm fire at an Etobicoke apartment complex early Saturday morning left one person with injuries. Motorcyclist dead after 2-vehicle crash in Stouffville, Ont.: police A 21-year-old man is dead following a two-vehicle crash in Stouffville, Ont. early Saturday morning. Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with members of Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Montreal Friend of Quebec man killed in Florida boat explosion says his sister also injured A childhood friend of the Quebec man killed in a Florida boat explosion earlier this week says one of the victim's sisters was among the other six passengers injured in the blast. Cyprus-flagged ship MV MACCOA remains stuck near Verchères The MV MACCOA, a cargo ship registered in Cyprus, that ran aground on Christmas Eve in the St. Lawrence River near Verchères, Que., was still trapped on Saturday, after the Friday’s attempt to refloat it failed. Here are the changes coming to Quebec in 2025 With the new year just days away, here is a look at the changes that are in store for Quebecers in 2025. Atlantic One dead in two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B. One person has died following a two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B., Friday. 'Nobody should have to go through that': N.B. family grieving father, daughter killed in crash A New Brunswick family is grieving the loss of a father and daughter in a crash. No one injured after vehicle crashes into Shoppers Drug Mart: N.S. RCMP RCMP is investigating after a vehicle crashed into a Shoppers Drug Mart in Lower Sackville, N.S. on Saturday. Winnipeg Experts, province urge caution over ice conditions after man dies in Hanover The province, along with outdoor enthusiasts, are urging people to use caution near frozen bodies of water after a man died when his skid steer loader fell through the ice. The most-read stories on CTV Winnipeg in 2024 Historic events, community pride and significant losses dominated headlines in Manitoba in 2024. Here’s a list of the most-read stories of each month of 2024 on CTV News Winnipeg. No serious injuries in apartment fire on Henderson Highway No one was hospitalized after a blaze broke out in a three-storey apartment building Saturday morning. Calgary Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal joins growing chorus of Liberals calling for Trudeau to step down Calgary Liberal MP George Chahal has publicly released letters he sent to the Liberal caucus and president of the Liberal Party of Canada, calling on them to begin the process of moving on from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Calgary Boxing Day crash victim identified, mother and sister still in hospital A nine-year-old girl has died in hospital after the vehicle she was in was struck by a driver in a stolen vehicle fleeing from police. Family and friends grieve death of 36-year-old Lethbridge man in motorcycle crash Family members and friends are mourning the loss of a 36-year-old Lethbridge man killed in motorcycle crash just two days before Christmas. Edmonton Edmonton street photographer captures moments and people one frame at a time A local photographer who is passionate about capturing moments in one-hundredth of a second embraced many styles of his trade before landing on one which truly represents his mantra: street photography. 2 vehicles fall through ice at Sylvan Lake, promoting police warning RCMP issued a warning Saturday after two vehicles fell through the ice on Sylvan Lake. Physical therapy is 'the best-kept secret in health care' If you think physical therapy is only about rehabilitation after surgery or recovering from an accident, think again. For the vast majority, seeing a physical therapist should be about prevention, routine assessment and staying well. Regina 'A great holiday memory': Echo Valley Provincial Park gets plenty of visitors at Skate the Park launch Families and groups of friends made use of the good weather as the new season of Skate the Park got underway at Echo Valley Provincial Park. Moose Jaw Police Service asks public to help locate 89-year-old man The Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) is asking the public for help in locating an 89-year-old Moose Jaw resident who was last seen on Dec. 25, 2024. Regina police chief says new initiatives to enhance community safety will come in 2025 Looking back after one year in his new role as the chief of the Regina Police Service, Farooq Hassan Sheikh is highlighting challenges the city faces, what has worked during his tenure and what can be done to improve policing in 2025. Saskatoon The thrill is gone from Boxing Week shopping, Saskatoon residents say Christmas has come and gone for most people, but the shopping hype continues as some get out of the house to take in the post-Christmas scene. Police made two arrests following a shooting in Saskatoon A swift response from Saskatoon police led to the arrest of a man and woman following a reported shooting Friday afternoon. Saskatoon fire crews battle house fire Saskatoon firefighters responded to a house fire on the 100 block of Klassen Crescent Friday afternoon. Vancouver DEVELOPING | Delta, B.C., port terminals closed after 'machinery fire' Saturday morning A large fire at the port in Delta, B.C., sent a plume of smoke into the sky Saturday morning. New Canadians, non-traditional demographics boost minor hockey uptake in B.C. Participation in hockey in British Columbia was struggling in 2021 — the pandemic had dealt a heavy blow to player registrations, and numbers had already been flagging before COVID-19 arrived. Vancouver artist and HIV advocate Joe Average dies at 67 Renowned Vancouver artist Joe Average, whose colourful work adorns murals and banners around the city, died at age 67 Tuesday, according to family and friends. Vancouver Island New Canadians, non-traditional demographics boost minor hockey uptake in B.C. Participation in hockey in British Columbia was struggling in 2021 — the pandemic had dealt a heavy blow to player registrations, and numbers had already been flagging before COVID-19 arrived. 'We're sending a clear message': B.C. prepares for home flipping tax amid criticism Next week, when the calendars turn to 2025, the provincial government will begin imposing a 20-per-cent tax on all profits if a home is sold within a year of purchasing it. Former B.C. lawyer disbarred for 2nd time over sexual harassment A former lawyer who was convicted of sexual assault in 2020 and disbarred last year has been handed a second disbarment for sexual harassment of a different client. Stay Connected

Maharashtra mandate is nod to “stay united to stay safe”, Opposition dividing OBC, SC, ST unity: PM ModiIt was a murder case almost everyone had an opinion on. O.J. Simpson ‘s “trial of the century” over the 1994 killings of his ex-wife and her friend bared divisions over race and law enforcement in America and brought an intersection of sports, crime, entertainment and class that was hard to turn away from. In a controversial verdict, the football star-turned-actor was acquitted in the criminal trial but later found civilly liable in the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Years later, he served nine years in prison on unrelated charges. His death in April brought an end to a life that had become defined by scrutiny over the killings. But he was just one of many influential and noteworthy people who died in 2024. Here is a roll call of some noteworthy figures who died in 2024 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available): Zvi Zamir, 98. A former director of Israel’s Mossad spy service who warned that Israel was about to be attacked on the eve of the 1973 Mideast war. Jan. 2. David Soul, 80. The actor-singer was a 1970s heartthrob who co-starred as the blond half of the crime-fighting duo “Starsky & Hutch” and topped the music charts with the ballad “Don’t Give Up on Us.” Jan. 4. Franz Beckenbauer, 78. He won the World Cup both as a player and coach and became one of Germany’s most beloved personalities with his easygoing charm. Jan. 7. Jack Burke Jr., 100. He was the oldest living Masters champion and staged the greatest comeback ever at Augusta National for one of his two majors. Jan. 19. Marlena Shaw, 81. The jazz and R&B vocalist whose “California Soul” was one of the defining soul songs of the late 1960s. Jan. 19. Mary Weiss, 75. The lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “Leader of the Pack.” Jan. 19. Dexter Scott King, 62. He dedicated much of his life to shepherding the civil rights legacy of his parents, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Jan. 22. N. Scott Momaday, 89. A Pulitzer Prize-winning storyteller, poet, educator and folklorist whose debut novel “House Made of Dawn” is widely credited as the starting point for contemporary Native American literature. Jan. 24. Herbert Coward, 85. He was known for his “Toothless Man” role in the movie “Deliverance.” Jan. 24. Car crash. Carl Weathers, 76. A former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movies, starring with Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore.” Feb. 1. Bob Beckwith, 91. A retired firefighter whose chance encounter with the president amid the rubble of ground zero became part of an iconic image of American unity after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Feb. 4. Toby Keith, 62. A hit country crafter of pro-American anthems who both riled up critics and was loved by millions of fans. Feb. 5. Stomach cancer. John Bruton, 76. A former Irish prime minister who played a key role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland. Feb. 6. Alexei Navalny, 47. The fiercest foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin who crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests. Feb. 16. Lefty Driesell, 92. The Hall of Fame coach whose folksy drawl belied a fiery on-court demeanor that put Maryland on the college basketball map and enabled him to rebuild several struggling programs. Feb. 17. Hydeia Broadbent, 39. The HIV/AIDS activist came to national prominence in the 1990s as a young child for her inspirational talks to reduce the stigma surrounding the virus she was born with. Feb. 20. Richard Lewis, 76. An acclaimed comedian known for exploring his neuroses in frantic, stream-of-consciousness diatribes while dressed in all-black, leading to his nickname “The Prince of Pain.” Feb. 27. Nikolai Ryzhkov, 94. A former Soviet prime minister who presided over botched efforts to shore up the crumbling national economy in the final years of the USSR. Feb. 28. Brian Mulroney, 84. The former Canadian prime minister forged close ties with two Republican U.S. presidents through a sweeping free trade agreement that was once vilified but is now celebrated. Feb. 29. Chris Mortensen, 72. The award-winning journalist covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN. March 3. David E. Harris, 89. He flew bombers for the U.S. military and broke barriers in 1964 when he became the first Black pilot hired at a major U.S. airline. March 8. Eric Carmen, 74. The singer-songwriter fronted the power-pop 1970s band the Raspberries and later had soaring pop hits like “All by Myself” and “Hungry Eyes” from the hit “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack. March 11. David Mixner, 77. A longtime LGBTQ+ activist who was an adviser to Bill Clinton during his presidential campaign and later called him out over the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer personnel in the military. March 11. Joe Lieberman, 82. The former U.S. senator of Connecticut nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in the disputed 2000 election and almost became Republican John McCain’s running mate eight years later. March 27. Complications from a fall. Louis Gossett Jr., 87. The first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots.” March 28. Lou Conter, 102. The last living survivor of the USS Arizona battleship that exploded and sank during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. April 1. The Rev. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, 94. An influential pastor and civil rights leader who used his tenure at one of Los Angeles’ oldest churches to uplift the predominantly Black neighborhoods following one of the country’s worst race riots. April 5. Peter Higgs, 94. The Nobel prize-winning physicist proposed the existence of the so-called “God particle” that helped explain how matter formed after the Big Bang. April 8. Ralph Puckett Jr., 97. A retired Army colonel awarded the Medal of Honor seven decades after he was wounded leading a company of outnumbered Army Rangers in battle during the Korean War. April 8. O.J. Simpson, 76. The decorated football superstar and Hollywood actor who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend but later found liable in a separate civil trial. April 10. William Strickland, 87. A longtime civil rights activist and supporter of the Black Power movement who worked with Malcolm X and other prominent leaders in the 1960s. April 10. Faith Ringgold, 93. An award-winning author and artist who broke down barriers for Black female artists and became famous for her richly colored and detailed quilts combining painting, textiles and storytelling. April 12. Carl Erskine, 97. He pitched two no-hitters as a mainstay on the Brooklyn Dodgers and was a 20-game winner in 1953 when he struck out a then-record 14 in the World Series. April 16. Dickey Betts, 80. The guitar legend who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man.” April 18. Roman Gabriel, 83. The first Filipino-American quarterback in the NFL and the league MVP in 1969. April 20. Duane Eddy, 86. A pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as “Rebel Rouser” and “Peter Gunn” helped put the twang in early rock ‘n’ roll and influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless others. April 30. Bernard Hill, 79. An actor who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and went down with the ship as the captain in “Titanic.” May 5. Steve Albini, 61. An alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more. May 7. Pete McCloskey, 96. A pro-environment, anti-war California Republican who co-wrote the Endangered Species Act and co-founded Earth Day. May 8. Roger Corman, 98. The “King of the Bs” helped turn out such low-budget classics as “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and gave many of Hollywood’s most famous actors and directors early breaks. May 9. Peter Buxtun, 86. The whistleblower who revealed that the U.S. government allowed hundreds of Black men in rural Alabama to go untreated for syphilis in what became known as the Tuskegee study. May 18. Bill Walton, 71. He starred for John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Fame center for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting. May 27. The Rev. James Lawson Jr., 95. An apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction. June 9. Lynn Conway, 86. A pioneer in the design of microchips that are at the heart of consumer electronics who overcame discrimination as a transgender person. June 9. Jerry West, 86. Selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive, his silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo. June 12. Willie Mays, 93. The electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players. June 18. Donald Sutherland, 88. The Canadian actor whose wry, arresting screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games.” June 20. Shelley Duvall, 75. The intrepid, Texas-born movie star whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” July 11. Shannen Doherty, 53. The “Beverly Hills, 90210” star whose life and career were roiled by illness and tabloid stories. July 13. Richard Simmons, 76. He was television’s hyperactive court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. July 13. James Sikking, 90. He starred as a hardened police lieutenant on “Hill Street Blues” and as the titular character’s kindhearted dad on “Doogie Howser, M.D.” July 13. Cheng Pei-pei, 78. A Chinese-born martial arts film actor who starred in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” July 17. Bob Newhart, 94. The deadpan accountant-turned-comedian became one of the most popular TV stars of his time after striking gold with a classic comedy album. July 18. Lou Dobbs, 78. The conservative political pundit and veteran cable TV host was a founding anchor for CNN and later was a nightly presence on Fox Business Network for more than a decade. July 18. Abdul “Duke” Fakir, 88. The last surviving original member of the beloved Motown group the Four Tops, which was known for such hits as “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” and “Standing in the Shadows of Love.” July 22. Jack Russell, 63. The lead singer of the bluesy ’80s metal band Great White, whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me,” and who was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island. Aug. 7. Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, 88. A Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him among the sport’s most popular players during a long professional career. Aug. 8. Susan Wojcicki, 56. A pioneering tech executive who helped shape Google and YouTube. Aug. 9. Wallace “Wally” Amos, 88. The creator of the Famous Amos cookie empire went on to become a children’s literacy advocate. Aug. 13. Phil Donahue, 88. His pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre that brought success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others. Aug. 18. Ruth Johnson Colvin, 107. She founded Literacy Volunteers of America, was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and received the nation’s highest civilian award: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Aug. 18. Al Attles, 87. A Hall of Famer who coached the 1975 NBA champion Warriors and spent more than six decades with the organization as a player, general manager and most recently team ambassador. Aug. 20. John Amos, 84. He starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots.” Aug. 21. Leonard Riggio, 83. A brash, self-styled underdog who transformed the publishing industry by building Barnes & Noble into the country’s most powerful bookseller before it was overtaken by the rise of Amazon.com. Aug. 27. Edward B. Johnson, 81. As a CIA officer, he traveled into Iran with a colleague to rescue six American diplomats who fled the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran. Aug. 27. Johnny Gaudreau, 31. An NHL player known as “Johnny Hockey,” he played 10 full seasons in the league. Aug. 29. Killed along with his brother when hit by a car while riding bicycles. James Earl Jones, 93. He overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen, eventually lending his deep, commanding voice to CNN, “The Lion King” and Darth Vader. Sept. 9. Tito Jackson, 70. One of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5. Sept. 15. John Ashton, 76. The veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films. Sept. 26. Maggie Smith, 89. The masterful, scene-stealing actor who won an Oscar for the 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. Sept. 27. Hassan Nasrallah, 64. The Hezbollah leader who transformed the Lebanese militant group into a potent paramilitary and political force in the Middle East. Sept. 27. Killed in an Israeli airstrike. Kris Kristofferson, 88. A Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor. Sept. 28. Pete Rose, 83. Baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied. Sept. 30. Lilly Ledbetter, 86. A former Alabama factory manager whose lawsuit against her employer made her an icon of the equal pay movement and led to landmark wage discrimination legislation. Oct. 12. Thelma Mothershed Wair, 83. One of nine Black students who integrated a high school in Arkansas’ capital city of Little Rock in 1957 while a mob of white segregationists yelled threats and insults. Oct. 19. Fernando Valenzuela, 63. The Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981. Oct. 22. Phil Lesh, 84. A classically trained violinist and jazz trumpeter who found his true calling by reinventing the role of rock bass guitar as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. Oct. 25. Teri Garr, 79. The quirky comedy actor rose from background dancer in Elvis Presley movies to co-star in such favorites as “Young Frankenstein” and “Tootsie.” Oct. 29. Multiple sclerosis. Quincy Jones, 91. The multi-talented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists. Nov. 3. Bernard “Bernie” Marcus, 95. The co-founder of The Home Depot, a billionaire philanthropist, and a big Republican donor. Nov. 4. Timothy West, 90. A British actor who played the classic Shakespeare roles of King Lear and Macbeth and who in recent years along with his wife, Prunella Scales, enchanted millions of people with their boating exploits on Britain’s waterways. Nov. 12. Bela Karolyi, 82. The charismatic, if polarizing, gymnastics coach turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport. Nov. 15. Chuck Woolery, 83. The affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19. Nov. 23. Prince Johnson, 72. The Liberian former warlord and senator whose brutal tactics shocked the world. Nov. 28. Ananda Krishnan, 86. One of Malaysia’s richest tycoons with a vast business empire including telecommunications, media, petroleum and real estate. Nov. 28. Lou Carnesecca, 99. The excitable St. John’s coach whose outlandish sweaters became an emblem of his team’s rousing Final Four run in 1985 and who was a treasured figure in New York sports. Nov. 30. Debbie Nelson, 69. The single mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his hit song lyrics. Dec. 2. Tsuneo Watanabe, 98. The powerful head of the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper, who had close ties with the country’s powerful conservative leaders. Dec. 19. Rickey Henderson, 65. The baseball Hall of Famer was the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball’s leadoff position. Dec. 20. Shyam Benegal, 90. A renowned Indian filmmaker known for pioneering a new wave cinema movement that tackled social issues in the 1970s. Dec. 23. Osamu Suzuki, 94. The charismatic former boss of Suzuki Motor Corp. helped turn the Japanese mini-vehicle maker into a globally competitive company. Dec. 25. Manmohan Singh, 92. India’s former prime minister who was widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States. Dec. 26. Richard Parsons, 76. One of corporate America’s most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup. Dec. 26.

To our electric vehicle (EV) owners: If you found yourself with the choice to buy another EV or return to an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV), which would you do? Well, if you are like most participants in a recent study, you’d replace it with another EV. Those are the results from a Global EV Alliance survey. The international non-profit network of 64 national EV driver’s associations found that 92% of current owners would purchase another EV if given the opportunity. The survey, which reached more than 23,000 EV owners from across 18 different countries, found that only 4% would replace their EV with a plug-in hybrid, and just 1% choose an ICEV. The survey was interesting because it supported a lot of what we’ve been writing about this year at CleanTechnica . Let’s do a deep dive into the survey questions and responses and determine what makes an EV owner so happy with their battery electric transportation. “Lower operating costs:” These include the cost of charging, which is typically cheapest at home (and overnight if one has time-of-use electricity pricing). And if one includes time costs, convenient home charging wins again and provides just more economic rationale for going electric. “The EV is climate friendly:” The electricity system is built for the most demanding hour of the year, but during every other hour there’s excess capacity, and EVs can be programmed to avoid peak hours when the electrical grid is strained. In fact, more and more EV models now can restore electricity to the grid when demand peaks, supporting the grid and preventing blackouts. “The EV is good for the local environment and makes less noise:” Based on where EVs have been sold, driving the average EV in the US produces global warming emissions equal to a hypothetical 94 mile per gallon gasoline car, or less than a third of the emissions of the average new gasoline car. Transportation is the largest sector for emissions, and passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs are the majority of transportation emissions. There is no way to slow down the climate crisis without a fundamental shift from petroleum to clean electricity to power our vehicles. “I am interested in new technology:” Today EVs have ample range (300-400 miles), plentiful remote charging infrastructure along major highway systems, cost one-third to operate compared to gas cars, and no longer require trips to the gas station or service centers for maintenance. Major automotive manufacturers are investing hundreds of billions of dollars to accelerate their EV offerings across all vehicle categories and motor types. “Good driveability:” It’s fascinating to see for oneself EV progress “ in the wild .” It’s even more impressive when you see one on your street or in your neighbor’s driveway! EVs are becoming so common that seeing one is not remarkable any longer. Largely, that’s due to the ease in driving one. “Lower maintenance costs: ” The time has come in which electric vehicle buyers should work in the cost of ownership into their financial planning. The biggest strengths of EVs are their fuel and maintenance costs. Studies indicate that EVs consistently have lower maintenance costs than their ICE alternatives. “EV policies/incentives:” There are many reasons for consumers to buy an EV right now. Buyers will save a bundle on fuel — home charging makes owning an EV reliable and affordable, and road trips in an EV are becoming easier. Electric vehicles have no tailpipe emissions — nearly three quarters of the GHG emissions from a gasoline vehicle come from the tailpipe during vehicle operation, and the planet really can’t take many more internal combustion engines if it is to thrive. Then again, if financial considerations are your main focus, the EV tax credit that is fleetingly available will have real meaning for you. “Competitive sales price:” Prices are falling because of increased competition, lower raw material costs, and more efficient manufacturing. Cox Automotive says a second, significant wave of shoppers is ready to consider buying an electric car in the second half of this decade. “Of all charging 72% is done at home:” Level 1 charging utilizes a regular household 120 volt (V) outlet. This provides around 4 miles of range per hour of charging. Level 2 charging utilizes a 240V outlet, such as one used by an electric dryer. This level of charging provides around 25 miles of range per hour. “13% fast charging:” Faster-charging and less expensive batteries with longer range are helping to push recharging along, with EV battery stakeholders working diligently on exponential improvements. “7% public parking with charging:” Non-Tesla EV owners are keenly aware that learning to charge when on longer road trips is really different than stopping at a Tesla Supercharger. Each time an EV owner charges on the road they become more comfortable with charging platforms and their ins and outs. In this new world of EV charging, there are numerous variables to process: having the charging app loaded on the phone with credit card information; kW max at each station; availability of the stations or their need of repair; if the station can accommodate more than one EV charging at a time; the cost to charge and to hold the account with a minimum balance. “7% work:” While it’s true that the majority of EV charging is done at a combination of homes, shopping sites, and other Level 2 charging stations, many employees also depend on being able to add electrons while they’re at their place of employment. As reported here at CleanTechnica and elsewhere, the nation’s EV charging station network has experienced plenty of bumps along the road to full build-out, and sometimes workplace EV charging stations aren’t as reliable as they should be. If they operate inefficiently, it’s stressful — employees can’t always be confident they’ll be able to charge their cars when they reach their firm. “1% other private:” Automakers are beginning to improve the public charging experience with lounge-like, comfort stations where drivers can relax. As EV charging stations become ubiquitous, competition for which providers offer the best amenities while the charging occurs will become common. Like airport lounges, the executive EV charging station of the future will offer services well beyond electrons. With those options will come differing types of amenities, based on various levels of pricing. “The EV is not sufficient as the only car in the household: ” Effective EV outreach programs prioritize proactively visiting and interacting with rural, low-income, and underserved communities as the first step in removing barriers and making clean transportation accessible to all. “Charging queues:” EV sales are outpacing the growth of chargers, which is causing problems for everyday EV drivers. The US needs to build out its EV charging capacity in order to reach the point where everyone who wants to drive an EV has the electrification to do so — on urban and rural roads, in busy communities and suburbs, in nearly any major intersection where you’d expect to find a gas station. “It requires too much planning:” For local driving, an EV suffices with overnight charging in your garage. You never have to visit a mechanic’s smelly garage for an emissions check. For cross-country driving, though, an EV will only take a little longer for 500 miles a day because much of your charging time is spent during bathroom and meal breaks. However, a 1500-mile trip will definitely take longer in an EV. Naomi Cole and Joe Wachunas nicely summed up the joy in owning an EV on CleanTechnica a few months ago. “Now that we’ve been proud EV owners for seven years, we can’t imagine returning to the loud engines and smoking tailpipes fueling the climate crisis. We won’t even rent a gas car when traveling and have had great luck renting electric vehicles...With EVs you can enjoy the convenience of personal vehicles, save money, and stop emitting pollution from your tailpipe. Win, win, win.” CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit

SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Kuminga had 34 points and made the go-ahead free throw in the Golden State Warriors' 109-105 win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. With the Warriors down one, Kuminga was fouled after getting inside positioning on Kevin Durant on an out-of-bounds play with 29 seconds to go. Kuminga made both free throws to put Golden State ahead and tie his career high in points a day after setting it against the Clippers on Friday. Durant, who led the Suns with 31 points, missed a shot on the other end, and Dennis Schroder made two free throws after the Suns committed a loose ball foul on the rebound. Phoenix led 65-61 at halftime. Stephen Curry, who had 22 points, beat the first-half buzzer with a one-handed, off-balance floater over seven-footer Oso Ighodaro after going behind the back to split two defenders. The Suns were without Jusuf Nurkic, who was serving the first of a three-game suspension for his role in a fight against the Mavericks on Friday. Royce O’Neale also left the game in the second quarter with a left ankle sprain. Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (lower abdominal strain) did not play in the second half. Takeaways Suns: The Suns have lost five of six and are under .500 for the first time this season after an 8-1 start. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is congratulated by forward Andrew Wiggins, left, after making a basket to end the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Francisco. Credit: AP/Godofredo A. Vásquez Warriors: The Warriors picked up a much-needed win to start a six-game homestand after losing six of seven. Key moment The Warriors held the Suns without a field goal in the final 6:48, keying their fourth-quarter comeback. Key stat The Warriors played in their league-leading 21st clutch game of the season, improving to 9-12 in games that were within five points in the last five minutes. Eight of their last nine games have been clutch games. Up next The Warriors host the Cavaliers on Monday, while the Suns host the Grizzlies on Tuesday.Caroline Dwane Stanley, wife of former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley, resigns from party

Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here . Playoff berths, draft positioning and more are up for grabs in Week 17. There’s going to be plenty of football on television this holiday week with the NFL playing games on five out of six days, starting with a doubleheader on Christmas Day featuring four of the AFC’s top five teams. Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs visit Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Then, two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens take on C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. The Bears host the Seahawks on Thursday night and there are three games on Saturday, making Sunday’s schedule light at nine games. The Lions-49ers wrap up the weekend on Monday night. Pro Picks goes for another winning week. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) at New England (3-12) Line: Chargers minus 4 The Chargers would clinch a wild-card spot with a victory over the Patriots, who battled hard against the Bills. Los Angeles is 9-2 against the spread as favorites. Justin Herbert is 9-0 ATS in the Eastern time zone in his career. The Patriots have lost eight straight home games in December. BEST BET: CHARGERS: 23-16 Denver (9-6) at Cincinnati (7-8) Line: Bengals minus 3 Joe Burrow and the Bengals have to win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. They’re favorites for the 12th time this season despite a losing record. The Broncos would clinch a wild-card berth with a win. They’re 11-4 ATS. UPSET SPECIAL: BRONCOS: 23-22 Kansas City (14-1) at Pittsburgh (10-5) Line: Chiefs minus 3 The Chiefs can set a franchise record for wins in the regular season and wrap up the No. 1 seed along with home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs as they continue their quest for a third straight Super Bowl title. Kansas City got another playmaker when wide receiver Marquise Brown made his season debut. Mahomes is 3-0 with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions in his career vs. Pittsburgh. The scuffling Steelers are trying to snap a two-game losing streak after missing an opportunity to clinch the AFC North. Wide receiver George Pickens should return from a hamstring injury and he’ll open up the passing game for Wilson and the offense. CHIEFS: 24-20 Baltimore (10-5) at Houston (9-6) Line: Ravens minus 5 1/2 The Ravens have won five in a row over the Texans, including 34-10 in a divisional playoff game last season. Baltimore can move into first place in the AFC North with a win and loss by Pittsburgh. But Jackson and Derrick Henry face a tough challenge against Houston’s defense. Stroud and the Texans are reeling after losing receiver Tank Dell to a devastating knee injury. RAVENS: 23-19 Seattle (8-7) at Chicago (4-11) Line: Seahawks minus 3 1/2 The Seahawks have to win to maintain slim playoff hopes. The Bears have lost nine straight. Geno Smith and Jaxon Smith-Njigba should have a big day against Chicago’s pass defense. SEAHAWKS: 26-20 Arizona (7-8) at Los Angeles Rams (9-6) Line: Rams minus 6 A four-game winning streak has the Rams on the verge of securing the NFC West. Los Angeles aims to avenge a lopsided loss to Arizona in Week 2. The Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs and are reduced to playing spoiler. With Kyren Williams leading the rushing attack, the Rams don’t have to rely on Matthew Stafford’s passing as much. RAMS: 26-16 New York Jets (4-11) at Buffalo (12-3) Line: Bills minus 10 The Bills will know going in if they have a shot at the AFC’s No. 1 seed. If the Chiefs beat the Steelers and lock it up, Buffalo’s main priority will be keeping Josh Allen and everyone healthy. Still, they can rest in Week 18. After a subpar effort against the Patriots, the Bills can’t take Aaron Rodgers and the Jets lightly. BILLS: 27-16 Las Vegas (3-12) at New Orleans (5-10) Line: Raiders minus 1 The Raiders already hurt their draft positioning by beating the Jaguars last week. Another win could further knock them down and negatively impact their quest for a franchise quarterback. But coach Antonio Pierce wants to win and the players don’t care about draft slots. The Saints can’t get to the end of the season fast enough. RAIDERS: 20-16 Carolina (4-11) at Tampa Bay (8-7) Line: Buccaneers minus 8 The Panthers have embraced the spoiler role and coach Dave Canales will try to derail his former team’s playoff hopes. Bryce Young keeps improving and Chuba Hubbard is having a career year. The Buccaneers would’ve lost to Carolina last month if Hubbard didn’t fumble in overtime. Baker Mayfield and a turnover-prone offense have to overcome a depleted defense that couldn’t stop Cooper Rush and the Cowboys. BUCCANEERS: 26-20 Tennessee (3-12) at Jacksonville (3-12) Line: Jaguars minus 1 The winner of this one really loses because it’ll be costly in the race for draft positioning. TITANS: 19-17 Indianapolis (7-8) at New York Giants (2-13) Line: Colts minus 8 The Giants have come too far to lose the No. 1 pick in the draft. The Colts are clinging to slim playoff hopes. Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson combined for 308 yards and four TDs against the Titans. They could have similar results against New York. COLTS: 27-16 Dallas (7-8) at Philadelphia (12-3) Line: Eagles minus 9 1/2 The Cowboys are left to play for a winning record after being eliminated from the playoff race. The Eagles still need a win to secure the NFC East, but are almost locked into the No. 2 seed. If Jalen Hurts can’t play because of a concussion, Dallas has a shot against Kenny Pickett. Saquon Barkley is 268 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. He could have a big day facing the fifth-worst run defense in the NFL. EAGLES: 24-17 Green Bay (11-4) at Minnesota (13-2) Line: Vikings minus 1 The Vikings are two wins away from the NFC’s No. 1 seed with Sam Darnold. Let that sink in. But those won’t be easy victories. Minnesota has to beat Green Bay and then Detroit on the road to win the NFC North and get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Vikings defeated the Packers 31-29 in Green Bay in September. They’re getting the Packers on short rest off a Monday night rout. The Vikings have been overlooked and underrated. This is a statement game. VIKINGS: 27-22 Miami (7-8) at Cleveland (3-12) Line: Dolphins minus 6 1/2 Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins still have slim playoff changes and get an opportunity to win a game in cold weather. A loss helps the Browns hold onto a top-five pick in the draft. DOLPHINS: 25-16 Atlanta (8-7) at Washington (10-5) Line: Commanders minus 4 The Falcons regained control of their NFC South hopes when the Buccaneers lost. Now, they have a tough test against the Commanders with Michael Penix Jr. making his second start facing off against Jayden Daniels in another matchup between rookie QBs. Daniels beat Caleb Williams and the Bears earlier this season on a Hail Mary. Washington clinches a playoff berth with a win or a loss by Tampa Bay. COMMANDERS: 24-23 Detroit (13-2) at San Francisco (6-9) Line: Lions minus 4 The Lions aim to avenge their loss in the NFC championship game, though this matchup lost its luster because the 49ers are eliminated from the playoff race. Detroit clinches the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a win if the Packers beat the Vikings. If Minnesota beats Green Bay, the Lions have to beat the Vikings in Week 18 to win the division and secure the top seed so the result against San Francisco won’t matter. In that case, Dan Campbell could choose to rest some of his starters in preparation for a winner-take-all regular-season finale. LIONS: 26-23 Last week: 12-4. Against spread: 8-7-1 Overall: Straight up: 168-72. Against spread: 131-105-4. Prime-time: Straight up: 39-14. Against spread: 29-23-1. Best Bet: Straight up: 9-7. Against spread: 8-8. Upset Special: Straight up: 9-7. Against spread: 9-7. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflMUNICH: A second-half Harry Kane hat-trick took Bayern Munich to a 3-0 home win over Augsburg on Friday, sending them eight clear atop the table ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. Bayern, still yet to lose in the league in 2024-25, were dominant throughout but kept at bay by some dogged defending from their Bavarian neighbors. With 61 minutes gone, the ball connected with Augsburg’s Mads Pedersen’s outstretched arm in the box, bringing the England captain to the spot after a VAR review. Kane cooly converted to give Bayern the lead. In stoppage time, Kane went down in the box after contact from Keven Schlotterbeck and Bayern were again awarded a penalty after a VAR review, which the 31-year-old converted. Schlotterbeck was sent from the field after picking up a second yellow for his challenge. Kane then added a third, this time controlling a cross and heading in, his seventh hat-trick since joining Bayern. “We knew it would be difficult to break them down. We knew we had to be patient,” Kane told DAZN. “At halftime that’s what we said, ‘we just have to keep doing what we’re doing’. Thankfully we got the penalty to open the game up and then did well to kill the game off.” The England captain now has 14 goals in 11 league games for Bayern this season, five of which have come from the spot. “I work on them a lot. They’re a big part of the game. They helped us again today. Of course I’ve missed many at training, but that’s the time to miss them,” Kane laughed. Neuer boost Leipzig can cut the gap back to five when they play at struggling Hoffenheim on Saturday, while defending champions Bayer Leverkusen host Heidenheim. The German giants received a boost pre-match, with captain and veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer cleared to start after missing training with a rib issue. Bayern were in control of possession and field position but could not break through. Augsburg offered little in attack but defended stoutly, holding Bayern’s glittering attacking riches at bay. Augsburg goalie Nediljko Labrovic held firm to snuff out first-half chances from Jamal Musiaia and Leon Goretzka. The Bavarian giants, still smarting after going trophyless for the first time in 11 seasons last campaign, eventually broke through with half an hour remaining, breaking Augsburg’s resolve. Riding high in the league, Bayern have struggled in the Champions League format, sitting 17th after four games — six behind leaders Liverpool. Tuesday’s home match with PSG, who are even further down the Champions League table, could be crucial for the German side in their top-eight bid to avoid the extra playoff round. Kane backed his team to get through a tough phase, which includes a trip to Borussia Dortmund and a home German Cup clash with holders Bayer Leverkusen. “Big week ahead of us but the team is feeling good, we just have to keep going with this momentum,” added Kane. — AFP