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Gray lowers ERA to 2.84, helps Twins beat White Sox 4-0 to close on AL Central title

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:49:22 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Sonny Gray closed on Gerrit Cole for the AL ERA lead, Edouard Julien and Jorge Polanco homered and the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 4-0 on Sunday.Minnesota (79-71), nearing its third division title in five seasons, leads second-place Cleveland (72-78) by seven games with 12 games remaining.Gray (8-7) lowered his ERA from 2.96 to 2.84, just behind Cole, who leads the AL at 2.81 for the New York Yankees. Gray gave up five hits in seven innings, struck out six and walked none, ending a three-start winless streak. He allowed leadoff doubles in the fourth and six innings, then retired three straight both times.Griffin Jax and Emilio Pagán finished a six-hitter for Minnesota’s 11th shutout this season.Dylan Cease (7-8) allowed three runs, four hits and three walks in six innings. Chicago (57-93) has lost seven of nine, Julien hit a three-run homer in the fifth, his 14th home run this season, and Polanco added his 13th of the season against L...

Lukaku and Dybala play together for first time and help Roma crush Empoli 7-0

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:49:22 GMT

MILAN (AP) — Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala looked a powerful partnership in their first match together as they helped Roma crush newly promoted Empoli 7-0 in Serie A on Sunday.Dybala netted twice and Lukaku scored his first goal in his second match since joining from Chelsea. Renato Sanches, Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini and an own-goal from Alberto Grassi secured Roma’s first win of the season in style.Dybala had missed Roma’s last match against Milan — which was Lukaku’s debut — through injury. Empoli has now lost all four of its opening matches without scoring a goal.Jose Mourinho’s Roma got off to the best possible start when it was awarded a penalty almost immediately following a blatant handball by Empoli defender Sebastian Walukiewicz. Dybala struck it powerfully into the top left corner to give his side the lead with less than two minutes on the clock.Renato Sanches headed in a cross from fellow new signing Rasmus Kristensen six minutes later for his first goal for R...

England grind Japan down and cut loose late in second Rugby World Cup win

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:49:22 GMT

NICE, France (AP) — England first wore Japan down then scored a bizarre try and rolled to a 34-12 win and a second straight victory at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday.With Japan trailing only 13-12 nearing the hour mark, the odd try gave England breathing space. Flyhalf George Ford’s pass glanced off prop Will Stuart’s arm backwards and ricocheted forwards off prop Joe Marler’s mohawk into the grateful hands of captain Courtney Lawes who walked in between the posts. Ford’s conversion made it 20-12.Moments later, Japan cut through England’s defense but knocked on with the line in sight and momentum was lost. England’s third try soon followed, when Ford sent a clever crosskick from right to left and fullback Freddie Steward caught it and twisted into the corner.Good work from right winger Jonny May created space and the ball was quickly moved to the middle, where center Joe Marchant went over for the bonus-point fourth try.Coach Steve Borthwick’s England is not p...

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs get past early mistakes to beat Jaguars, avoid 0-2 start

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:49:22 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdown passes, including one to returning star Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs overcame three early turnovers to beat Jacksonville 17-9 on Sunday for their third victory against the Jaguars in 10 months.The Chiefs (1-1) won their eighth straight in the series and avoided becoming the first Super Bowl champions to start 0-2 since Denver in 1999.The Jaguars (1-1), who insisted all week they owed the Chiefs because of a loss in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs in January, pretty much no-showed in their home opener.Coach Doug Pederson’s team had another slow start, failed to capitalize on two of three turnovers and struggled to protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence threw incomplete on a fourth-and-12 play with 4:16 remaining in an eight-point game, and Kansas City didn’t let the Jaguars get the ball back.Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, making his season debut after ending his holdout and signing...

2,220 stairs: Volunteers at National Harbor honor New York firefighters lost in 9/11

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:49:22 GMT

On Sunday, firefighters and civilians alike climbed 110 flights of stairs at the Gaylord National Convention Center at National Harbor in Maryland to honor New York Firefighters lost at the twin towers on 9/11.The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is an annual event in multiple cities that supports the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. As each participant completed the 110 flights, or 2,220 steps, a single bell was rung with the name of a fallen hero read aloud.The 110 flights represents the floors of the twin towers that 343 New York firefighters were responding to when they were lost on 9/11.“Every single participant has a fallen firefighter from that day clipped to their chest,” said Prince George’s County Fire Chief Tiffany Green. “And so they’re climbing in memory of those individuals. I think there’s a somber remembrance that exists.”Maryland firefighters and civilians alike climbed 110 flights of stairs at the Gaylord National Conventi...

Auto collision kills 4 Greek rescue workers dispatched to flood-stricken Libya, health minister says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:49:22 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Four Greek rescue workers dispatched to Libya following devastating flooding in the eastern city of Derna were killed in an automobile collision on Sunday, Libya’s health minister said. Some 11,300 people died when two dams collapsed during Mediterranean storm Daniel last week sending a wall of water gushing through the city, according to the Red Crescent aid group. A further 10,000 people are missing, presumed dead. Rescue workers from Greece, Turkey, Egypt and other countries have since flocked to the decimated port city to offer help.On Sunday, a bus carrying 19 Greek rescue workers collided with an oncoming vehicle carrying five Libyan nationals on the road between the cities of Benghazi and Derna, said health minister Othman Abduljaleel in a press conference. Three Libyans in the oncoming vehicle were also killed.Seven of the surviving Greek rescue workers were in critical condition, the minister said. In a parallel statement, the Greek Foreign Ministry ackno...

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson disqualified for hit in end zone

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:49:22 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Big-hitting Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was disqualified Sunday in the second quarter for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Washington tight end Logan Thomas in the end zone.Thomas hauled in a 4-yard TD pass from Sam Howell before taking a blow from Jackson. Several Commanders took exception and confronted Jackson before being separated. The officials called Jackson for a personal foul after he launched himself at Thomas. Colorado star Travis Hunter taken to hospital during game after late hit vs CSU Thomas left the game and was being evaluated for a concussion.It's the second straight week where Jackson has drawn a flag for a hit. Last weekend, Las Vegas Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers left on the game's final drive after taking a shot from Jackson that drew an unnecessary roughness call. Meyers was out this weekend with a concussion.The Broncos are thin at secondary after losing Caden Sterns in the season-opening loss to the Raiders when he tore his left patellar...

Celebrities among the crowd at the CU vs. CSU game

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:49:22 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Folsom Field was sold out and star-studded for Saturday's game between the Colorado Buffaloes and Colorado State Rams.The No. 19 Buffs took down the Rams 43-35 in a game that went into double overtime.Several NFL stars and even the Wu-Tang Clan were among the crowd in last week's home opener against Nebraska, and the celebrity line-up for this week was just as, if not more, impressive.Here's a list of some of the celebrities who came out to Folsom Field on Saturday.Dwayne 'The Rock' JohnsonIt's quite fitting that "The Rock" made an appearance in, of all places, Boulder, to attend "The Rock"-y Mountain Showdown.The A-list Hollywood star was photographed numerous times sporting a No. 2 Shedeur Sanders jersey.Lil WayneRapper Lil Wayne not only attended the matchup, but he performed as the Buffs took the field before the game. Colorado star Travis Hunter taken to hospital during game after late hit vs CSU Lil Wayne even wore a custom CU jersey during the game. The No....

Boebert goes on OAN to defend 'Beetlejuice' ejection

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:49:22 GMT

(The Hill) – Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) pushed back on media accounts of her being kicked out of a Denver theater production of “Beetlejuice” last week over bad behavior, saying that some accounts were exaggerated and untrue.“I was a little too eccentric. I’m very known for having an animated personality, maybe overtly animated personality. I was laughing, I was singing, having a fantastic time,” Boebert said in an OAN interview Sunday. “Was told to kinda settle it down a little bit, which I did, but then my next flip up was taking a picture.”  Video shows Boebert vaping in theater, despite denial Video from the evening shows Boebert causing a disturbance during the performance, including vaping and taking flash photography. While being escorted out of the theater, video appears to show her giving the finger to security guards.The controversial congresswoman garnered widespread criticism for her behavior, mostly online.Her office previously denied the vaping allegations, b...

Student debt? These US states, including Colorado, offer relief

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:49:22 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — For the first time since March 2020, millions of federal student loan borrowers will be making regular payments on their loans, and interest will be accruing. Although the Biden administration’s attempt to erase millions in student debt was halted by the Supreme Court, there are still a number of ways to get debt relief. Who qualifies for $0 student loan payments? Among those? Buying a house. Depending on where you live, or where you’re willing to move to, you could see your debt erased. There are a number of states that will help you pay off your student loans should you buy a home in their region.Meanwhile, other states offer relief to some workers, depending on where they're employed.Ready to move? Here’s where to look. KansasWithin the Sunflower State are more than 90 counties designated as “Rural Opportunity Zones,” or ROZ. Those who move into one of those counties can receive student loan repayment assistance and/or 100% state income tax credit, accordi...