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Martin Truex Jr. in staring down elimination from NASCAR playoffs after winning regular season title

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:05:01 GMT

A shell-shocked Martin Truex Jr. has slumped into Bristol Motor Speedway fighting for his season.Truex won the regular-season title but two bad races to open NASCAR’s playoffs has him on the brink of elimination headed into Saturday night’s race at Bristol, Tennessee. The bottom four drivers in the 16-driver field will be cut from the championship sprint and Truex, winner of three races this season, is 13th — below the cutline. A cut tire three laps into last weekend’s race at Kansas — and an 18th-place finish in the playoff opener at Darlington — has Truex in serious trouble headed into one of his weaker tracks. In 32 previous starts on Bristol’s concrete configuration, a winless Truex has a meager four top-10 finishes. “It’s obviously a terrible spot to be in,” Truex said Friday. “Last week we didn’t even get a chance to race, which was disappointing. Coming off a tough Darlington race, and then, you know, two laps in (at Kansas) you feel ...

Detroit high schools produced the most NFL players in opening week with 19

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:05:01 GMT

Sauce Gardner’s hometown is practically an NFL factory.There were 19 players from Detroit high schools on NFL rosters for opening week, the most of any city. Bradenton, Florida, had the second-most players (17), followed by Houston with 16 players.“Detroit football is tough, it’s real gritty and grimy there. There’s a lot of talent, though,” said Gardner, the New York Jets’ All-Pro cornerback, who attended Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School in Detroit. “Lots of people with a story. The majority of people that I know in the league from Detroit, they worked really hard to get out, and they made it.”Las Vegas (15), Miami (14) and Atlanta (14) were next on the list. Overall, Texas had the most players of any state with 187. Florida (178) and California (173) were next. Georgia (150) was the only other state with more than 100.“High school football is the bedrock for advancement in our great game,” said Roman Oben, the NFL’s vice president of football development. “Recently, we ha...

All Blacks score 11 tries in big win over Namibia blemished by first Rugby World Cup red card

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:05:01 GMT

TOULOUSE, France (AP) — Scrumhalf Cam Roigard and flyhalf Damian McKenzie scored two tries each and made a strong bid for first-team roles as New Zealand beat Namibia 71-3 in the Rugby World Cup on Friday.Roigard had his double inside the first seven minutes of his World Cup debut and provided assists in first-half tries by McKenzie and Leicester Fainga’anuku, and in the second half to David Havili. The All Blacks scored 11 tries in all. McKenzie converted eight for a 26-point haul.The New Zealand lineup wasn’t second string but featured nine changes from the team which lost to France 27-13 in the first match of the tournament, including the new halves pairing of Roigard and McKenzie. Both may need to be considered at least for bench roles in the All Blacks’ top lineup later in the tournament.Roigard showed a sharp nose for opportunities and, despite rain which sometimes was torrential in the first half, McKenzie kept the ball in hand more often than playmakers Beauden Barrett...

Leverkusen strikes late to hold Bayern 2-2 in Munich to declare itself a Bundesliga title contender

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:05:01 GMT

MUNICH (AP) — Exequiel Palacios scored a penalty in injury time for Bayer Leverkusen to hold 11-time defending champion Bayern Munich 2-2 away and declare itself a Bundesliga title contender on Friday.Dayot Upamecano scored with the last kick of the game for Bayern, but the France defender was confirmed offside by a video review and Thomas Tuchel’s team had to settle for a point against the only other side to have started the league with three wins.It seemed like Leon Goretzka had earned Bayern a late win to maintain the champion’s perfect start.Bayern substitute Mathys Tel crossed from the left and found Goretzka free in the middle to fire what many presumed was the winner in the 86th minute.But Alphonso Davies was penalized through VAR for a foul on Jonas Hofmann and Palacios scored the equalizer in the fourth minute of stoppages.Harry Kane earlier scored again for Bayern. The club’s record-signing was left free at the far post to head in the opener from a corner in the seve...

Norfolk Southern CEO promises to keep improving safety on the railroad based on consultant’s report

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:05:01 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Norfolk Southern’s CEO pledged to continue working to improve safety after consultant the railroad hired following the fiery Ohio derailment recommended making sure that safety is truly a priority at all levels and continuing many efforts it has already begun.CEO Alan Shaw told the railroad’s employees in a letter Thursday that Norfolk Southern will take several immediate steps in response to the initial report Atkins Nuclear Secured delivered including strengthening the way it responds to any safety incident and establishing a dedicated team to work on implementing the consultant’s recommendations.The railroad industry has been in the spotlight ever since the February derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border prompted evacuations, health worries, a massive ongoing cleanup and calls for reforms.“I know that each of you feels as strongly as I do that we need to do everything we can to prevent accidents that can impact commun...

Denver weather: Sunshine and warmer temperatures return this weekend

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:05:01 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Thanks to the latest round of showers and thunderstorms, Denver weather records now show enough rain to get totals back on track for September. And Denver is still running more than 6 inches ahead for an entire year's rain total.Now, enjoy a great weekend that will be perfect for football, according to Pinpoint Weather, Colorado’s Most Accurate Forecast.Rocky Mountain Showdown forecast Saturday nightBroncos forecast at Mile High SundayWeather tonight: Clearing and coolShowers and thunderstorms will end through the evening across southern parts of the state. Skies will be clearing from north to south. The wind will be light and it will be cool across the Eastern Plains and in metro Denver, with overnight readings in the 40s. It will be cold in the Colorado mountains, with most places in the 30s and some close to or even below freezing.Overnight lows by Saturday morning across ColoradoWeather tomorrow: Sunny and warmerSkies will be sunny across the state on Saturday wi...

Oregon launches legal psilocybin amid hopes for improved mental health care

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:05:01 GMT

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Psilocybin tea, wind chimes and a tie-dye mattress await those coming to an office suite in Eugene to trip on psychedelic mushrooms. For roughly six hours, adults over 21 can experience what many users describe as vivid geometric shapes, a loss of identity and a oneness with the universe.Epic Healing Eugene — America’s first licensed psilocybin service center — opened in June, marking Oregon's unprecedented step in offering the mind-bending drug to the public. The center now has a waitlist of more than 3,000 names, including people with depression, PTSD or end-of-life dread. What is the black Colorado license plate and how much does it cost? No prescription or referral is needed, but proponents hope Oregon's legalization will spark a revolution in mental health care.Colorado voters last year passed a measure allowing regulated use of psychedelic mushrooms starting in 2024, and California’s Legislature this month approved a measure that would allow possession an...

Denver Broncos face Washington Commanders: TV channel, time, what to know

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:05:01 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Denver Broncos are looking to come back from a tough loss against the Las Vegas Raiders in week 1 with a victory over the Washington Commanders this week at Empower Field.How to watch Commanders vs. Broncos on TVKickoff: 2:25 p.m.Channel: CBSKickoff between the Broncos and Commanders takes place Sunday at 2:25 p.m. at Empower Field in Denver. Tickets for Commanders vs. BroncosAs of Friday afternoon, there are still tickets together throughout the stadium. The most affordable individual seats start at $70 plus fees for the upper level of the stadium. Analysis: Payton’s excoriation of his predecessor looks even worse after his bungled Broncos debut If you want to be closer to the action, seats in the lower bowl start around $115 through the Broncos website. Secondary websites like StubHub also have plenty of seats available. They're generally listed around the same price ranges outlined above. Denver forecast for Commanders vs. BroncosIt's going to be a great da...

DeSantis suspends Diaz de la Portilla after arrest; commissioner says ‘not an ounce of truth’ to money laundering, bribery allegations

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:05:01 GMT

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has suspended Miami City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla a day after the commissioner and his attorney were arrested on money laundering and bribery charges.In a news release issued Friday evening, DeSantis’ office confirmed the governor signed issued Executive Order 23-184 suspending the commissioner.Moments after he walked out of the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Thursday night, Diaz de la Portilla insisted he did nothing wrong and called his arrest political.“Not an ounce of truth. Not an an ounce of truth to those allegations,” he said. “This is a work of fiction, and I’ll repeat it again: this is a work of fiction by a Democrat state attorney targeting a Republican city commissioner. Period.”Charges against him include bribery, money laundering and official misconduct. Some of that alleged misconduct involved a controversial private school in Miami. According to the Miami Herald, the investigation revealed ...

MDPD Director Alfredo Ramirez home from hospital weeks after shooting himself near Tampa

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:05:01 GMT

Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez has returned to South Florida nearly two months after, authorities said, he shot himself on the side of Interstate 75 south of Tampa.According to state law enforcement officials, Ramirez severely wounded himself with a gunshot wound to the head on July 23.Prior to the incident, investigators said, Ramirez and his wife had some sort of argument at the JW Marriott in Tampa, where the police director was attending a law enforcement conference.Tampa Police units responded to the hotel and spoke with Ramirez and his wife before he got to leave with his wife and his gun.A troubled Ramirez then made a phone call to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Not long after, he shot himself in the head while his wife was in the car.Ramirez’s wife called for help, and the 52-year-old was rushed to Tampa General Hospital, where he spent weeks recovering.Ramirez, a Democrat, is still running for reelection as MDPD’s po...