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Butler, Herro power Heat past Knicks 127-120 as playoff-race plot thickens

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:45:30 GMT

Well this certainly thickens the plot.In a game that rekindled the passion of Miami Heat-New York Knicks from a previous era, the Heat produced a 127-120 statement victory Wednesday night at Miami-Dade Arena that also made a statement in the standings.Not only did the win put the Heat into a virtual tie with the Brooklyn Nets for the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, the final direct ticket into the playoffs, but also moved Erik Spoelstra’s team within two games of the Knicks for No. 5.The Heat not only next host the Nets on Saturday night, but also play next week in New York, with the chance to take the playoff tiebreaker from the Knicks (the Heat already have lost the tiebreaker to Brooklyn).Down now to eight games remaining in their regular season, and still with work to do to avoid the play-in round for seeds Nos. 8-10, the Heat again got a leading-man performance from Jimmy Butler, who closed with 35 points.But there also was plenty in support, including 22 points fro...

Winderman’s view: Kevin Love catches gritty spirit of Heat-Knicks in key win

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:45:30 GMT

Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 127-120 victory over the New York Knicks:– Say this about Kevin Love: He has brought a love of the game to the game.– At a point of season when players and teams are dragging, Love has infused the Heat with vitality.– All he wanted in Cleveland was the chance to play.– He is savoring the opportunity with the Heat.– And he looks like he fits right in with Heat-Knicks.– No, in no way a leading man in this one.– But a pest, a nuisance, and one heck of a TD fullcourt outlet pass to Jimmy Butler for an early score.– He enjoys being here.– And his teammates enjoy having him.– All while appreciating that he is here to complement.– A former All-Star willing to get on the floor.– As long as he doesn’t keep taking blows to the head, there is value there.– The Heat, as they have since acquiring Love, again opened with Love, Bam Adebayo, Butle...

San Diego health professionals quell fears as deadly infection spreads at 'alarming rate' nationwide

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:45:30 GMT

SAN DIEGO - As a deadly fungal infection spreads at an alarming rate per the CDC, San Diego hospitals say it's not the case locally, but they are on high alert. One of them being Rady Children's Hospital, who gathered media Wednesday to help quell fears regarding the quick spread of the infection otherwise known as Candida Auris, or C. Auris. While not an issue in San Diego, Medical Director of Infectious Diseases Dr. John Bradley said it's only a matter of time before the infection makes its way to the area. "It’s a word of caution to all the hospitals in the United States that this particular Candida strain is spreading, and it’s spreading faster than the CDC had expected," Dr. Bradley shared. The motive Wednesday was primarily centered around initiating a warning while also reassuring the community amid high tension throughout the U.S. Is this San Diego’s rainiest ‘water year’ on record? "People in San Diego, who are reasonably healthy, don’t have to worry about this. If someo...

Two registered sex offenders plead not guilty to sexually assaulting minor in motel room

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:45:30 GMT

EL CAJON, Calif. -- Two registered sex offenders accused of sexually assaulting a teen at an El Cajon Motel 6 had their first court appearance Wednesday.“My concern is the victim and making sure we hold these men accountable for what they did, for what they did to this very vulnerable 16-year-old girl,” said Clayton Carr, the San Diego County Deputy District Attorney.Michael Inman, 70, and Lawrence “Larry” Cantrell, 34, who are co-defendants in an alleged underage sexual assault, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday.In court, Carr said Inman met a 16-year-old girl at a trolley station in Lemon Grove. Inman brought the girl to Cantrell’s Motel 6 room on Montrose Court in El Cajon -- the motel is within a mile of Johnson Elementary School and Cajon Valley Middle School.Carr told the court Cantrell suspected the girl was a minor, but proceeded to sexually assault her.When El Cajon police arrested the two men, they both admitted to the sexual assault. Cantrell also admitted he had a video of...

Liberal MP Han Dong resigns from caucus amid foreign interference allegations

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:45:30 GMT

Han Dong, the member of Parliament at the centre of allegations of Chinese meddling in Canadian affairs, says he is resigning from the Liberal caucus and will sit as an Independent.Dong tells the House of Commons tonight that some media outlets have reported unverified and anonymous sources that have attacked his reputation and called into question his loyalty to Canada.Global News, citing unnamed security sources, published a report tonight alleging that Dong spoke about Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig with a Chinese diplomat in Toronto in February 2021.At the time, the two Canadian men had been detained in China for just over two years in apparent retaliation for the December 2018 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition warrant.Dong, the MP for Don Valley North since 2019, told Global News that he did meet with the diplomat but disputed how the conversation about the men known as the “two Michaels” was characterized.He tells the Hou...

Toronto MP Han Dong quits Liberal caucus amid Chinese interference allegations

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:45:30 GMT

OTTAWA — Han Dong, the member of Parliament at the centre of allegations of Chinese meddling in Canadian affairs, says he is resigning from the Liberal caucus and will sit as an Independent.Dong tells the House of Commons tonight that some media outlets have reported unverified and anonymous sources that have attacked his reputation and called into question his loyalty to Canada.Global News, citing unnamed security sources, published a report tonight alleging that Dong spoke about Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig with a Chinese diplomat in Toronto in February 2021.At the time, the two Canadian men had been detained in China for just over two years in apparent retaliation for the December 2018 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition warrant.Dong, the MP for Don Valley North since 2019, told Global News that he did meet with the diplomat but disputed how the conversation about the men known as the “two Michaels” was characterized.He tell...

GOP operative who advised Youngkin moves to pro-DeSantis PAC

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:45:30 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A top Republican operative who worked as an adviser on Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s winning campaign has signed on to work for a super PAC urging Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president.Jeff Roe will serve as an adviser to Never Back Down, according to a person familiar with the arrangement but not authorized to speak publicly about it. Roe ran Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign and has advised numerous other GOP politicians, including Eric Greitens, who resigned as Missouri governor in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign violations.Roe didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment late Wednesday.The move comes as DeSantis readies for an expected 2024 Republican presidential campaign and works on building up a campaign infrastructure to support a potential bid.It wasn’t clear what the departure of a top strategist would mean for Youngkin, who sparked speculation about a possible presidential...

African Union urges nearly $90 million for its Somali force

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:45:30 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The African Union appealed for nearly $90 million Wednesday for its peacekeeping force in Somalia, which is providing support to its military forces battling al-Shabab extremists.Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, told two reporters that the more than 19,600-strong AU force won’t be able to function properly and help the Somalis unless that funding gap is filled.A year ago, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a new African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, to support the Somalis until their forces take full responsibility for the country’s security at the end of 2024.If the AU force doesn’t have the funds to operate effectively in the coming 21 months before the handover, Adeoye said, “it may mean that al-Shabab will eventually take over the responsibilities of a state in Somalia.”“The implications are huge,” he said. “And we do not want the international community to lose focu...

Man shot by Toronto police wants body cam footage released, says he was carrying knife

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:45:30 GMT

A man shot and seriously injured by Toronto police last month spoke out for the first time on Wednesday, acknowledging that while he was carrying a knife before the interaction with officers, he did not pose a threat to anyone.Devon Fowlin, alongside his lawyer, Knia Singh, held a press conference surrounded by family members, during which he called for the release of body cam footage of the Feb. 27 incident with responding officers.Officers were called to the Black Creek Drive and Trethewey Drive area just before 8 a.m. that Monday for reports of a person with a knife. Toronto police alleged a man was walking his dog in a nearby park when he got into an altercation with another man.Fowlin, it’s alleged by police, pulled out a knife and threatened the other man.Fowlin admitted to carrying the knife, telling reporters he used it to cook and pray as he was experiencing homelessness at the time. He denied threatening anyone with it, saying he was preparing for prayer at the park ...

Arizona court declines most of Lake’s appeal over gov’s race

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:45:30 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Supreme Court has declined to hear most of Republican Kari Lake’s appeal in a challenge of her defeat in the governor’s race, but revived a claim that was dismissed by a trial court.In an order Wednesday, the state’s highest court said a lower-court had erroneously dismissed Lake’s claim challenging the application of signature verification procedures on early ballots in Maricopa County. The court sent the claim back to a trial court to consider.Lake, who lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs by just over 17,000 votes, was among the most vocal 2022 Republican candidates promoting former President Donald Trump’s election lies, which she made the centerpiece of her campaign. While most other election deniers around the country conceded after losing their races in November, Lake did not.In her challenge, the former TV anchor focused on problems with ballot printers at some polling places in Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of the state’s voters. The defective pr...