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Alexandria-based church hosts ‘Reindeer Run’ to help families in need with Christmas shopping

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:51 GMT

A church in Alexandria, Virginia, helped make a better Christmas for a dozen or so families Saturday, hosting a shopping spree for kids in need.At 6 a.m., well before the Target on Richmond Highway opened to the public, Lamonya Hudson and her two kids got to tear through the aisles, picking out toys.“Seeing all the different toys and being able to just pick whatever they want … that was something that they never had before,” Hudson told WTOP.Hers was one of many families that participated in the Alfred Street Baptist Church’s Reindeer Run.Her eldest son, 3 year-old Messiah, told WTOP he got a Lightning McQueen car and racetrack. His favorite thing to do with toy cars is make them ”flip.”“We try to bring together families that may have had a rough year, and bring their children out here to Target, give them a cart, give them five minutes to run through the store — they always go to the toy section, grab whatever they want,” said Rev. Howard-John Wesley, senior pastor of Alfred ...

UNC Wilmington defeats Georgia Southern 82-77

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:51 GMT

STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) — Shykeim Phillips scored 20 points as UNC Wilmington beat Georgia Southern 82-77 on Saturday.Phillips had seven rebounds and five assists for the Seahawks (8-2). Maleeck Harden-Hayes was 3 of 12 shooting, including 3 for 9 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line to add 13 points. KJ Jenkins shot 4 for 7, including 3 for 5 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points.Tyren Moore finished with 30 points for the Eagles (0-11). Eren Banks added 15 points for Georgia Southern. In addition, Mannie Harris had 10 points. ___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Kochera puts up 17, Davidson defeats Lynchburg 98-63

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:51 GMT

DAVIDSON, N.C. (AP) — Connor Kochera had 17 points in Davidson’s 98-63 win over Lynchburg on Saturday.Kochera was 7 of 11 shooting (3 for 4 from 3-point range) for the Wildcats (8-3). David Skogman scored 11 points, shooting 4 for 5, including 3 for 4 from beyond the arc. Bobby Durkin shot 4 for 8, including 3 for 7 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points.Jonathan Foust led the way for the Hornets with 15 points. Cameron O’Conner added nine points for Lynchburg. Michael Gray also had five points.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Boulder Police respond to multiple bomb threats at Jewish synagogues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:51 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Boulder Police Department said a bomb threat was sent to multiple Jewish synagogues near Boulder on Saturday.Police responded to a bomb threat at Congregation Har HaShem on Baseline Road around 8:30 a.m., according to a press release.The area was inspected and cleared, and police said there were no threats found and there was no active risk to public safety. The threat was sent via email to multiple other Jewish synagogues in the area, BPD said.“Fortunately, we were able to respond quickly to this threat. We are glad to report that no bomb was found and nobody was hurt,” Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said.The FBI was informed of the threat, which is now part of an ongoing investigation. Police are asking anyone with information related to the incident to call the non-emergency dispatch line at 303-441-3333.

Mother of woman killed at music festival in Israel aims to raise awareness at Miami Beach fundraiser

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:51 GMT

A mother is on a special mission to raise awareness after her daughter was killed in Israel.Hannie Ricardo’s pain was on display Friday at an event in Miami Beach, with the goal of making a difference.“My daughter Oriya was murdered,” she said. “I’m here to talk about her and talk about the other 362 young people that were massacred in the Nova party.”Oriya was slaughtered just over two months ago at the infamous music festival in Israel, as Hamas launched their siege.“It makes me so angry,” said Hannie.In the midst of her grief, Hannie is trying to help other families by raising money for people who lost everything in the invasion.On Friday, she met with Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner.“She’s an impressive woman, and I told her that God should continue to give her strength, and the small part that we can play here in Miami Beach, we’re 100% behind her,” he said,Attendees at the event said they’re determin...

Another storm to end the weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:51 GMT

After a nice, mild Saturday, another storm system is expected to move in Sunday with similar impacts to last week’s wind and rain event. Sunday morning the storm will move from Florida to the Mid-Atlantic, with showers extending to the DC area by lunch time. Into the late afternoon and evening, the first few showers make it to Southern New England, but the worst impacts hold off until the overnight. Although rain amounts are expected to be less, wind will be a bit more impactful with gusts 60-70mph possible over a larger area. This could cause isolated to scattered power outages, especially along the coast. These high wind gusts are expected Monday morning but could continue into the afternoon. Rainfall will still be substantial but expected to be slightly less, about 1-3″ for most of the area. Stay tuned for updates from the 7Weather team as the storm moves in.

Massachusetts State Police union elects new president

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:51 GMT

With nearly ¾ of all members casting a vote, the president of the State Police union has been replaced.The State Police Association of Massachusetts, or SPAM, Election Committee reported on the union’s public-facing communications website that Brian Williams, a member of the certification unit of the State Police Standards and Training division, had won election as the association’s president. He will replace Patrick McNamara, who had served as president for two years.A total of 1,540 votes were cast out of the eligible pool of 2,078, representing a 74% turnout by Association members, according to the results page. Williams earned 764 votes to McNamara’s 650. Peter Levesque came in third with 112 votes.SPAM Vice President Luke Bonin kept his seat with 1,107 votes to challenger Seth Peterson’s 388. Secretary Matthew Kane ran unopposed so kept his seat. Conversely, Treasurer Christopher Donahue, with 575 votes, lost his seat to challenger Brendan Murphy’s 934 votes.Williams, in a lett...

Goalie Mike Karo, Hingham hold off St. John’s Prep, 3-2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:51 GMT

MIDDLETON – Slated with two games against Catholic Conference powers after losing the season-opener to Andover, there was a real chance the Hingham boys hockey team could have started the year at 0-3 – especially while missing star forward Travis Rugg due to injury.Not once did the thought come up, though, and that confidence showed plenty Saturday as the No. 7 Harbormen (1-1) edged out a 3-2 win over No. 5 St. John’s Prep (0-1) at Essex Sports Center.Paul Dzavik scored the first of his two goals within the first 27 seconds, setting the tone early for a two-goal lead by the end of the first period. The Eagles twice cut their deficit as they carried play in long stretches, but the Hingham defense blocked a barrage of shots and sophomore goalie Mike Karo (33 saves) showed great vision on what got through.“We capitalized on every opportunity we got,” said Hingham head coach Tony Messina. “We played with a bunch of energy and that helped us. … We had so many kids tonight that kind of (s...

Patriots elevate Kevin Harris from the practice squad

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:51 GMT

The Patriots elevated running back Kevin Harris from the practice squad on Saturday afternoon.It’s the second week in a row that Harris, a 2022 sixth-round pick out of South Carolina, will be on the game day roster. He joins Ezekiel Elliott and JaMycal Hasty among Patriots available running backs with Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) ruled out.Harris did not play in last week’s 21-18 win over the Steelers despite being elevated.The Patriots also downgraded tight end Pharaoh Brown to questionable with a foot injury. Tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki are available to play if Brown is inactive.

Hong Kong’s activist publisher to stand trial this week under Beijing’s crackdown on dissidents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:51 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — The trial of Hong Kong’s most famous activist publisher who was arrested under China’s crackdown on dissidents will start Monday after being delayed for over a year.Jimmy Lai, 76, broke into the city’s once freewheeling media world about three decades ago, armed with the belief that delivering information is equal to protecting freedom. Now, his own freedom is at stake as he faces a possible life sentence if convicted under a national security law imposed by Beijing following the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Lai is charged with colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to publish seditious publications. The landmark case — tied to the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily that Lai founded — is seen by many as a trial for press freedom and a test for judicial independence in the former British colony, which was promised to have its Western-style civil liberties remain intact for 50 years after returning to ...