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Trump says competency tests 'would be a good thing' as age concerns cast shadow on 2024

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:08:11 GMT

(The Hill) — Former President Trump suggested in an upcoming interview that he is "all for" competency tests, as concerns grow over age ahead of the 2024 presidential election. When asked by "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker what Trump makes of the age issue and if there should be a cap — the former president said "No.""But there should be a competency... I'm all for the test," he continued, adding that he has already taken a test and "I aced it. I get everything right." Ken Paxton acquitted in Texas impeachment trial "Im all for testing. I frankly think testing would be a good thing," he told Welker in a "Meet the Press" interview set to air on Sunday. "A lot of people say it’s not constitutional to do it. But I would be for testing, to test to make sure everyone’s just fine. But a lot of people say that can’t happen because of Constitution."The age of a president has become a growing concern for Americans as Trump, 77 — who is leading for the Republican nomination for th...

To extend their season, Lynx must once again demonstrate their patented resiliency

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:08:11 GMT

Things look bleak for the Lynx at the most important moment of the season.Minnesota is down 1-0 in its best-of-3 series against Connecticut heading into Sunday’s do-or-die Game 2 on the road, fresh off a 30-point shellacking at the hands of the Sun on Wednesday.The Lynx have lost three straight games dating back to the regular season, allowing nearly 90 points per contest during that stretch. They are 9.5-point underdogs heading into Game 2 — a contest they have to have to force a decisive Game 3 back at Target Center.All signs point to Minnesota’s season ending much sooner than later. But this isn’t the first time the odds have been against this team. Remember, the Lynx started the summer 0-6. At that point, the No. 1 draft pick looked far more likely than a potential playoff berth.But Minnesota was able to resurrect its campaign, eventually working all the way back to .500. Seven times this season, the Lynx bounced back from a double-digit defeat to win the...

Photos: Heroes Day at the Minnesota State Capitol honors veterans

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:08:11 GMT

Visitors came to pay respect at the Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial during Heroes Day at the State Capitol in St. Paul on Saturday.The event included tours of the Capitol building and representatives at each of the veteran, war and public service memorials on the grounds.“If (the Memorial) impacted one person, one family, it’s a great day,” said Tiffany Kovaleski, co-chair of the Medal of Honor Memorial.Related ArticlesLocal News | Game 1 photos: MN Vikings vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Local News | High school football: Nick Kinsey, Stillwater clutch late to beat Woodbury 28-25 Local News | Photos: Rare blue supermoon dazzles stargazers around the globe Local News | Photos: Minnesota State Fair heats up while butter sculptures stay cool Local News | 2023 Minnesota State Fair opening day photo gallery

Gophers AD Mark Coyle: Fans can look forward to more marquee nonconference games

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:08:11 GMT

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Gophers fans can look forward to more football games against teams from power conferences.Athletics Director Mark Coyle said Saturday on KFAN that even in an expanded 18-team Big Ten Conference, the U can expect to play nonconferenece games against teams from the ACC, SEC and Big XII.“In my mind, and P.J’s mind, the answer is absolutely yes,” Coyle said. “…  (Fleck) thinks it’s important for our program to see where we are at, and it prepares you for a gauntlet that is the Big Ten schedule. I very much see these games in our future.”The U already has a few bigger nonconference games on future schedules: vs. North Carolina in the 2024 season opener; at California (2025); vs. Mississippi State (2026); at Mississippi  State (2027); vs. Cal (2028); vs. Alabama (2032); and at Alabama (2033).This leaves the U with openings for these types of bigger nonconference opponents in 2029-31.Coyle anticipated the Big Ten football schedule for 2024 — with the additions of USC, U...

Sepp Kuss on verge of victory at Spanish Vuelta. He’ll be 1st American man to win Grand Tour in a decade

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:08:11 GMT

GUADARRAMA, Spain — Sepp Kuss arrived at the Spanish Vuelta tasked once more with helping to shepherd some of the top stars in cycling over the mountains and put them in a position to win the prestigious race.Twenty racing days later, Kuss was being congratulated by his teammates on Saturday for having virtually locked up the first Grand Tour title for an American man in a decade.Kuss crossed the finish line of the 20th and penultimate stage flanked by Jonas Vingegaard, the two-time defending Tour de France winner, and Primoz Roglic, who was aiming to match a record with a fourth Vuelta title. His illustrious Jumbo-Visma teammates locked arms with Kuss and gently pedaled over the final meters.“It was very special to finish the stage with my teammates after all the team had put in so much work. I am very, very happy,” Kuss said in Spanish. “(We are) almost there … we still have tomorrow.”Kuss will wear the red leader’s jersey heading into Sunday’s final stage, when cyclin...

Ezequiel Tovar leads Rockies to 9-5 win over Giants in first game of doubleheader

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:08:11 GMT

The Rockies’ one-two rookie punch KO’d the Giants in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Coors Field.Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar hit a three-run triple and drove in a career-high four runs, and left fielder Nolan Jones tripled and scored three times as Colorado rolled to a 9-5 victory.The Rockies won their fourth consecutive game, tying a season-best streak set way back on April 30 to May 4.The Giants, who entered the day one game out of the race for the National League’s third wild-card spot, were hurt by awful pitching. The Giants walked seven, including four in Colorado’s three-run fifth inning.Ryan Walker walked Hunter Goodman with the bases full to force in one run. Walker was replaced by Ross Stripling, who promptly walked Harold Castro for another run.San Francisco led 3-0 in the third until Tovar’s bases-loaded triple knotted the game in the bottom of the frame.Jones hit a one-out triple in the sixth and scored on Tovar’s s...

Broncos placing TE Greg Dulcich on IR with hamstring issue, will be without him until Week 6 at earliest

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:08:11 GMT

Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich is going on injured reserve after all.The second-year player out of UCLA injured his hamstring late in the first half against Las Vegas last weekend. As a result of the placement, Dulcich will miss at least four games. He is eligible to return Week 6 at Kansas City — a Thursday night game — at the earliest.Part of the concern with Dulcich is that he’s had recurring injuries to his right hamstring. They cost him a total of seven games — the first five of the year and the final two — over his rookie year and most of the offseason program after he was drafted.Dulcich did not practice during the week but Denver waited to see how he responded in the opening days after the injury before deciding to take him out of consideration for at least four weeks.Teams can designate up to eight players to return from injured reserve over the course of the season. The Broncos already have four that could be contenders: Dulcich, safety P.J. Locke, nickel...

California lawsuit says oil giants deceived public on climate, seeks funds for storm damage

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:08:11 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The state of California filed a lawsuit against some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, claiming they deceived the public about the risks of fossil fuels now faulted for climate change-related storms and wildfires that caused billions of dollars in damage, officials said Saturday.The civil lawsuit filed in state Superior Court in San Francisco also seeks creation of a fund — financed by the companies — to pay for recovery efforts following devastating storms and fires. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement the companies named in the lawsuit — Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and BP — should be held accountable.“For more than 50 years, Big Oil has been lying to us — covering up the fact that they’ve long known how dangerous the fossil fuels they produce are for our planet,” Newsom said. “California taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for billions of dollars in damages — wildfires wiping out entire communities, toxic smoke clog...

San Leandro police chief on leave, city investigating allegations of ‘policy violations’

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:08:11 GMT

San Leandro police Chief Abdul Pridgen is on paid administrative leave, following allegations that the department’s top cop violated internal policies, city officials confirmed Friday.Chief Pridgen, who was appointed to the job in July 2021, was placed on the temporary leave Sept. 11, according to a press release from Paul Sanftner, a spokesperson for the City Manager’s Office.No specific details or clarifications about the allegations have been released. The city has not released any estimated timeline for how long the investigation will take.In the meantime, the city has tapped Kevin Hart, a 35-year Bay Area law enforcement veteran and former Dublin councilman, to serve as interim chief. After retiring as an Alameda County Sheriff’s deputy, Hart has served as chief of the state Department of Hospitals and in the upscale East Bay enclave of Kensington.In a statement Friday, San Leandro City Manager Fran Robustelli said that Hart’s “extensive background and proven leadership s...

SF Giants fail to wake up in first game of doubleheader, drop second straight to last-place Rockies

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:08:11 GMT

DENVER — Breakfast food piled on to plates as players gathered around tables in the visiting clubhouse Saturday morning. It was so early that the televisions were tuned to ESPN, but no college football had kicked off yet. Pancakes, waffles, french toast, eggs, hash browns, bacon, berries. Fuel for a long day at altitude.For most Giants, their day-night doubleheader Saturday meant more than 12 hours at the ballpark, one that keeps supplemental oxygen canisters in the dugouts for players gasping for air after as little as scoring from second base, due to its mile-high elevation.“It’s gonna be a pretty big challenge,” manager Gabe Kapler acknowledged of the physical toll of playing 18 innings here, with only a couple hours of intermission in between. “It’ll be a pretty big challenge for the Rockies, too.”It’s not good, then, that the Giants looked out of gas in the opening game of the taxing twin bill.Less than 24 hours after being held without...