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Election officials see range of threats in 2024, from hostile countries to conspiracy theorists

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:23:56 GMT

By Christina A. Cassidy, Associated PressATLANTA (AP) — For election officials preparing for the 2024 presidential election, the list of security challenges just keeps growing.Many of the concerns from four years ago persist: the potential for cyberattacks targeting voter registration systems or websites that report unofficial results, and equipment problems or human errors being amplified by those seeking to undermine confidence in the outcome.Add to that the fresh risks that have developed since the 2020 election and the false claims of widespread fraud being spread by former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Death threats directed at election workers and breaches of voting equipment inside election offices have raised questions about safety and security. Some states have altered their voting and election laws, expanded legislative control of local elections and added penalties for election workers who violate rules.The turmoil has contributed to a wave of retireme...

Iran executes four people for alleged links with Israel’s Mossad

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:23:56 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran executed on Friday four people and sentenced several others to prison for having alleged links with Israel’s Mossad security service, local media reported.Mizan, the news website affiliated with the country’s judiciary, said three men and one woman were executed Friday morning. It identified the men as Vafa Hanareh, Aram Omari, Rahman Parhazo and the woman as Nasim Namazi. The report didn’t say how the deaths were carried out, but Iran usually applies hanging. The four were charged with kidnapping several Iranian security forces to extract intelligence information, Mizan reported. They were also accused of setting fire to cars and apartments of some of Iran’s intelligence agents.The report also said several others — working with the same group — were each sentenced to 10 years in jail, without giving further details.This came less than a week after an alleged Israeli airstrike killed a high-ranking Iranian general in Syria.Iran and Israel have long accused e...

Rogue wave slams into Southern California beachgoers; 9 hospitalized

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:23:56 GMT

Video captured the terrifying moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura on Thursday. The incident happened as locals were being warned about a massive swell pounding the Southern California coastline this week.The rogue wave submerged bystanders at Pierpont Beach on Seaward Avenue around 11 a.m. That area has been hit the hardest with what the National Weather Service called “tremendous wave energy.”A witness, Colin Hoag, captured cell phone video of the explosive wave. As the waters suddenly flooded an observation zone, both people and vehicles were instantly swept away. Beachgoers were seen frantically running for their lives. The raging waters destroyed the windows of nearby beachfront buildings and hotels on its destructive path.Video captured the moment beachgoers were slammed into by a massive rogue wave in Ventura County on Dec. 28, 2023, sending nine people to the hospital. (Colin Hoag)Video captured the moment beachgoers were slammed i...

Elderly victim suffers critical burns in San Leandro house fire

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:23:56 GMT

(KRON) -- An elderly resident suffered "critical burns" in a house fire on Thursday, the Alameda County Fire Department said Thursday. ACFD responded to the 1500 block of Thrush Avenue at 8:09 p.m. Crews arrived to see light smoke coming from the home. Good Samaritans shot at Pinole gas station, gunman found under I-80, police say Crews went inside and put out the fire in the back bedroom. The resident was in the back bedroom, which was fully engulfed. Firefighters were able to keep the call to one alarm and rescue the resident, who was hospitalized.Two people and two dogs were displaced. The Red Cross was called to the scene. Authorities are investigating the case of the fire.

Joe Flacco throws 3 TD passes and Browns clinch unlikely spot in playoffs with 37-20 win over Jets

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:23:56 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Joe Flacco has turned a seemingly cursed season into a charmed one.Cleveland’s quarterback for just over a month, Flacco passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns and the Browns clinched an unlikely playoff berth — just their second since 2002 — despite numerous injuries this season with a 37-20 win over the New York Jets on Thursday night.The Browns (11-5) are assured of a wild-card spot and still have a chance to win the AFC North and maybe the conference’s No. 1 overall seed, something that seemed unfathomable just weeks ago as major injuries piled up.But things have changed since Flacco arrived.The 38-year-old quarterback improved to 4-1 as a starter with the Browns, who plucked the Super Bowl 47 MVP off his couch in New Jersey last month to hopefully rescue their season. He’s done that and more.In the final minutes, Browns fans chanted “Flac-co! Flac-co!” to a quarterback they once reviled with Baltimore and now revere.“You don’t know ho...

Joel Farabee stars as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-1

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:23:56 GMT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Egor Zamula, Sean Walker and Joel Farabee scored in the second period, leading the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.Farabee also had an assist and Garnet Hathaway scored in the third for Philadelphia, which had dropped two in a row.“We just kind of played patient, waited for our opportunities,” Farabee said. “You get a couple of quick ones there, it builds that momentum and you just go from there.Samuel Ersson stopped 18 of 19 shots for the Flyers. Carter Hart replaced Ersson in the third period and was perfect in facing eight shots.Vancouver dropped to 7-1-2 in its last 10 games. Teddy Blueger scored for the Canucks, and Casey DeSmith stopped 21 shots in his sixth career start against the Flyers.“We’re all disappointed in the loss, we’ve just got to make sure this doesn’t fester,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said.Zamula opened the scoring 15:03 into the second. He got a power-play goal for his second...

Tyler Herro scores 26 points, short-handed Heat beat Warriors 114-102 for 4th straight win

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:23:56 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tyler Herro had 26 points and seven rebounds to help the short-handed Miami Heat beat the Golden State Warriors 114-102 on Thursday night for their fourth straight victory. Star forward Jimmy Butler sat out his fourth straight game because of a strained left calf, while Kyle Lowry (soreness), Caleb Martin (sprained right ankle) and Josh Richardson (back discomfort) also were unavailable for the Heat.Jamal Cain added 18 points and six rebounds and Bam Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 17 points apiece as Miami kicked off a five-game West Coast swing.“It’s just a testament to our gratitude, the guys’ next-man-up mentality,” Herro said. “Just coming in here and being able to fulfill guys that are out, being able to fulfill those spots.”Even knowing the Heat were not at full strength, coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors were bracing for a tough one.“They played good games, they played hard, and that’s what coach was preaching before the game: They are go...

Zach Hyman keys fast start as the Edmonton Oilers beat the San Jose Sharks 5-0

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:23:56 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard and Ryan McLeod each had a goal and an assist in the first period, and the Edmonton Oilers beat the San Jose Sharks 5-0 on Thursday night.Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored for Edmonton in the opener of a three-game California trip. Stuart Skinner made 25 saves in his second shutout of the season and No. 4 for his career.The Oilers improved to 11-3-0 in their last 14 games, rebounding from a rough start to the season. Skinner said the four-goal first period by his team gave him “a lot of confidence.” “I think we were rolling around for a good five minutes straight in their end, and that’s a huge credit to the guys being ready off the bat,” Skinner said.Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said Skinner came up with some really good saves.“We gave up a lot of shot attempts from the slot, more than we have probably in the last dozen games,” Knoblauch said. San Jose dropped its seventh straight game. It’s the longest skid fo...

Wembanyama scores 30 points, Spurs snap 5-game skid with a 118-105 win over Trail Blazers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:23:56 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 30 points, six rebounds, six assists and seven blocks and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-105 on Thursday night to snapped a five-game losing streak.The teams will meet again in Portland on Friday night.Wembanyama had 30 or more points for the third time this season. The No. 1 pick in the draft scored 30 in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 13, and had 38 in a win over the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 2.Wembanyama put on a show in a matchup against fellow lottery pick Scoot Henderson.“It’s always important to me to play against great players, especially players my age,” Wembanyama said.Henderson finished with 25 points, four assists and six turnovers for Portland.“His length alone is just weird, it’s like he hovers over you,“ Henderson said about Wembanyama. “You can’t really feel him or bump him off because of his length.”Jeremy Sochan added 16 points and seven rebounds for San Antonio. Malcolm Brogdon and Jerami ...

Russia unleashes one of the year’s biggest aerial barrages against Ukrainian targets

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:23:56 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched about 110 missiles overnight as well as drones against Ukrainian targets in one of the biggest barrages of the year, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday.Most of the incoming missiles and drones were shot down but at least seven civilians were killed and an unknown number of people were buried under rubble, Ukrainian officials said. Scores were reported injured.Zelenskyy said the Kremlin’s forces used a wide variety of weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles.Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said Russia “apparently launched everything they have” against targets across Ukraine.The roughly 18-hour onslaught that began Thursday and continued through the night hit six cities, including the capital Kyiv, and other areas from east to west Ukraine, according to authorities.___Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraineThe Associated Press