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Column: It’s a new year. But will this also be a new future for the Chicago Bulls?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:00 GMT

The passage of a year always shifts perspective. That couldn’t be more true for the Chicago Bulls as they enter 2024.The Bulls exited 2023 in nearly identical form to the way they entered it. On Jan. 1, 2023, the Bulls were 16-20. They entered the new year at 15-19. On paper, this status feels the same — sitting four games under .500, clinging to the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference to remain in play-in contention. Yet the energy around the team could not be more different a full year later.Last season, the Bulls teetered around the .500 mark until Nov. 9, after which they tumbled as low as 12th in the East before stumbling into 2023. It wasn’t dramatic, just the humdrum drone of an underperforming roster.This season took on a different tone. The lows came first — a players-only meeting fueled by an opening-night blowout, a five-game road losing streak and a 5-14 start, the worst since 2018. But that only made the highs more redemptive as the Bulls rode a ...

Gaslamp bagel and coffee shop, Spill the Beans, adding two new locations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO — San Diego's secret has been out for quite some time now with locations of eclectic coffee joint, Spill the Beans, starting to pop up all over the city.The beloved spot for a cup of joe and a bagel will be adding even more outposts across San Diego in 2024, expanding its reach inland and towards the coast.Spill the Beans kicked off the new year with the grand opening of its third location in Mission Valley. Situated minutes from the Mission Valley mall, the shop features spacious of indoor and patio dining options, as well as its signature freshly-made food and drink offerings.The store, which is located at 525 Camino de la Reina, will be open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Better Buzz Coffee brings East County into hive with new La Mesa location Later this year, Spill the Beans will build on the new Mission Valley outpost with the opening of its fourth location at 4827 Newport Ave. in Ocean Beach. Additio...

Federal appeals court temporarily delays new state-run court in Mississippi’s majority-Black capital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:00 GMT

JACKSON, MISS. (AP) — A federal appeals court has temporarily delayed Mississippi officials from creating a state-run court in part of the majority-Black capital city of Jackson starting on Monday.The ruling came just before U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate dismissed requests to block the new court in a ruling filed late Sunday. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a temporary administrative stay, blocking the court’s creation until at least Jan. 5. The decision followed a request from the NAACP.“The NAACP stands firm in our belief that this legislation is inherently undemocratic,” NAACP spokesperson Alicia Mercedes said in a statement Monday. “We will continue to do everything in our power to fight for Jackson residents’ rights to have control over their own institutions and live free from state-driven discrimination.” Michelle Williams, chief of staff for Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, responded to the decision by pointing to a statement she i...

Former NBA G League player held in woman’s killing due in Vegas court after transfer from Sacramento

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:00 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A former NBA developmental league player accused with his ex-girlfriend of killing a woman whose body was found last month in southern Nevada is due to face a Las Vegas judge on Tuesday following his transfer in custody from a jail in Sacramento, California.Chance Comanche, 27, who played for the Stockton Kings before his Dec. 15 arrest in Sacramento, arrived Sunday at the Clark County Detention Center and is due for an initial appearance, jail and court records showed.Comanche’s defense attorney, Gary Guymon, declined comment Monday ahead of the court appearance.Comanche’s’ former girlfriend, Sakari Harnden, 19, also is jailed in Las Vegas pending a separate preliminary hearing Wednesday on charges related to the disappearance and death of Marayna Rodgers, 23, of Lynnwood, Washington. Police in Las Vegas said Rodgers, a medical assistant, was choked to death early Dec. 6. Her remains were later found in a roadside ditch in suburban Henderson. Comanche, ...

81-year-old Toronto pedestrian hit by vehicle days ago has died in hospital: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:00 GMT

An 81-year-old Toronto man walking across the street in Little Portugal on Thursday has died at a hospital, police officers say.Toronto police investigators said the incident happened just after 7:10 p.m. on Dufferin Street near Fisher Street, between Dundas Street West and College Street.Officers said the man, who was initially described as being 65 years old, was walking to the east side of Dufferin Street from the west side when he was hit by a 2010 Toyota Corolla going northbound near Fisher Street. Related: Pedestrian seriously injured after being hit by vehicle in Toronto’s Little Portgual A Toronto Paramedic Services spokesperson told CityNews 680 on Thursday the man was taken to a hospital in serious, but non-life-threatening condition. However, the man’s condition appears to have worsened in the hospital. Police investigators said he died on Monday.Meanwhile, officers said the 22-year-old driver of the vehicle was uninjured and stayed at the sce...

An Israeli who fought Hamas for 2 months indicted for impersonating a soldier and stealing weapons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:00 GMT

Jerusalem (AP) — An Israeli man who never served in the military was charged with impersonating a soldier and stealing weapons after sneaking into an army unit and joining the fighting against Hamas. According to an indictment filed Sunday, Roi Yifrach, 35, took advantage of the chaotic situation in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack to join combat operations and steal large amounts of military gear, including weapons, munitions, and sensitive communications equipment.Israeli media said he spent time fighting in Gaza and even appeared in a photo next to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during one of his visits to soldiers in the field.Yifrach went to southern Israel on Oct. 7 and presented himself alternately as a combat soldier from elite anti-terrorism units, a bomb dispersal expert, and a member of the Shin Bet internal security service, the indictment said.Police arrested Yifrach on Dec. 17 and found large amounts of weapons, grenades, magazines, walkie-talkies, a drone, uni...

Police looking to identify suspect in Oshawa break and enter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:00 GMT

Durham police are looking to identify a man after a home was broken into in Oshawa.On Dec. 29, at approximately 9:30 a.m., police responded to a call at a residence in the area of Grandview Street North and Harmony Road North in Oshawa after the home owner reported that an unknown man entered the home and stole a large quantity of jewellery.The suspect then fled from the residence on foot. Surveillance images of the suspect have been obtained. He is described as male, 5’6”, wearing a black puffy jacket, light grey sweat pants and a toque. Anyone with information about the incident or suspect is asked to contact police.

Chicago crime stats 2023: Murders, shootings down but crime still stubbornly high

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Preliminary CPD numbers indicate that murders are down, but the crime rate is stubbornly high. While there were fewer shooting incidents year over year, the city has seen many more robberies. Forty-five minutes into the new year, in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, multiple people were shot, one fatally. It was Chicago’s first homicide of 2024. "We’re starting off in 2024 in the 7000 block of South Wabash, three individuals have been transferred to surrounding hospitals with multiple gunshot wounds." crisis responder Andrew Holmes said.  Driver crashes into tree near ice rink in Millennium Park As detectives investigate the shooting, the Chicago Police Department is highlighting positives in the 2023 crime statistics. The preliminary data indicates there were 617 murders last year, down from 709 in 2022. There were also fewer shooting victims, 2,883 were reported in the last year compared to 3,484 in 2022. But CPD said robberies were up 23% and motor ve...

First of three storms to start 2024 arrives Tuesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Happy New Year from the KXAN First Warning Weather Team! NEW: 2023 was Austin's hottest year on record After a bright and chilly start to the year, we're going to get colder and wetter for the second day of 2024.The first of three Pacific storms on track to bring rain to Central Texas will arrive on Tuesday with the majority of the rain coming during the afternoon and early evening. Generally most areas should get a quarter of an inch up to 1 inch of rain out of this first storm, but localized amounts up to 2" are possible, mainly east of I-35.Tuesday storm timelineTuesday will be colder with highs only in the upper 40s and low 50s making for the coldest day of the week.Rain wraps up near midnight into early Wednesday morning and we dry out for a couple of days.Our second storm brings widespread rain and isolated thunderstorms on Friday with rain arriving by early morning.Storm #2 brings a wet FridayTemperatures this week will mainly be in the 50s before slowly wa...

First woman mayor inaugurated in Troy 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:08:00 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – A historic moment in Troy as Carmella Mantello was inaugurated and officially became the first female mayor of the city. She laid out her plans now that she’s in office. Mayor Mantello was all smiles as she walked through the crowd and greeted everyone as she made her way to the front. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! “Imagine with me a future for Troy that is better, safer, cheaper, cleaner, greener, and more prosperous,” Mantello said during her speech on the rooftop of the Franklin Plaza. It's something she’s been dreaming of, for years, being the first woman to serve as mayor of Troy.“It’s really, really cool to be the first woman mayor of the city of Troy. It’s long overdue, but obviously the proof will be in the pudding,” said Mantello. Among her plans? Removing all lead pipes during her first term. “I’m going to be very aggressive going after state and federal money,” said Mantello. She plans on hir...