Another Final Four banner awaits Miami’s Jim Larrañaga, who is not slowing down

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:21:38 GMT

Another Final Four banner awaits Miami’s Jim Larrañaga, who is not slowing down CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Jim Larrañaga’s coaching career started without warning.Go back about six decades. Larrañaga is playing on the freshman squad at Archbishop Malloy High School, his team off to a 7-0 start when it hit the Christmas break. And that’s when he got called into the office of varsity coach Jack Curran, who delivered grim news.“Larry, your coach quit,” Curran said on that December day.Curran had Larrañaga serve as one of two player-coaches to finish the season. The team won the city championship. Larrañaga’s career was off and running — and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. The latest celebration of his coaching life comes Friday night, when No. 13 Miami (1-0) will unveil its Final Four banner from last season before taking on UCF.“I look forward to practice every day,” said Larrañaga, who also took George Mason to the Final Four in 2006. “Practice is my favorite time of the day. And being around the players, whether it’s on the court or off the court, is v...

Ole Miss, Kiffin seek dismissal of suit filed by Rebels football player

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:21:38 GMT

Ole Miss, Kiffin seek dismissal of suit filed by Rebels football player OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi football coach Lane Kiffin and the school have filed a motion seeking dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a Rebels player alleging racial and sexual discrimination and negligence.The lawsuit filed in federal court in Oxford contends that DeSanto Rollins, a defensive tackle from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was kicked off the team during a mental health crisis. The school maintained in Wednesday’s filing seeking dismissal that Rollins remains on the team and on scholarship.He is still listed on the roster but has not played this season for the 10th-ranked Rebels, who visit No. 1 Georgia on Saturday.Rollins, who is Black, is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and $30 million in punitive damages. He claims he was not supported through his depression the way white and female athletes have been at Ole Miss.Rollins’ playing career has been hampered by injuries, including a concussion and Achilles tendon injury in the spring and summer of 2022, that l...

The man accused of attacking Nancy Pelosi’s husband was caught up in conspiracies, defense says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:21:38 GMT

The man accused of attacking Nancy Pelosi’s husband was caught up in conspiracies, defense says FILE - Police tape blocks a street outside the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi in San Francisco on Oct. 28, 2022. Opening statements are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 8, 2023, in the federal trial of the man accused of breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco home seeking to kidnap her and bludgeoning her husband with a hammer. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)(AP/Eric Risberg) FILE - Police tape blocks a street outside the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi in San Francisco on Oct. 28, 2022. Opening statements are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 8, 2023, in the federal trial of the man accused of breaking into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco home seeking to kidnap her and ...

NFL says juniors declaring for draft can play in 3 of the all-star games, including Senior Bowl

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:21:38 GMT

NFL says juniors declaring for draft can play in 3 of the all-star games, including Senior Bowl Juniors who declare for the NFL draft will be eligible for three of the college all-star games after this season, including the Senior Bowl.The league sent a memo to all 32 NFL teams on Wednesday informing them that the East-West Shrine Bowl, Senior Bowl and HBCU Legacy Bowl can now accept juniors. Underclassmen who had graduated were already eligible. The memo, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, was previously reported by The Athletic and ESPN.Top junior prospects include USC quarterback Caleb Williams, Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The showcase games often serve as a chance for lower-profile players.The East-West Shrine Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 1, the Senior Bowl is Feb. 3 and the HBCU Legacy Bowl is Feb. 24.The rule change doesn’t apply to other all-star games.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLSource

Luis Diaz starts for Liverpool and Klopp says striker ‘really happy’ after father freed

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:21:38 GMT

Luis Diaz starts for Liverpool and Klopp says striker ‘really happy’ after father freed TOULOUSE, France (AP) — Luis Díaz started and played 81 minutes in Liverpool’s 3-2 loss to Toulouse a few hours after his father was released by kidnappers in Colombia on Thursday.Before the Europa League match, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the Colombia striker was “really happy” with the news that his father was freed.Luis Manuel Díaz was released by members of a guerrilla group who kidnapped him in northern Colombia, the government announced, ending a 12-day ordeal for the family.“It looks like Lucho (Diaz) is really happy, (giving) thumbs up all the time,” Klopp told TNT Sports. ”Timing-wise it couldn’t have been better.”On Sunday, Díaz pleaded for his father ’s freedom after scoring in a Premier League match, revealing a T-shirt saying “Freedom for Papa” in Spanish.Diogo Jota came on for Diaz and scored eight minutes later, but Liverpool’s comeback fell short.___AP soccer: apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

Live updates | Israel will allow a daily pause in Gaza combat, as US seeks a multi-day break

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:21:38 GMT

Live updates | Israel will allow a daily pause in Gaza combat, as US seeks a multi-day break U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration says Israel will allow a 4-hour humanitarian pause each day in combat operations in northern Gaza to allow civilians to flee to the south, starting on Thursday.Biden also told reporters that he had asked the Israelis for a “pause longer than three days” during negotiations over the release of some hostages held by Hamas, although he ruled out the chances of a general cease-fire.In Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron has opened a Gaza aid conference with an appeal for Israel to protect civilians, saying that “all lives have equal worth” and that fighting terrorism “can never be carried out without rules.” France wants Thursday’s aid conference that brings together more than 50 nations to address the besieged Palestinian enclave’s growing needs including food, water, health supplies, electricity and fuel. The war, now in its second month, was triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack into southern Israel.The number of Palestinians killed...

La Corte Suprema de Justicia de Panamá informó que antes del 23 de noviembre no se conocerá su decisión sobre ley Minera

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:21:38 GMT

La Corte Suprema de Justicia de Panamá informó que antes del 23 de noviembre no se conocerá su decisión sobre ley Minera (CNN Español) — La Corte Suprema de Justicia hizo públicas las fechas y la cronología de los trámites de las ocho demandas de inconstitucionalidad contra la Ley 406 que tiene en proceso.En un comunicado, el Órgano Judicial especificó las fechas de cada uno de los recursos en contra de la ley aprobada el 20 de octubre de este año bajo la cual está el contrato entre el Gobierno de Panamá y la empresa Minera Panamá. El comunicado reitera que “no es posible establecer un mecanismo abreviado de resolución”.Corte Suprema de Panamá dice que es su “prioridad número uno” resolver demandas sobre contrato mineroLa Corte Suprema tendrá la última palabra sobre este tema que ha generado una serie de protestas por la renovación de un contrato para la explotación de cobre que, según sus críticos, tendría un impacto negativo en el medio ambiente del país. El contrato fue firmado con Minera Panamá, que pertenece a la compañía canadiense First Quantum Minerals, la cual ha dicho que busca cumplir...

Heat will lose Tyler Herro for at least 2 weeks with sprained right ankle

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:21:38 GMT

Heat will lose Tyler Herro for at least 2 weeks with sprained right ankle MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Herro will miss at least two weeks with a sprained right ankle, meaning the Miami Heat are going to be without their leading scorer this season for at least the next seven games and most likely even longer.Herro got hurt in Miami’s win at Memphis on Wednesday night. He returned to Miami on Thursday, was examined by team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Harlan Selesnick, and the diagnosis of a Grade 2 sprain followed soon afterward.Herro — Miami’s leading scorer at what would be a career-best 22.9 points per game through the season’s first eight contests — will be in a walking boot for 10 days, re-evaluated in two weeks and a return-to-play timetable isn’t likely to be finalized until then.“Right when it happened, I felt it and I kind of knew mentally,” Herro said after Wednesday’s game. “I heard some crunches and cracks in my ankle and I’m like ‘Yeah, that’ll be it.’ So, I actually told the bench ‘I’m done.’”It’s the second ti...

Portugal’s president announces early elections for March 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:21:38 GMT

Portugal’s president announces early elections for March 2024 Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Thursday announced he will dissolve the country’s parliament in December and hold early elections in March 2024. The announcement followed Prime Minister António Costa’s resignation Tuesday, hours after authorities raided his official residence and the country’s attorney general confirmed he was being investigated under a corruption probe.Rebelo de Sousa said parliament would be dissolved once lawmakers passed Portugal’s draft 2024 budget, which is expected to be approved at the end of the month, adding it was a necessary step in order to ensure the country’s “indispensable economic and social stability.”“The approval of the budget will allow us to meet the expectations of many Portuguese people and to monitor the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan,” he said.The decision to schedule elections for March was meant to give Costa’s Socialist Party, which controls an absolute m...

Man wanted for fatal Worcester State University shooting appears in court, pleads not guilty

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:21:38 GMT

Man wanted for fatal Worcester State University shooting appears in court, pleads not guilty An 18-year-old man wanted for a fatal shooting at Worcester State University appeared in court on Thursday, a week after he was tracked down and arrested in New York.Kevin Rodriguez was in Worcester District Court where he was arraigned on charges that included assault with intent to murder, stemming from the shooting death of Randy Armando Melendez Jr., 19, of Southbridge.Rodriguez was back in Massachusetts after authorities found and arrested him in a Brooklyn apartment days after the shooting occurred on Sunday, Oct. 29.In addition to Melendez Jr., authorities said a 21-year-old man was also shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Officials said neither the victims nor Rodriguez were Worcester State students.