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Hope abounds for the NFL’s final four as Browns, Lions, Texans and Jaguars eye elusive Super Bowl

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:47 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — They are bonded by football futility for now, but surely not forever. Right?Cleveland, Detroit, Houston and Jacksonville — the NFL’s final four, if you will — are the last remaining teams to never make a Super Bowl. They’re far from favorites yet still in contention to end their droughts as the playoffs near.The Browns (11-5) and Lions (11-5) have clinched postseason berths. The Texans (9-7) and Jaguars (9-7) can join them with victories this weekend.“It’s great for all four of those franchises,” said retired NFL cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who spent nine of his 15 professional seasons with Houston. “They’re on the verge and they’re not going away. They’re all young teams with young talent. It’s only a matter of time.”The Browns, Lions and Jaguars have been close before, all of them reaching conference championship games in different decades and losing in stomach-churning fashion.Here’s a look at a few defining failures for the NFL’s final four:CLEVELAND B...

Pirates left-hander and former Rays right-hander suspended under minor league drug program

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Hader Blanco and free-agent right-hander Ismael Laureano were suspended for 56 games each Friday following positive tests under baseball’s minor league drug program.Both tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol, the commissioner’s office said.Blanco, 18, was on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Pirates after going 3-0 with a 4.86 ERA in 17 relief appearances in the DSL last year.Laureano, also 18, was released by Tampa Bay on Nov. 6. He was 1-0 with a 10.38 ERA in 14 appearances last year with the DSL Rays.They were the first players disciplined this year under the minor league program.Fifteen players were disciplined last year under the minor league program and Milwaukee Brewers right-hander J.C. Mejía was suspended 162 games under the major league program.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Dominican judge orders conditional release of Rays shortstop Wander Franco while probe continues

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:47 GMT

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — A Dominican judge on Friday ordered the conditional release of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco while he is investigated for allegations he had a brief relationship with a 14-year-old girl and gave her mother a small car and thousands of dollars in exchange for her consent, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press.The judge said Wander is allowed to leave the Dominican Republic but must return once a month to meet with authorities.Wander, who was expected to be released early Saturday, did not speak to reporters after the hearing ended.The 22-year-old All-Star is accused of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. A judge who is scheduled to issue a ruling in the case on Friday has several options: release Franco on bond, temporarily arrest him, prevent him from leaving the Dominican Republic or demand that he make occasional appearances until the investigation or a trial has ended.The girl’s 35-year-old ...

Dominican judge orders Rays shortstop Wander Franco released conditionally as probe continues

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:47 GMT

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — Dominican judge orders Rays shortstop Wander Franco released conditionally as probe continues.Source

The Supreme Court will decide if Donald Trump can be kept off 2024 presidential ballots

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide whether former President Donald Trump can be kept off the ballot because of his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, inserting the court squarely in the 2024 presidential campaign. The justices acknowledged the need to reach a decision quickly, as voters will soon begin casting presidential primary ballots across the country. The court agreed to take up Trump's appeal of a case from Colorado stemming from his role in the events that culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Arguments will be held in early February. The court will be considering for the first time the meaning and reach of a provision of the 14th Amendment barring some people who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office. The amendment was adopted in 1868, following the Civil War. It has been so rarely used that the nation's highest court had no previous occasion to interpret it.Colorado's Supreme Court, by a 4-3 vote, r...

Randy Roedema sentenced to 14 months in jail for involvement in death of Elijah McClain

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:47 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- On Friday, former Aurora officer Randy Roedema was sentenced to 4 years of probation, 90 days of jail and 200 hours of community service for criminally negligent homicide in the death of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died after a confrontation with Aurora Police in August of 2019. The judge also sentenced him to 14 months in jail with work release for his third-degree assault conviction. The sentences are to run concurrently.An attorney for Roedema said Friday in court during sentencing statements his client intends to file an appeal.Sheneen McClain, Elijah's mother, also spoke during the sentencing hearing."Randy Roedema stole my son's life away," Sheneen McClain said. What to know about Elijah McClain’s death and the criminal trial of 2 officers BackgroundOn the night of Aug. 24, 2019, Elijah McClain was walking home from a convenience store when Aurora Police confronted him after a 911 caller told police McClain looked "sketchy" because he was wea...

Driver sentenced for crash on I-25 that killed mother

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:47 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The man behind the wheel of a big rig at the time of a deadly crash on Interstate 25 in 2022 has been sentenced to four years in prison.Darnell Yingling pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in November and was sentenced on Friday in court. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Yingling was driving a truck under a bridge when the excavator he was pulling crashed into the structure. The crash occurred on northbound I-25 at mile marker 246 near Mead.Megan Mirella Arneson was driving with her son in the car when the crash happened and a piece of the bridge fell onto their vehicle. She was killed but her son survived.In addition to Yingling's prison sentence, a judge has ordered him to complete 300 hours of community service.

Fort Lauderdale women’s walking group promotes fitness and friendship

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:47 GMT

It’s officially 2024, and many people are resolved to get in shape. One group is helping women do just that, one step at a time.Fitness and friendship. They are top of mind for these women who are leaving tracks throughout Fort Lauderdale.Runsi Patro, co-founder, Pretty Girls Who Walk: “A lot of the girls are also new to Fort Lauderdale. A lot of the girls work from home, so they’ve also looked at the walk as a way to get outside and make friends.”Almost every Saturday, members of Pretty Girls Who Walk lace up to get in their miles.Jenna Rappaport and Runsi Patro started the group in 2022.Jenna Rappaport, co-founder, Pretty Girls Who Walk: “I live here in downtown Fort Lauderdale. I work from home as well. The only thing I could do during the COVID time was go on walks.”Runsi Patro: “When I first moved down here, which was a year ago, it was a new city. I didn’t know anyone here.”At the time, they didn’t know each other, bu...

The Supreme Court will decide if Trump can be kept off 2024 presidential ballots

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide whether former President Donald Trump can be kept off the ballot because of his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, inserting the court squarely in the 2024 presidential campaign.The justices acknowledged the need to reach a decision quickly, as voters will soon begin casting presidential primary ballots across the country. The court agreed to take up Trump’s appeal of a case from Colorado stemming from his role in the events that culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.Arguments will be held in early February.The court will be considering for the first time the meaning and reach of a provision of the 14th Amendment barring some people who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office. The amendment was adopted in 1868, following the Civil War. It has been so rarely used that the nation’s highest court had no previous occasion to interpret it.Colorado’s Supreme Court, b...

Police arrest homeless man accused of exposing self, touching 6-year-old girl at Sunny Isles Beach resort

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:47 GMT

A homeless man was arrested after, police said, he exposed himself and inappropriately touched a 6-year-old girl while loitering at a Sunny Isles Beach resort over Thanksgiving weekend. The suspect, 42-year-old Alejandro Londono, was charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct on a child and one count of lewd and lascivious exhibition on a child. According to police, on Nov. 28, Londono committed the act at the Marco Polo Beach Resort, located along the 19200 block of Collins Avenue.Several days after the encounter, the victim told her father that Londono exposed himself to her and also asked her to see her underwear. Surveillance video from Nov. 28 showed the victim and her father entering the resort and Londono entering right after they arrived. The victim was seen saying hi to Londono. Afterward, Londono was sitting on a couch in the resort’s lobby. He began to charge his phone when the victim approached him and started talking to him.During their conversation...