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Chicago Bears decisions: What to know about upcoming evaluations of coach Matt Eberflus, QB Justin Fields and No. 1 pick

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:22:35 GMT

The Chicago Bears don’t have a playoff berth at stake when they play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field. The Bears (7-9) officially were eliminated in Week 17.But there’s plenty to keep the Bears motivated in the season finale — and not just playing spoiler to the Packers playoff hopes.When time runs out Sunday, the Bears will be on the clock to make major decisions in a crucial offseason.Here’s a look at the decisions ahead.General manager Ryan PolesNot all of Poles’ moves since joining the Bears in January 2022 have worked out, but the way he has gone about building the roster is looking better and better.His trade of the 2023 No. 1 draft pick to the Carolina Panthers last offseason netted him not only the No. 1 draft pick this year, but also top wide receiver DJ Moore, promising rookies in right tackle Darnell Wright and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and a 2025 second-round pick.His acquisition of defensive end Montez Sweat from the Wash...

Patriots mailbag: How would offense look if Bill Belichick got his way?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:22:35 GMT

The Patriots still have one more game left to play, and it could be an entertaining one if snow forecasts come true.But fans are already focused on 2024 and beyond.So, who are the Patriots’ general manager candidates, what should the team do in the 2024 NFL Draft, and why should extending defensive tackle Christian Barmore be a priority?Those are the questions in this week’s mailbag.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Four Patriots players who deserve a longer look in season finale New England Patriots | Patriots-Jets preview: What to watch for in Belichick’s possible last NE game New England Patriots | NFL notes: How Matthew Slater’s passionate speeches helped keep the Patriots together New England Patriots | Patriots-Jets injury report: Hunter Henry out, 12 other Patriots questionable New England Patriots | Last day of school vibes as Patriots wait for snow day in season finale ...

Police probe UK Post Office for accusing over 700 employees of theft. The culprit was an IT glitch

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:22:35 GMT

LONDON (AP) — U.K. police have opened a fraud investigation into Britain’s Post Office over a miscarriage of justice that saw hundreds of postmasters wrongfully accused of stealing money when a faulty computer system was to blame.The Metropolitan Police force said late Friday that it is investigating “potential fraud offences arising out of these prosecutions,” relating to money the Post Office received “as a result of prosecutions or civil actions” against accused postal workers.Police also are investigating potential offenses of perjury and perverting the course of justice over investigations and prosecutions carried out by the Post Office.Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 post office branch managers were accused of theft or fraud because computers wrongly showed that money was missing. Many were financially ruined after being forced to pay large sums to the company, and some were convicted and sent to prison. Several killed themselves.The real culprit was a defective computer ...

Man critical after dispute led to shooting at Bridgeport restaurant

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:22:35 GMT

CHICAGO -- A man is in critical condition after a verbal dispute led to a shooting at a restaurant in Bridgeport Friday night. Police said a 32-yera-old man was in the restaurant Buffalo Wings and Rings near the 3400 block of South Halsted around 11:25 p.m. when two unidentified men approached him and began a verbal dispute. Service suspended temporarily at O’Hare Blue Line after body found on track One of the individuals produced a firearm and shot the 32-year-old man before fleeing the scene. It is not known how many customers and employees were inside the restaurant but according to their website, they were open until midnight.The man sustained multiple gunshot wound to the body and was transported to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.

Saturday Forecast: Flurries, mid 30s, cloudy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:22:35 GMT

SATURDAY: Light snow & rain/snow mix at times tapering off this afternoon. Additional accumulation half to one inch. ESE/SSW 0-7 mph. High: 35SATURDAY NIGHT: Some flurries or a little drizzle at times: Low 30 SUNDAY: Extensive cloudiness lingers. A flurry or a bit of drizzle possible. High: 37Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Extended outlook calls for temps in the mid to upper 30s on Monday-- with a round of some wet snow Monday evening into what could end up being a snowy and windy Tuesday with a high of 34. Mostly cloudy and windy on Wednesday with a high in the mid to upper 30s. Temps again above normal on Thursday with highs in the upper 30s with mostly cloudy skies. Friday could be another snowy day with highs right around freezing. 

The first weekend of 2024 starts sunny

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:22:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Today is going to be bright and mild with most high temperatures rising to the lower 60s. Winds will come from the northwest 5 to 10 mph.Today's normal high is 62°The next rain starts overnight Monday. An upper-level low is off the northern Oregon coast. It will land in the Four Corners tomorrow afternoon then head east into Texas. It will pull in moisture from the Pacific. Moisture at the surface will continue off the southeast flow.Much of the rain/thunderstorms Monday happens in the morningA cold front also factors into Monday's weather as it moves across the area. Most of the rain with a few thunderstorms looks to fall during the morning where the chance of rain and thunderstorms is 70%. A 20% chance of mainly rain is forecast into the middle of the afternoon.There could be a little rain overnight as a second cold front presses to the south bringing the colder air and the strongest winds. Wind gusts expand Sunday night when southeast winds will gust as high as ...

Austin police look for suspect in south Austin GameStop robbery

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:22:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is looking for help finding a suspect in a south Austin robbery where a store clerk was attacked in early December.Police said the robbery happened Dec. 4 around 10:30 a.m. at the GameStop in the Southpark Meadows shopping center. A suspect entered the store and tried to steal merchandise, according to police on Friday. When an employee confronted the suspect, police said the suspect attacked the clerk and caused injuries. GameStop robbery suspect (Photo courtesy APD)GameStop robbery suspect (Photo courtesy APD)APD said the suspect is described as a five-foot-eight-inch tall white male weighing about 150 pounds between ages 20 and 30. He was last seen wearing a light blue, short-sleeve shirt and a bandana on his head. People with information can call 512-974-5092 with information about the suspect or vehicle. Anonymous tips can be sent to the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program via austincrimestoppers.org or 512-472-8477. APD said a rewar...

Soucheray: Why do we think we should spend a billion-plus for a West Seventh streetcar?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:22:35 GMT

We are told that for 25 years now, Ramsey County authorities have been planning new transit options for what they call the Riverview Corridor and the rest of us call West Seventh Street. This quarter-century mark is apparently offered as evidence of their tenacity to bring about a streetcar line in the absence of any public demand or need whatsoever.“The community, especially the younger generation, they prefer rail,” Ramsey County Commissioner Rafael Ortega, who chairs the county’s Regional Rail Authority, told the Pioneer Press in the week before Christmas.Really?Joe SoucherayOne night before Christmas, I went to Union Depot to pick up a kid of a kid I used to have. To satisfy some primitive curiosity, he took the train from Chicago to St. Paul.“How was it?” I asked when he got into the car.“Ridiculous,” he said, meaning that the trip took almost nine hours, including a kerfuffle in Winona when he was thought to be among a group of smokers who were threatened to ...

Mary Ellen Klas: DeSantis is flaming out and blaming Trump

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:22:35 GMT

As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign flames out, he’s setting the table to blame everyone but himself. His argument? The dozens of indictments filed against former President Donald Trump have “distorted” the primary and “crowded out other stuff.”He blames aggressive prosecutors for applying the law, particularly Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg who indicted Trump in April for allegedly falsifying business records related to hush money paid to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.“I would say if I could have one thing change, I wish Trump hadn’t been indicted on any of this stuff,” DeSantis told the Christian Broadcasting Network in an interview that aired Dec. 21.“… Someone like a Bragg would not have brought that case if it was anyone other than Donald Trump,” he continued. “Someone like that’s distorting justice, which is bad, but I also think it distorted the primary.”Can ...

118th National Western Stock Show kicks off amid ongoing makeover of historic stomping grounds

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:22:35 GMT

The 118th edition of the National Western Stock Show officially kicks off this weekend on its historic stomping grounds, which are in the middle of a makeover to turn the 250-acre complex in northeast Denver into a year-round attraction.Depending on the weather, the 16-day event could set an attendance record, said Paul Andrews, stock show CEO and president. The record is 726,927 visitors, set in 2006 on the event’s 100th anniversary.Last year’s total of approximately 702,000 visitors was the stock show’s fourth-highest mark and a solid return to pre-pandemic numbers. Andrews believes this year’s attendance could range from 650,000-750,000. It depends on whether a big snow storm hits.“A factor I just don’t control is the weather,” Andrews said.The National Western, which organizers call the Super Bowl of livestock shows, draws business people and participants from across the country and world. Andrews said people from all 50 states are set t...