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Workers sort gifts at Toys For Tots distribution center

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:10:30 GMT

True or false: Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields’ inability to close will accelerate his exit from Chicago

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:10:30 GMT

The Chicago Bears couldn’t believe it. Any of it. The Bears couldn’t fathom that they let a 10-point fourth-quarter lead get away, couldn’t comprehend that they kicked away a day-saving miracle on the game’s final play, couldn’t quite process that Sunday’s devastating 20-17 road loss to the Cleveland Browns torpedoed their energized chase of a playoff berth. Instead, they were left with another gut-wrenching disappointment to accept and another emotionally testing regrouping mission for Week 16.On Christmas Eve, the Bears will play the hapless Arizona Cardinals at Soldier Field with every opportunity to get back on the winning track. But the sting of Sunday’s loss is going to leave a mark and could create some unwanted resignation as well. The coming week will challenge the Bears’ focus, unity and emotional stability.As Tribune writers Colleen Kane and Dan Wiederer get their arms around it all, they engage in a “true or falseR...

Patriots-Chiefs film review: How Pats went from hot start to getting out-coached

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:10:30 GMT

This is the state of the Patriots.Multiple defensive players declared Sunday they did their part after a loss in which they allowed 27 points. A respected veteran openly questioned whether the offense had moved fast enough while trailing by two scores with four minutes left. And Bill Belichick, asked about his offense’s urgency in that moment, an obvious hurry-up situation, mostly agreed with said veteran.Because the Pats know they are out of options. Bailey Zappe is good for one half per game, then he flirts with disaster. Zappe is also throwing to the league’s worst receiving corps. The offensive line charged with protecting him is now split into two groups: those on the field, and in the trainer’s room. And the Patriots can’t kick field goals or stop committing dumb penalties.Of course, it’s in the team’s best interest, with a hollowed-out roster and without a franchise quarterback, to embrace defeat. But that’s not happening here.The Pat...

Major cleanup underway after storm batters Northeastern US, knocks out power and floods roads

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:10:30 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Utility crews worked Tuesday to restore power to hundreds of thousands of customers in Maine and some rivers continued to rise in New England following a powerful storm that hit the northeastern U.S., drenching communities and bringing windspeeds over 60 mph (96 kph) in some areas. At least four people were killed.“We anticipate a multi-day restoration effort involving hundreds of line and tree crews,” Central Maine Power, the state’s largest utility, posted online Monday night.Many communities were saturated, with some getting well over 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of rain during the storm. Some towns in Vermont, which had suffered major flooding from a storm in July, were seeing more flood damage. Some school districts remained closed in the region Tuesday.More than 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain fell in parts of New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania, and parts of several other states got more than 4 inches (10 centimeters), according to the Nation...

Australian jury records first conviction of foreign interference against a Chinese agent

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:10:30 GMT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian court on Tuesday recorded the first conviction under the nation’s foreign interference laws with a jury finding a Vietnamese refugee guilty of covertly working for the Chinese Communist Party.A Victoria state County Court jury convicted Melbourne businessman and local community leader Di Sanh Duong on a charge of preparing for or planning an act of foreign interference.He is the first person to be charged under federal laws created in 2018 that ban covert foreign interference in domestic politics and make industrial espionage for a foreign power a crime. The laws offended Australia’s most important trading partner, China, and accelerated a deterioration in bilateral relations.Duong, 68, had pleaded not guilty. He was released on bail after his conviction and will return to court in February to be sentenced. He faces a potential 10-year prison sentence.Prosecutors had argued that Duong planned to gain political influence in 2020 by cultivatin...

Turkey links Sweden’s NATO bid to US approving F-16 jet sales and Canada lifting arms embargo

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:10:30 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership by Turkey’s parliament hinges on the U.S. Congress’ approval of Turkey’s request to purchase F-16 fighter jets, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, calling on the two legislatures to act “simultaneously.”In comments reported on Tuesday, Erdogan also said Canada and other NATO allies must lift arms embargoes imposed on Turkey.“Positive developments from the United States regarding the F-16 issue and Canada keeping its promises will accelerate our parliament’s positive view on (Sweden’s membership,)” Erdogan said. “All of these are linked.”He made the comments late Monday while returning from a visit to Hungary. Hungary and Turkey are the only two NATO members not to have formally approved Sweden’s bid to join the trans-Atlantic military alliance.Erdogan’s comments were reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency.He told reporters that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has raised the issue of a simultane...

Serbia’s ruling populists say weekend elections were fair despite international criticism, protests

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:10:30 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s ruling populists insisted on Tuesday that weekend snap elections were free and fair despite criticism from international observers who noted multiple irregularities and unjust conditions for parties during the vote. Political tensions in Serbia soared over the snap parliamentary and local election on Sunday. Several thousand people rallied on Monday to protest alleged fraud at the ballot for municipal authorities in Belgrade, the capital. More protests are planned Tuesday.Early results showed victory of President Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party in both ballots. But its main opponents, the Serbia Against Violence alliance, say they were robbed of a win in Belgrade. Opposition leaders said they will not recognize the result in Belgrade, called protests and demanded that the vote be annulled and held again. The populists rejected the claims. “We are very happy how the election day went,” Milos Vucevic, the leader of the right-wi...

Millennial Money: 5 financial New Year’s resolutions for 2024

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:10:30 GMT

The new year is upon us, and it’s a great time to plan for your financial future. Here are five financial resolutions to consider for 2024.1. GET A HIGH-INTEREST SAVINGS ACCOUNTInterest rates are still high on savings accounts right now, especially high-yield online savings accounts. Some accounts are offering more than 5% annual percentage yield, which is 10 times more than the national average on savings accounts. Take advantage of this “free” money by opening a new account with a high rate or upgrading your current one. Just make sure you avoid fees as much as possible, and choose a bank or credit union that is easy for you to access, either through remote customer service or in person. 2. FOCUS ON STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTFor many, student loan payments resumed in 2023. If you’re feeling anxious or uncertain about how much you owe, it’s best to face the numbers head-on and see if there’s any way you can reduce your payments. For example, if you earn less money now than you did befo...

Meta’s initial decisions to remove 2 videos of Israel-Hamas war reversed by Oversight Board

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:10:30 GMT

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — A quasi-independent review board is recommending that Facebook parent company Meta overturn two decisions it made this fall to remove posts “informing the world about human suffering on both sides” of the Israel-Hamas war. In both cases, Meta ended up reinstating the posts — one showing Palestinian casualties and the other, an Israeli hostage — on its own, although it added warning screens to both due to violent content. This means the company isn’t obligated to do anything about the board’s decision. That said, the board also said it disagrees with Meta’s decision to bar the posts in question from being recommended by Facebook and Instagram, “even in cases where it had determined posts intended to raise awareness.” And it said Meta’s use of automated tools to remove “potentially harmful” content increased the likelihood of taking down “valuable posts” that not only raise awareness about the conflict but may contain evidence of human...

Man, teen critical after apartment fire in Back of the Yards

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:10:30 GMT

CHICAGO —Two people are hospitalized following a massive fire at an apartment complex on the city's Southwest Side.The fire started around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday at a building on the corner of 47th Street and Wolcott Avenue in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.Chicago fire transported two victims to Stroger Hospital; a 47-year-old man and 14-year-old girl who are both listed in critical condition with severe burns. The fire was struck around 5 a.m. Woman arrested after crashing into Forest Park storefront It is unclear what caused the fire. An investigation is underway.