Russia unleashes one of the year’s biggest aerial barrages against Ukrainian targets

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:47:03 GMT

Russia unleashes one of the year’s biggest aerial barrages against Ukrainian targets KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched about 110 missiles overnight as well as drones against Ukrainian targets in one of the biggest barrages of the year, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday.Most of the incoming missiles and drones were shot down but at least seven civilians were killed and an unknown number of people were buried under rubble, Ukrainian officials said. Scores were reported injured.Zelenskyy said the Kremlin’s forces used a wide variety of weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles.Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said Russia “apparently launched everything they have” against targets across Ukraine.The roughly 18-hour onslaught that began Thursday and continued through the night hit six cities, including the capital Kyiv, and other areas from east to west Ukraine, according to authorities.___Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraineThe Associated Press

Live updates | Tens of thousands of Palestinians stream into Rafah as Israel expands its offensive

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:47:03 GMT

Live updates | Tens of thousands of Palestinians stream into Rafah as Israel expands its offensive The Israeli-Hamas war has already driven around 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people from their homes, leveling the northern part of the territory and heightening fears about a similar fate for the south as Israel’s air and ground offensive widened Friday.Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have streamed into the town of Rafah in the southernmost end of Gaza in recent days, according to the United Nations, crowding into an already overwhelmed area of the embattled territory.More than 20,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children, have been killed since the start of the war, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants among the dead. About 1,200 people were killed after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, with around 240 people taken hostage. Currently: — Israeli strikes across Gaza kill dozens of Palestinians, even in largely emptied north— As Gaza war grinds on, tensions soar along...

New disturbance approaching from the northwest may produce snow on New Year's Eve

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:47:03 GMT

New disturbance approaching from the northwest may produce snow on New Year's Eve A heavy overcast from which sporadic rain will fall is to continue into Friday morning—with precip occasionally mixed with some wet snowflakes well west of Chicago (i.e. from west of the Fox Valley westward) slowly diminishing from the west. It appears clouds may not break until Friday night and that Saturday will be dry with some sun giving way to clouds with a new disturbance approaching from the northwest later in the day.That disturbance may produce some light snow on Sunday and New Year's Eve and night.  Current thinking is any accumulation will be minor—but if there is ANY sticking of snow possible on New Year's Eve we'll continue monitoring it. IT ISN'T LIKELY TO BE A MAJOR SNOWMAKER.Chicago's snow to date has been anemic. Just 3" have fallen thus far, just 36% of the normal on Dec 28 of 8.4".HERE'S HOW MUCH SNOW HAS FALLEN THIS MONTH--This analysis and the ones which follow are from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center at Purdue UniversityTHIS GRAPHIC INDICATES HOW CURRENT...

Dear Abby: I’m thinking of moving if my new neighbor continues this behavior

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:47:03 GMT

Dear Abby: I’m thinking of moving if my new neighbor continues this behavior DEAR ABBY: I am a retired widow. A new neighbor moved in next door. I have always been pleasant to her while she complains about everyone and everything, but it’s getting old.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: Pet owners tell these appalling stories as if they were jokes, and it upsets me Advice | Dear Abby: My boyfriend says I’m being too harsh about his ‘mistake’ Advice | Dear Abby: My friend says my party idea is tacky. Is she right? Advice | Dear Abby: How can I light a fire under the poky tradespeople in my new town? Advice | Dear Abby: I think she meant to humiliate me at her child’s birthday party She watches for me to walk my dog, then runs outside to tell me her latest woe or complain about something. She has now begun ringing my doorbell and inviting herself inside for the same reasons.Abby, I live in a small community. We are all close neighbors. I don’t k...

Four-bedroom home sells for $1.9 million in San Ramon

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:47:03 GMT

Four-bedroom home sells for $1.9 million in San Ramon 45 Longwood Court – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the first block of Longwood Court in San Ramon has new owners. The 2,602-square-foot property, built in 1983, was sold on Dec. 4, 2023. The $1,909,000 purchase price works out to $734 per square foot. This two-story house offers a spacious layout with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The property is equipped with central A/C. In addition, the home is equipped with an attached two-car garage, accommodating vehicles and storage needs efficiently.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:In March 2023, a 2,998-square-foot home on Longwood Court in San Ramon sold for $2,060,000, a price per square foot of $687. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Lone Pine Court, San Ramon, in June 2022, a 2,998-square-foot home was sold for $2,300,000, a price per square foot of $767. The home has 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.A 2,017-square-foot home on the 900 block of Woodland Drive in San Ramon sold in May 2023, for...

WTOP’s Jason Fraley ranks the best movies of 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:47:03 GMT

WTOP’s Jason Fraley ranks the best movies of 2023 This combination of images shows Margot Robbie in a scene from "Barbie," left, and Cillian Murphy in a scene from "Oppenheimer." (Warner Bros Pictures/Universal Pictures via AP) This combination of images shows Margot Robbie in a scene from "Barbie," left, and Cillian Murphy in a scene from "Oppenheimer." (Warner Bros Pictures/Universal Pictures via AP) It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year since “Everything Everywhere All at Once” dominated last award season, but the ensuing year turned out to be an impressive time for movies.Blockbuster audiences enjoyed “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “Guardians of the Galaxy...

Idaho State hosts conference foe Montana

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:47:03 GMT

Idaho State hosts conference foe Montana Montana Grizzlies (7-5, 0-1 Big Sky) at Idaho State Bengals (4-8, 0-1 Big Sky)Pocatello, Idaho; Saturday, 6 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Kiree Huie and the Idaho State Bengals host Laolu Oke and the Montana Grizzlies in Big Sky action.The Bengals have gone 3-1 at home. Idaho State ranks second in the Big Sky in team defense, giving up 66.8 points while holding opponents to 45.6% shooting.The Grizzlies are 0-1 in Big Sky play. Montana averages 75.1 points while outscoring opponents by 3.9 points per game.Idaho State makes 47.3% of its shots from the field this season, which is 4.5 percentage points higher than Montana has allowed to its opponents (42.8%). Montana scores 8.3 more points per game (75.1) than Idaho State gives up to opponents (66.8).The matchup Saturday is the first meeting of the season for the two teams in conference play.TOP PERFORMERS: Brayden Parker is averaging 12.8 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Bengals. Huie is averaging 12.6 points over the last 10 games for Idaho Sta...

No. 8 Kentucky plays Illinois State following Reeves’ 30-point game

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:47:03 GMT

No. 8 Kentucky plays Illinois State following Reeves’ 30-point game Illinois State Redbirds (8-4, 2-0 MVC) at Kentucky Wildcats (9-2)Lexington, Kentucky; Friday, 7 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Wildcats -19.5; over/under is 148BOTTOM LINE: No. 8 Kentucky plays the Illinois State Redbirds after Antonio Reeves scored 30 points in Kentucky’s 95-76 victory over the Louisville Cardinals.The Wildcats are 6-1 in home games. Kentucky ranks second in the SEC with 39.3 points per game in the paint led by Tre Mitchell averaging 7.1.The Redbirds are 1-1 on the road. Illinois State ranks third in the MVC allowing 65.4 points while holding opponents to 41.2% shooting.Kentucky averages 10.5 made 3-pointers per game, 3.7 more made shots than the 6.8 per game Illinois State allows. Illinois State averages 6.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.2 fewer made shots on average than the 8.5 per game Kentucky allows.TOP PERFORMERS: Reeves is averaging 18.3 points for the Wildcats. Rob Dillingham is averaging 13.9 points and 4.4 assists over the past 10 games...

Eastern Kentucky visits No. 1 Purdue following Walker’s 20-point showing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:47:03 GMT

Eastern Kentucky visits No. 1 Purdue following Walker’s 20-point showing Eastern Kentucky Colonels (4-8) at Purdue Boilermakers (11-1, 1-1 Big Ten)West Lafayette, Indiana; Friday, 7 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Boilermakers -29.5; over/under is 156.5BOTTOM LINE: Eastern Kentucky faces the No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers after Leland Walker scored 20 points in Eastern Kentucky’s 111-67 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide.The Boilermakers are 6-0 in home games. Purdue has a 10-1 record against opponents over .500.The Colonels have gone 0-5 away from home. Eastern Kentucky has a 1-1 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.Purdue averages 87.3 points, 7.5 more per game than the 79.8 Eastern Kentucky allows. Eastern Kentucky has shot at a 44.6% clip from the field this season, 4.4 percentage points greater than the 40.2% shooting opponents of Purdue have averaged.TOP PERFORMERS: Zach Edey is averaging 24 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks for the Boilermakers. Braden Smith is averaging 13.7 points over the last 10 games for Purdue.Isaiah Cozart is sco...

Alabama Crimson Tide and the Liberty Flames meet in Birmingham, Alabama

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:47:03 GMT

Alabama Crimson Tide and the Liberty Flames meet in Birmingham, Alabama Liberty Flames (10-3) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-5)Birmingham, Alabama; Saturday, 2 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: The Alabama Crimson Tide face the Liberty Flames in Birmingham, Alabama.The Crimson Tide are 7-5 in non-conference play. Alabama ranks seventh in the SEC with 25.1 defensive rebounds per game led by Grant Nelson averaging 4.4.The Flames have a 10-3 record against non-conference oppponents. Liberty leads the CUSA with 17.5 assists. Colin Porter leads the Flames with 3.7.Alabama scores 92.2 points, 32.7 more per game than the 59.5 Liberty gives up. Liberty has shot at a 49.0% clip from the field this season, 5.1 percentage points above the 43.9% shooting opponents of Alabama have averaged.TOP PERFORMERS: Mark Sears is scoring 19.6 points per game and averaging 4.4 rebounds for the Crimson Tide. Nelson is averaging 12.8 points and 5.4 rebounds over the last 10 games for Alabama.Kyle Rode is scoring 13.5 points per game and averaging 4.5 rebounds for the Flames. Kaden Metheny is ave...