Keeler: This one’s for John! Mines QB John Matocha talks NCAA semis, John Elway helicopter tribute: “I’d do it again.”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:26 GMT

Keeler: This one’s for John! Mines QB John Matocha talks NCAA semis, John Elway helicopter tribute: “I’d do it again.” John Matocha puts his surplice on one arm at a time. College football’s all-time touchdown leader is one of the secret MVPs of Sunday morning mass at St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Golden, making sure the slides are running at 7:30 sharp.“How was the game?” they’ll ask him.“Saw the win yesterday, John.”“That was a heck of a flip you took. You OK?”(He is.)“The community is phenomenal,” Mines’ all-everything quarterback said by phone in advance of the top-ranked Orediggers’ Division II football playoff semifinal tussle with Kutztown Saturday at Marv Kay Stadium.“It’s good for me. I enjoy it. It keeps me grounded. I couldn’t be more thankful.”As the reigning Harlon Hill Trophy winner and a grad student in Mines’ computer sciences program, Matocha gets about 14 minutes of sleep during a good week. But he’s committed his Sunday mornings to St. Joseph, win or … umm … win....

Todd Helton, on Hall of Fame’s doorstep, is “putting in my two cents” on Rockies at winter meetings

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:26 GMT

Todd Helton, on Hall of Fame’s doorstep, is “putting in my two cents” on Rockies at winter meetings NASHVILLE — Todd Helton was talking Rockies baseball Tuesday afternoon.The club’s iconic first baseman, who’s on track toward election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame when votes are announced Jan. 23, remains passionate about the team he suited up for during his entire 17-year career.Despite the Rockies’ 103-loss season in 2023 — “Really tough,” he said — Helton hopes the young prospects he’s working with will embrace being a part of the Rockies.“Hopefully, they see the pride that I take in being a Colorado Rockie,” Helton said from the club’s suite at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center. “Take pride in the city and the team. Yeah, it’s not a storied tradition, but we’ve had some really good players come through there. I think they should know the history of the team and take pride and be excited to be a Colorado Rockie.”Helton, who lives full-time in his native Knoxville, ...

Human trafficking, child exploitation operation leads to 19 arrests

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:26 GMT

Human trafficking, child exploitation operation leads to 19 arrests Undercover agents and detectives posing as minors offering sex for pay on websites frequented by "child predators" arrested more than a dozen suspects during a three-day operation, California law enforcement authorities announced Tuesday. Dubbed "White Elephant," the operation ran from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 and targeted adults seeking to sexually exploit children and victims of sex trafficking in Kings County, according to a news release from California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office. During the human trafficking sting, which included state, federal and local law enforcement agencies, officials said investigators spoke to numerous individuals over the internet and on mobile applications known to foster this kind of illegal activity.Along with the 19 arrests, the Kings County Sheriff's Office said deputies also rescued two females from a human trafficking operation. "In California, we do not tolerate the sexual exploitation and human trafficking of children," said Bonta.The attorney...

Arrest made in fatal stabbing last week in Oakland

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:26 GMT

Arrest made in fatal stabbing last week in Oakland OAKLAND – Authorities on Tuesday announced an arrest in a fatal stabbing last week in Oakland.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Oakley man charged in deadly house party shooting Crime and Public Safety | San Lorenzo family party leads to attempted murder charges for one attendee Crime and Public Safety | Berkeley man charged with assaulting Amazon delivery driver Crime and Public Safety | CHP seizes 1,250 rounds of ammo, three guns in raid of Pittsburg home Crime and Public Safety | Man fatally shot in Oakland’s Eastlake district The suspect, identified as Adelto Medizabal, was taken into custody Thursday, the Oakland Police Department said in a news release.The stabbing happened around 6:45 p.m. the same day in the 2600 block of 74th Ave., police said.The victim, identified as Gerardo Abreau, sought treatment at a hospital but died from his injuries.Police said the Alameda County District ...

Oakley man charged in deadly house party shooting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:26 GMT

Oakley man charged in deadly house party shooting MARTINEZ – An 18-year-old Oakley man is facing murder and firearm assault charges in connection with a house party shooting that left one teenager dead and three others injured in late October.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | San Lorenzo family party leads to attempted murder charges for one attendee Crime and Public Safety | Berkeley man charged with assaulting Amazon delivery driver Crime and Public Safety | CHP seizes 1,250 rounds of ammo, three guns in raid of Pittsburg home Crime and Public Safety | Man fatally shot in Oakland’s Eastlake district Crime and Public Safety | East Bay man charged with ‘almost completely’ severing family member’s ear The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday formally charged Sean Karp with one count of murder with an enhancement for intentionally discharging a firearm, as well as three counts of assault with a semi-aut...

Richmond pastor charged with 16 counts in four-victim child molestation case

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:26 GMT

Richmond pastor charged with 16 counts in four-victim child molestation case RICHMOND — An East Bay pastor has been charged with 16 counts related to a massive child molestation investigation that so far has uncovered four alleged victims, court records show.Victor Manuel Hernandez-Pineda, of the Iglesia Pentecostes Movimiento De Gloria, was charged with kidnapping, multiple counts of forcible rape, committing lewd acts upon a minor and annoying or molesting a minor. He remains in jail in lieu of $7 million bail, which is likely to be raised even more at his arraignment Wednesday morning.Hernandez-Pineda was arrested last week after a tip from one of the victims that led to police obtaining a warrant to arrest him on suspicion of kidnapping and child molestation, authorities said. In the days since his arrest, three more girls, all younger than 16, have come forward, authorities said.Hernandez-Pineda, 53, is listed as the director of the Richmond church located on 3rd Street at Macdonald Avenue. He lives in Oakland. His attorney could not immediately b...

No. 19 Oklahoma pulls away in 2nd half for 72-51 win over Providence

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:26 GMT

No. 19 Oklahoma pulls away in 2nd half for 72-51 win over Providence NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Javian McCollum scored 19 points and Milos Uzan added 17 points and 12 rebounds as No. 19 Oklahoma limited Providence to 20 second-half points in a 72-51 win on Tuesday night.The Sooners (8-0) scored 40 points in the paint, forced 15 turnovers and out-rebounded the Friars 40-23.McCollum scored 13 in the first half to lift the Sooners to a 35-31 halftime lead over the Friars (7-2). Providence pulled ahead 41-40 early in the second half before the Sooners outscored the Friars 32-10 over the next 14 minutes.Devin Carter scored 17 points and Josh Oduro added 15 for Providence, which shot 40% from the field for the game and 33% after halftime, connecting on 9-of-27 shots.Oklahoma scored the game’s first 12 points but the Friars cut the lead to 12-11 on three 3-point shots and a pair of free throws by Carter, who led Providence with 13 points in the first half.The Sooners, behind two 3-pointers from McCollum, went on an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 20-11.Bryce Hopkin...

Jonas Aidoo scores 17 points as No. 17 Tennessee ends 3-game skid, beats George Mason 87-66

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:26 GMT

Jonas Aidoo scores 17 points as No. 17 Tennessee ends 3-game skid, beats George Mason 87-66 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jonas Aidoo scored a career-high 17 points and No. 17 Tennessee rediscovered its defense in an 87-66 victory over George Mason on Tuesday night.Josiah-Jordan James added 15 points, Tobe Awaka added 11 and Dalton Knecht had 10 as the Vols (5-3) snapped a three-game losing streak.“It all starts with confidence,” Aidoo said, adding that coach Rick Barnes “keeps comparing me to the best bigs in the country.”Last week, Tennessee yielded 61 first-half points in a 100-92 loss to North Carolina. But the Vols held George Mason to 36% shooting in the first half to take a 39-26 lead.Darius Maddox scored 15 points for the Patriots (7-2), whose four-game winning streak ended. Woody Newton added 13 points and Baraka OkoJie scored 11.“I knew (the Vols) were going to play like it was their last game after three losses,” George Mason coach Tony Skinn said. “They were going to come out here with their guns blazing.”The 6-foot-11 Aidoo scored eight of Tennessee’s first 13 point...

Frida Formann ties school record with 7 3-pointers as No. 8 Colorado tops UT Arlington 95-74

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:26 GMT

Frida Formann ties school record with 7 3-pointers as No. 8 Colorado tops UT Arlington 95-74 BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Frida Formann scored 23 points and matched a school record for 3-pointers in a game with seven as No. 8 Colorado never trailed in beating UT Arlington 95-74 on Tuesday.Quay Miller had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Aaronette Vonleh added 14 points for Colorado (9-1), which has won three in a row. Jaylyn Sherrod scored 11 points to go with a career-high 13 assists that fueled the inside scoring of Miller and Vonleh. Formann also had seven 3-pointers in a game earlier this season in Colorado’s victory over then-No. 1 LSU on Nov. 6.Keiori Lee had 18 points to lead UT Arlington (1-8), which lost its third straight since its lone win of the season.The Buffaloes lost guard Tameiya Sadler to lower right leg injury with 3:11 remaining in the third quarter. Texas Arlington lost forward Jamaya Perry in the first half to a leg injury after she made a diving attempt underneath the basket to stop a loose ball from rolling out of bounds.NO. 12 OHIO STATE 85, OHIO 45COLUMBUS,...

Peebles scores 11 to help Liberty cruise past Mississippi Valley State 74-39

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:42:26 GMT

Peebles scores 11 to help Liberty cruise past Mississippi Valley State 74-39 LYBCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Brody Peebles scored 11 points as Liberty beat Mississippi Valley State 74-39 on Tuesday night.Peebles shot 4 for 9, including 1 for 5 from beyond the arc for the Flames (7-2). Kaden Metheny scored 10 points and added five rebounds. Colin Porter shot 5 for 11, including 0 for 5 from beyond the arc to finish with 10 points.Donovan Sanders led the way for the Delta Devils (0-9) with 18 points and six rebounds. Arecko Gipson added 13 points and two blocks for Mississippi Valley State. Reginald Reynolds also had six points. The loss is the ninth in a row for the Delta Devils.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source