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Fairfield takes on Fairleigh Dickinson following Leach’s 20-point game

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:30:17 GMT

Fairfield Stags (5-6, 1-1 MAAC) at Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (6-6)Teaneck, New Jersey; Thursday, 7 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Stags -1.5; over/under is 156BOTTOM LINE: Fairfield visits the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights after Jalen Leach scored 20 points in Fairfield’s 63-51 victory against the Wagner Seahawks.The Knights have gone 3-1 in home games. Fairleigh Dickinson leads the NEC in rebounding, averaging 37.5 boards. Sean Moore paces the Knights with 7.3 rebounds.The Stags have gone 3-3 away from home. Fairfield ranks seventh in the MAAC with 35.2 rebounds per game led by Louis Bleechmore averaging 5.6.Fairleigh Dickinson scores 82.6 points, 11.5 more per game than the 71.1 Fairfield allows. Fairfield has shot at a 42.7% rate from the field this season, 1.3 percentage points less than the 44.0% shooting opponents of Fairleigh Dickinson have averaged.TOP PERFORMERS: Ansley Almonor is scoring 16.8 points per game with 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists for the Knights. Moore ...

Temple Owls take on the Nevada Wolf Pack

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:30:17 GMT

Nevada Wolf Pack (9-1) vs. Temple Owls (6-4)Honolulu; Thursday, 3 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Wolf Pack -8; over/under is 148BOTTOM LINE: The Nevada Wolf Pack and the Temple Owls square off at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.The Owls are 6-4 in non-conference play. Temple is the AAC leader with 11.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Sam Hofman averaging 2.9.The Wolf Pack have a 9-1 record against non-conference oppponents. Nevada ranks eighth in the MWC scoring 32.8 points per game in the paint led by Kenan Blackshear averaging 7.6.Temple scores 78.7 points, 14.0 more per game than the 64.7 Nevada gives up. Nevada averages 5.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.2 fewer made shots on average than the 7.6 per game Temple allows.TOP PERFORMERS: Matteo Picarelli averages 2.7 made 3-pointers per game for the Owls, scoring 11.5 points while shooting 40.3% from beyond the arc. Hysier Miller is shooting 33.9% and averaging 18.5 points for Temple.Jarod L...

RMV reports big increase in licensed drivers in first 6 months of new law

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:30:17 GMT

Since a new immigrant license law went into effect six months ago, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles has seen a large increase in new drivers obtaining driver’s licenses and learner’s permits.The Work and Family Mobility Act allowed residents to obtain a driver’s license regardless of immigration status. The law went into effect on July 1, and since then the RMV has issued 91,961 new learner’s permits and 54,952 new, first-time driver’s licenses to Massachusetts residents.This represents a 244 percent increase in new learner’s permits and a 120 percent increase in new driver’s licenses.“Since the Work and Family Mobility Act was implemented in July, thousands of Massachusetts residents have been able to get licenses helping provide access to friends, families, and their communities,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt in a statement.To accomodate this increase, the RMV increased the number of staff, service hours, and testing ...

Lawrence City Councilor-Elect indicted on voter fraud charges

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:30:17 GMT

Two Lawrence women, including a city councilor-elect, were recently indicted on voter fraud charges.District A Councilor-Elect Fidelina Santiago and Jennifer Lopez were indicted by an Essex County grand jury “following a referrla by the Secretary of State’s Office concerning allegations of fraudulent voting associated with the November 2023 local election,” according to District Attorney Paul Tucker’s office.Santiago and Lopez were both indicted and charged with four counts of illegal voting or attempting to vote, four cuonts of conspiracy to vote or attempt to vote illegally, four counts of unlawful interference with a voter, and four counts of obstruction of voting.“Interfering with an election not only undermines the legitimacy of government but erodes the public’s confidence in the process,” Tucker said in a statement. “My office will vigorously prosecute individuals that threaten the integrity of elections.”The investigation into this case by...

US and Venezuela agree to release of 10 Americans – and convict ‘Fat Leonard’ – in exchange for release of Maduro ally

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:30:17 GMT

Washington (CNN) — The US has reached an agreement to secure the release of six wrongfully detained Americans and four other Americans held in Venezuela, senior US officials announced Wednesday,The deal will also include the extradition of Leonard Francis, the former military contractor known as “Fat Leonard” who orchestrated the largest corruption scandal in US Navy history.The deal marks another sign of significant thawing in relations between the US and Venezuela after months of high-level negotiations between the two countries. The thaw comes as the Biden administration contends with a worsening situation at its southern border, driven largely by Venezuelan migrants, that has pushed federal resources to the brink.Six of the Americans – Eyvin Hernandez, Savoi Wright, Jerrel Kenemore, Joseph Cristella, Jason Saad, and Edgar Jose Marval Moreno – landed at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday night.“It does my heart good to see that you guys are back here on Americ...

5 takeaways from the Chicago Bulls’ 124-108 win, including Dalen Terry’s role and a LeBron James anniversary in Chicago

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:30:17 GMT

As the final 15 seconds ticked down on a 124-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Chicago Bulls earned their first standing ovation of the season on Wednesday.The praise came for good reason. The Bulls handily dispensed with a team that won the NBA Cup just 11 days before. They absorbed several offensive runs spurred by LeBron James and Anthony Davis to keep the Lakers from ever tying the game after taking the lead about four minutes into the first quarter.The season seemed all but lost after a 5-14 start, but the Bulls are now 7-3 in their last 10 games without maximum contract star Zach LaVine, who will remain sidelined until January with a foot injury.They still sit five games below .500 with a 12-17 record. But the consistency of their 3-point shooting paired with breakout performances from players like Coby White has buoyed the Bulls as they begin to climb in the Eastern Conference standings.Here are five takeaways from the game.1. LeBron James was stymied by Bulls’ d...

Wahlberg: Hold your fire Patriots Nation, Belichick’s still the GOAT

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:30:17 GMT

Dear Pats Nation,Before I begin, I want to stress that any mention of Tom Brady is in no way a slight of him, his legacy or my admiration for him as a person or player. This really has nothing to do with Tom Brady. It’s about Bill Belichick.Sad that I even have to preface it this way, but that’s what it’s come to nowadays. It seems one can’t speak glowingly of Coach Bill Belichick anymore without being treated like a Cowboys fan at an Eagles game — or worse. It’s no surprise that hysterical sports media pundits are rejoicing over Coach Belichick’s apparent “fall from grace.” They’ve been waiting to dance on his football grave for two decades. What is surprising, however, is how many Pats fans have subscribed to the Belichick slander.Did we get so used to winning that we are punishing Bill Belichick for our own unrealistic expectations?Did we get so used to winning that we forgot how easy it was to lose?Did we get so spoiled by all that winning, that we’ve become unaware of how much ...

Patriots’ cornerback depth has been tested by everything in 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:30:17 GMT

FOXBORO — Patriots rookie cornerback Alex Austin starting in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs is a great example of how sometimes the best-laid plans go awry.Austin was thrust into a surprise starting role Sunday when J.C. Jackson was active but didn’t appear on the Patriots’ sideline during the game. His agent, Neil Schwartz, told ESPN that Jackson is dealing with mental health issues. The cornerback was placed on the non-football illness list Tuesday.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Wahlberg: Hold your fire Patriots Nation, Belichick’s still the GOAT New England Patriots | Patriots-Broncos injury report: Hunter Henry among 4 out Wednesday New England Patriots | Rhamondre Stevenson among 3 Patriots starters missing at practice Wednesday New England Patriots | Bailey Zappe’s personal goal to finish Patriots season is an obvious one New England Patriots | Bill Belichick explains ...

After approving blessings for same-sex couples, Pope asks Vatican staff to avoid ‘rigid ideologies’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:30:17 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis urged Vatican bureaucrats Thursday to avoid “rigid ideological positions” that prevent them from understanding today’s reality, an appeal made days after he formally allowed priests to bless same-sex couples in a radical change of Vatican policy.Francis used his annual Christmas greeting to the Holy See hierarchy to encourage the cardinals, bishops and laypeople who run the Vatican to listen to one another and to others so they can evolve to truly offer service to the Catholic Church.Speaking in the Hall of Blessings, Francis told them it was important to keep advancing and growing in their understanding of the truth. Fearfully sticking to rules may give the appearance of avoiding problems but only ends up hurting the service that the Vatican Curia is called to give the church, he said.“Let us remain vigilant against rigid ideological positions that often, under the guise of good intentions, separate us from reality and prevent us from moving forward,”...

Albania’s parliament lifts the legal immunity of former prime minister Sali Berisha

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:30:17 GMT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s parliament voted Thursday to lift the legal immunity of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who leads the opposition Democratic Party and is accused of corruption. Opposition lawmakers inside the hall boycotted the vote and tried to disrupt the session by collecting chairs and flares, but security guards stopped them. Berisha declined to take the floor to speak against the motion. The ruling Socialist Party holds 74 of the 140 seats in Albania’s national legislature, and 75 lawmakers agreed to grant a request from prosecutors to strip Berisha of his parliamentary immunity. Thursday’s vote clears prosecutors to seek a court’s permission to put Berisha under arrest or house arrest. With the opposition refusing the participate, there were no votes against the move or any abstentions.Berisha, 79, was charged with corruption in October for allegedly abusing his post to help his son-in-law, Jamarber Malltezi, buy land in Tirana owne...