Putin’s Night of the Long Knives

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:42:30 GMT

Putin’s Night of the Long Knives People lay carnations on a memorial for Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in a plane crash, near the PMC Wagner Center in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Aug. 24, 2023.Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesFor two months after Yevgeny Prigozhin led a brief mutiny that threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hold on power, the mercenary boss traveled freely, attending to business in St. Petersburg and Moscow, as if all were forgotten and forgiven.But on Wednesday, a very suspicious plane crash killed Prigozhin and decapitated his Wagner Group, the mercenary army that marched on Moscow in June under his command. Dmitry Utkin, Prigozhin’s right hand at Wagner, and Valery Chekalov, a close Prigozhin aide, died along with him as they flew from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The other passengers on the plane were also with Wagner. Most Read Hacked Records Corroborate Claims in H...

Coach Landon Donovan’s 2nd-tier San Diego Loyal to cease operations after 2023 season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:42:30 GMT

Coach Landon Donovan’s 2nd-tier San Diego Loyal to cease operations after 2023 season SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Loyal, coached by former U.S. star Landon Donovan, will cease operations after their fourth season in the United Soccer League’s second-tier League Championship.Owner Andrew Vassiliadis made the announcement Thursday, citing the inability to find locations for a stadium, training facility and academy. The team has played at Torero Stadium, a 6,000-seat venue on the campus of the University of San Diego.Vassiliadis said he didn’t envision his team moving to another location.First-tier Major League Soccer said in May that San Diego will become its 30th team when the league expands in 2025.Donovan, 41, has coached the team since it started play in 2020.“Having a modern, commercially viable stadium solution is vital to our clubs’ long-term success and is a pillar of the USL’s growth strategy,” USL deputy CEO Justin Papadakis said in a statement. “Despite collectively pursuing multiple potential options with SD Loyal’s leadership in the San Diego area...

Betts has 5 hits, then Hernández homers and doubles twice as Dodgers beat Guardians 6-1 and 9-3

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:42:30 GMT

Betts has 5 hits, then Hernández homers and doubles twice as Dodgers beat Guardians 6-1 and 9-3 CLEVELAND (AP) — Mookie Betts matched his career high with five hits in the completion of a suspended game and Kiké Hernández homered and doubled twice in the scheduled game, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Cleveland Guardians 6-1 and 9-3 on Thursday.Betts singled four times in the first six innings in the early game and had a two-run double in the eighth for the NL West-leading Dodgers, who are 19-3 in August. The seven-time All-Star, who also had five hits for Boston against Kansas City on Aug. 26, 2016, had three RBIs on the day.“I don’t really remember the first five-hit game, so it’s pretty cool,” said Betts, who went 9 for 11 in the three-game series and is batting .568 during a 12-game hitting streak. “The main thing is continuing to hit the ball hard and swinging at the right pitches, focusing on things I can control. But winning is the most important thing.”Michael Busch hit his first major league homer in the scheduled game as the Dodgers rallied from a 2-0 ...

Workers win raises at General Motors joint venture battery plant in Ohio as contract talks continue

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:42:30 GMT

Workers win raises at General Motors joint venture battery plant in Ohio as contract talks continue DETROIT (AP) — Unionized workers at a General Motors joint venture electric vehicle battery plant in Ohio will see pay raises while they continue to negotiate a contract, if they ratify an interim deal announced Thursday.The United Auto Workers union said that the 1,100 workers at the Ultium Cells plant near Warren, Ohio, will get $3 to $4 per hour increases as well as thousands of dollars in back pay. They’ll vote on the interim deal in the coming days.Ultium Cells said the average increase is 25%, and it would be effective on Aug. 28. Since it’s retroactive, workers would get $3,000 to $7,000 as well, based on the hours they have worked. Workers at the plant, jointly owned by battery maker LG Energy Solution, now start at $16.50 per hour, which UAW President Shawn Fain has criticized as too low.UAW Vice President Mike Booth said the interim deal is still far short of what the workers should get given the skill level needed to do the jobs. “We have been clear with Ultiu...

Collin Morikawa shoots 61 to go from 9 shots behind to 3-way tie for Tour Championship lead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:42:30 GMT

Collin Morikawa shoots 61 to go from 9 shots behind to 3-way tie for Tour Championship lead ATLANTA (AP) — Collin Morikawa faced a tough road at the Tour Championship, starting the tournament nine shots behind but knowing he had 72 holes — and an example from Rory McIlroy last year — to make up ground in the FedEx Cup finale.He managed to do that in one day, with a little help from the top.Morikawa finally put together his most complete round of the year at a good time Thursday, closing with three straight birdies for a 9-under 61 that gave him a share of the lead with Ryder Cup hopeful Keegan Bradley (63) and BMW Championship winner Viktor Hovland (68).They were at 10-under par, the score top-seeded Scottie Scheffler started with in the stifling heat of East Lake.At the end of one round, 16 players — slightly more than half the 30-man field — were separated by four shots in the chase for the $18 million FedEx Cup prize.That includes McIlroy, who last year was 11 shots behind on the front nine of the opening round, six shots behind going into the last day and still won. Ju...

Trump leaves Atlanta jail roughly 20 minutes after surrendering on charges related to bid to overturn 2020 election

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:42:30 GMT

Trump leaves Atlanta jail roughly 20 minutes after surrendering on charges related to bid to overturn 2020 election ATLANTA (AP) — Trump leaves Atlanta jail roughly 20 minutes after surrendering on charges related to bid to overturn 2020 election.Source

Donald Trump mug shot shows former president scowling at Atlanta booking

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:42:30 GMT

Donald Trump mug shot shows former president scowling at Atlanta booking ATLANTA (AP) — Former President Donald Trump surrendered Thursday on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia, a brisk 20-minute booking that yielded a historic first: a mug shot of a U.S. ex-president.He was released on $200,000 bond and headed back to the airport for his return flight home to New Jersey, flashing a thumbs-up through the window of his sport utility vehicle as his motorcade left. A booking photo released by authorities shot Trump, wearing a navy suit and red tie, angrily scowling at the camera, his brows furrowed as he stares into the lensUnrepentant but subdued after the brief jail visit, he insisted as has repeatedly has that he "did nothing wrong" and called the case accusing him of subverting election results a “travesty of justice.”“If you challenge an election, you should be able to challenge an election," he told reporters on the airport tarmac before boarding his plane.Trump’s surrender to law enforcement auth...

Calls rise for more police presence at Colfax and Havana, where police killed man

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:42:30 GMT

Calls rise for more police presence at Colfax and Havana, where police killed man AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — There is a call for help from some in Aurora who say crime is out of control near Havana and Colfax. It's where a reportedly armed man was shot and killed by police early Wednesday morning.A mother who didn’t want to be identified spoke about the problems she sees daily there.“There’s a lot of homeless and random people on both ends of the bus stop. They harass people a lot of the time,” she said.She's not alone in her concern. Fire causes black smoke to billow out of Sheraton Hotel Dara Goldsby is the CEO of the Caring and Sharing Community Resources and Transformation Center. It's based near Havana Street and Colfax Avenue.Goldsby tries to help people with substance abuse problems and job challenges, and she even provides food when there’s a need. She told FOX31 that crime runs rampant there, even in plain sight.“You know, most of the ones that I talk to do not fear the police. They do not fear doing drugs right here. They do not fear doing violence. They ...

I-70 reopens at Floyd Hill after loose rocks cause rush-hour closure

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:42:30 GMT

I-70 reopens at Floyd Hill after loose rocks cause rush-hour closure DENVER (KDVR) — Interstate 70 was closed at Floyd Hill Thursday afternoon because of loose rocks after blasting above the highway.The rock is above the highway between U.S. 6 and County Road 65, according to Colorado State Patrol, which posted about the closure at 3:12 p.m. U.S. 40 was open. Save this link: Live traffic map from FOX31 The westbound lanes reopened just before 4:40 p.m. Eastbound I-70 reopened a few minutes later.Traffic backed up on Interstate 70 because of a closure at Floyd Hill (KDVR)Delays were already expected on this stretch of I-70 because of ongoing construction work for the Floyd Hill expansion project. This month, crews are rock scaling and blasting along the route. CDOT said Thursday that rock blasting is the reason for the loose rocks that caused the closure.I-70 Floyd Hill construction underwayA rendering of the completed I-70 Floyd Hill expansion project’s Central Section looking south. Crews are getting the stretch of interstate ready for the major ...

Star Colin Ford goes to bat playing MLB player Rickey Hill in new faith-based drama ‘The Hill’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:42:30 GMT

Star Colin Ford goes to bat playing MLB player Rickey Hill in new faith-based drama ‘The Hill’ We could all use a feel-good, true story from time to time, and “The Hill” checks that box. It’s a movie based on real-life baseball player Rickey Hill. He was diagnosed with a spine disorder as a kid, but his love for the sport got him swinging against all odds.Jesse Berry (as Young Rickey Hill): “All I want to do is play. When I swing that bat, I ain’t crippled no more.”“The Hill” tells a true story of Major League Baseball player Rickey Hill.Randy Houser (as Ray Clemons): “It’s your time, Rickey!”Colin Ford stars as the young and determined Rickey, but before shooting, he needed some time to get his baseball skills down.Colin Ford: “I had about three months to train before I got to set, just on the swing and some hitting and just other types of drills.”Colin Ford (as Rickey Hill): “I’m one of the best hitters you’re going to see.”Scott Glenn (as Red Murff: “With a bad leg, ...