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Local church gives away thousands of toys as part of annual event 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:20 GMT

Children in Whittier were treated to some early Christmas gifts on Sunday as part of a local church’s annual toy giveaway. The Freedom City Church, located at 6355 Greenleaf Avenue in Whittier, hosts its annual Christmas at Freedom event each year during the holiday season.  Shohei Ohtani gives teammate’s wife new Porsche as thank you for jersey number This year’s giveaway theme was “Christmas Toy Wonderland,” complete with Santa, “Toy Story” characters and real snow. The children receiving the toys could not have been more excited to receive their gifts a day before many others do, but church staff are just as enthusiastic about giving the toys out.Children in Whittier were treated to some early Christmas gifts on Sunday as part of a local church’s annual toy giveaway on Dec. 24, 2023. (KTLA)“We are thrilled to be able to spread Christmas cheer on Christmas Eve,” Senior Pastor of Freedom City Church Jason Lozano said. “It’s really special to have the opportunity to share Ch...

Coastal flood, hazardous beach advisories for Christmas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:20 GMT

(KRON) – The National Weather Service for the Bay Area has issued a minor coastal flooding advisory as a result of a hide tide on Christmas Day around 9:26 a.m. The coastal flood advisory will be active from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday. The areas most likely impacted are low-lying, flood-prone spots adjacent to the San Francisco Bay. Animal shelter offering half-price on all pet adoptions during holiday season For your safety, avoid underpasses and coastal trails.  A Beach Hazards Statement was issued for the San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey Bay region, and Big Sure Coast for Christmas Day. The hazard is forecasted from 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 25.The weather service says there will be an increased risk of sneaker waves and rip currents for northwest-facing beaches.Long-period breaking waves of 10 to 12 feet and increased risk for sneaker waves are expected. According to the NWS, there could potentially be dangerous conditions for inexperienced surfers and swim...

At least 70 are killed in central Gaza, in one of the war's deadliest strikes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:20 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza (AP) — At least 70 people were killed in Gaza in one of the deadliest strikes of the war, health officials said Sunday, while the number of Israeli soldiers killed in combat over the weekend rose to 15.Associated Press journalists at a nearby hospital watched frantic Palestinians carry the dead, including a baby, and wounded following the strike on the Maghazi refugee camp east of Deir al-Balah. One bloodied young girl looked stunned while her body was checked for broken bones.Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said the toll was likely to rise. The Israeli military had no immediate comment.“We were all targeted,” said Ahmad Turokmani, who lost several family members including his daughter and grandson. “There is no safe place in Gaza anyway.”As Christmas Eve fell, smoke rose over the besieged territory, while in the West Bank Bethlehem was hushed, its holiday celebrations called off. In neighboring Egypt, tentative efforts continued on a deal for anot...

Lions hang on to beat Vikings 30-24 for 1st division title since 1993

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:20 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Detroit Lions clinched their first division title in 30 years, using two rushing touchdowns from Jahmyr Gibbs and 106 receiving yards and a third-quarter go-ahead score by Amon-Ra St. Brown to overtake the injury-ravaged Minnesota Vikings 30-24 on Sunday.Ifeatu Melifonwu picked off Nick Mullens at the 5-yard line with 49 seconds left for Detroit’s fourth interception of the game, an off-target pass to an open Justin Jefferson three plays after his leaping grab in double coverage on third-and-27 kept the last-minute drive alive.Jared Goff passed for 257 yards without a turnover and David Montgomery had a rushing touchdown for the Lions (11-4) in another prolific performance by one of the NFL’s most potent offenses. Detroit secured a home playoff game for the first time in 22 seasons at Ford Field, where an NFC North champions banner will soon hang. The last one was for winning the NFC Central in 1993.Mullens threw for two scores, a diving 26-yard ca...

Jordan Love, Packers survive rally by Panthers, win 33-30 to keep playoff hopes alive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:20 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jordan Love threw for two touchdowns, ran for one and made two big completions to set up Anders Carlson’s 32-yard field goal with 19 seconds left, and the Green Bay Packers survived a fourth-quarter rally by Carolina to beat the Panthers 33-30 on Sunday and keep their playoff hopes alive.Love threw touchdown passes of 21 yards to rookie Dontayvion Wicks and 5 yards to Romeo Dobbs and scored on a quarterback sneak as the Packers snapped a two-game losing streak. Aaron Jones became the first Packers player this season to exceed 100 yards rushing or receiving in a game, rushing for 127 yards on 21 carries.The Packers (7-8) remain one game behind the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams in the NFC wild-card race.Bryce Young threw for a career-high 312 yards with two touchdown passes to DJ Chark for the Panthers (2-13), who failed to build on the momentum of last week’s 9-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons.For a brief stretch in the fourth quarter, it look...

Heinicke lifts Falcons with clean play at quarterback in 29-10 win to cool Colts’ playoff hopes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:20 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Taylor Heinicke provided the turnover-free leadership at quarterback Atlanta has sought all season, passing for 229 yards and a touchdown to lead the Falcons to a 29-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.The Falcons (7-8) benched Desmond Ridder this week for the second time this season following two straight losses, providing an opportunity for Heinicke to boost the team’s fading playoff hopes.Heinicke delivered, completing 23 of 33 passes, including a 24-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Pitts. Tyler Allgeier added a 31-yard touchdown run. The Falcons’ 29 points set a season high.The Colts (8-7) had won five of six to move into a first-place tie in the AFC South but struggled offensively after opening the game with a long drive capped by Jonathan Taylor’s 1-yard scoring run.Gardner Minshew faced frequent pressure from the Falcons’ pass rush, including on an incomplete fourth-down pass from the Atlanta 38 with about 10 minutes remaining. The Col...

Geno Smith rallies Seahawks with 2 TDs in fourth to beat Titans 20-17

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:20 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Geno Smith threw his second touchdown pass of the fourth quarter on a 5-yarder to Colby Parkinson with 57 seconds left and the Seattle Seahawks kept their playoff hopes alive by beating the Tennessee Titans 20-17 Sunday for their second straight victory.The Seahawks (8-7) still need to win out and get some help to clinch their second playoff berth in three seasons. They started slowly after beating Philadelphia on Monday night and traveling cross country for the early kickoff. Smith, who missed the past two games with an injured groin, gave the Seahawks their first lead at 13-10 when he found DK Metcalf in the left corner for an 11-yard TD with 12:10 left.Derrick Henry put Tennessee back up 17-13 with a 2-yard TD run with 3:21 left. Smith responded by driving the Seahawks 75 yards over 14 plays for the win. Tennessee had a final chance. But Boye Mafe led Seattle with two sacks, including one to start the Titans’ last drive. Ryan Tannehill hit Colton Dow...

Ratcliffe wants struggling Man United back at the top of English and European soccer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:20 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has finally got his hands on Manchester United after securing a stake of up to 25% in the Premier League club. Ratcliffe’s interest in sports — and soccer in particular — is long-standing. The 71-year-old owner of petrochemicals giant INEOS has been a United fan since childhood, and supporters will like his stated ambitions.“We all want to see Manchester United back where we belong, at the very top of English, European and world football,” Ratcliffe said Sunday after a deal, subject to Premier League approval, was confirmed following lengthy negotiations with the Glazer family, United’s American owners. The announcement comes after moves elsewhere in European soccer that could have seen Ratcliffe take control of one of United’s main Premier League rivals as recently as last year. Ratcliffe, one of the richest people in Britain, had initially looked to buy the Glazers’ controlling stake of around 69%, but eventually a...

Report: Alexandria’s Potomac Yard entertainment district would create 30,000 jobs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:20 GMT

A newly released economic study is providing more insight into what the arena plan in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard might look like if the Washington Capitals and Wizards move.The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership in Virginia hired the economists to conduct an impact analysis to assess the economic and fiscal impacts of the development at Potomac Yard.The study reveals the proposed entertainment district would generate nearly 30,000 permanent jobs and generate nearly $8 billion for the Commonwealth.The new arena for the Caps and Wizards would cost taxpayers $1.35 billion in state issued bonds. However, extra revenue raised by business in the arena district would pay off those bonds.A memo on the plan from the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership said that the entertainment district is projected to generate “roughly 2.5 times the economic output of what would otherwise be built based on current development plans.”The plan particularly focused on the dif...

Bills show they’ve learned from past mistakes to improve playoff hopes by beating Chargers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:20 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Question the Buffalo Bills for nearly losing to the fading, in-transition Los Angeles Chargers.What can also be true is this being the type of slow-starting, turnover-filled outing the Bills would have lost two months ago.That Buffalo found a way in pulling out a final-minute 24-22 win could well be a testament for a team gaining experience from its past.Whatever was missing in style points was made up by Buffalo (9-6) winning its third straight and fourth of five to continue solidifying its bid for a fifth straight playoff berth. The Bills also maintained an outside chance at winning a fourth consecutive AFC East title, with a season-ending showdown looming at division-leading Miami.“It’s not easy to win. It’s not easy to win by a lot each and every week,” quarterback Josh Allen said, a week after Buffalo’s 31-10 rout of Dallas. “I’m just fortunate that we found a way.”The familiarity of so much that went wrong during the Bills past struggles was apparent ...