QB Joe Flacco’s improbable comeback with Cleveland has Browns in playoffs, eyeing bigger wins

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:01:35 GMT

QB Joe Flacco’s improbable comeback with Cleveland has Browns in playoffs, eyeing bigger wins CLEVELAND (AP) — In a surreal moment seemingly clipped from a Disney movie, Joe Flacco stood on the field and posed for a family photo with his wife, Dana, and their five children as delirious Browns fans serenaded them with chants of “M-V-P, M-V-P.”Welcome to Cleveland.Or in Flacco’s case, Dreamland.Another chapter was added to the NFL’s most improbable story of 2023 Thursday night when Flacco, who stayed in shape in the offseason by throwing passes to his brother, Tom, in New Jersey while waiting — and wondering — if a team would call, led the Browns into the playoffs for just the third time since 1999.That’s right, with a 37-20 win over the New York Jets, the Browns (11-5) clinched a postseason spot while riding the rifle arm of a 38-year-old quarterback who spent most of his career beating them with rival Baltimore.This wasn’t in the script, so to speak. But then again, little has gone as planned in Cleveland this season.The Browns haven’t let signi...

How major US stock indexes fared Friday, 12/29/2023

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:01:35 GMT

How major US stock indexes fared Friday, 12/29/2023 Stocks slipped on the final trading day of the year, which nonetheless boasted surprisingly robust gains for Wall Street. The benchmark S&P 500 index inched lower Friday but ended 2023 with a 24.2% gain for the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than 13% this year. The Nasdaq soared 43% for the year, driven by gains in big technology companies, including Nvidia, Amazon and Microsoft. Treasury yields were mixed and crude oil prices were relatively stable.On Friday:The S&P 500 fell 13.52 points, or 0.3%, to 4,769.83The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 20.56 points, or 0.1%, to 37,689.54.The Nasdaq composite fell 83.78 points, or 0.6%, to 15,011.35.The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 31.26 points, or 1.5%, to 2,027.07.For the week:The S&P 500 is up 15.20 points, or 0.3%.The Dow is up 303.57 points, or 0.8%.The Nasdaq is up 18.38 points, or 0.1%.The Russell 2000 is down 6.89 points, or 0.3%.For the year:The S&P 500 is up 930.33 points, or 24.2...

US outlasts Czechs in 4-3 shootout win at world juniors; Sweden shuts out Canada 2-0 in showdown

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:01:35 GMT

US outlasts Czechs in 4-3 shootout win at world juniors; Sweden shuts out Canada 2-0 in showdown GOTHENBURG, Sweden (AP) — Isaac Howard scored in the opening goal of the game and added the clincher in a shootout as the United States outlasted Czechia 4-3 on Friday at the world junior hockey championship while Sweden posted its third straight shutout with a 2-0 win over Canada.Howard, a Michigan State sophomore, scored just 1:12 into the game but the Americans were challenged for the first time in three games. It was 1-1 after the first period and Adam Bares’ goal 6:23 into the second gave the the Czechs a 2-1 lead and the first deficit of the tournament for the United States.Will Smith tied things at 2 at 8:04 but Robin Sapousek answered at 11:47 to give Czechia another lead. Ryan Chesley scored less than 3 minutes later to knot things up again. The teams were scoreless in the third period and overtime, which was the first of this year’s tournament.Jacob Fowler had 20 saves and stopped six of the seven shots he faced in the shootout, where the Americans got a goal f...

No. 22 Florida State women beat Georgia Tech 95-80 in an ACC opener behind Latson’s 30 points

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:01:35 GMT

No. 22 Florida State women beat Georgia Tech 95-80 in an ACC opener behind Latson’s 30 points TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Ta’Niya Latson scored 30 points, Makayla Timpson had 20 points and 14 rebounds for her 19th career double-double and No. 22 Florida State beat Georgia State 95-80 on Friday in an ACC opener.Latson, a sophomore, owns nine career 30-point performances — three coming against Georgia Tech. It was her second 30-point game this season after scoring 35 in a 79-75 victory over Florida on Nov. 17.Latson scored nine points in the third quarter and Timpson had nine in the fourth. Latson gave Florida State the first double-digit lead at 67-57 late in the third and Timpson put them ahead by 10-plus for good with 7:56 left in the fourth. O’Mariah Gordon added 17 points for Florida State (10-3), which has won four straight in the series. Latson was 12 of 24 from the field, including 3 of 5 from distance, and 3 of 3 at the free-throw line. Latson also had five assists. Timpson moved into 10th in program history for career double-doubles.Kara Dunn scored 24 points and Kayla ...

Blue Jays finalize $15 million, 2-year contract with Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:01:35 GMT

Blue Jays finalize $15 million, 2-year contract with Isiah Kiner-Falefa TORONTO (AP) — Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s $15 million, two-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays was finalized on Friday.Kiner-Falefa hit .242 with six homers and 37 RBIs in 115 games last season for the New York Yankees, playing 41 games in center, 37 in left, seven in right, 31 at third base and one each at second and shortstop. He also made four mound appearances.A Gold Glove winner at third with Texas in 2020, Kiner-Falefa has played every position except first base over his six-year big league career. The 28-year-old has a .261 average with 26 homers and 203 RBIs for Texas (2018-21) and the Yankees (2022-23).A day earlier, Toronto announced its $10.5 million, one-year contract with Gold Glove-winning center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLBSource

Stock market today: Stocks end 2023 up 20% for the year as resilient economy energizes investors

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:01:35 GMT

Stock market today: Stocks end 2023 up 20% for the year as resilient economy energizes investors NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks slipped on the final trading day of the year, which nonetheless boasted surprisingly robust gains for Wall Street. The benchmark S&P 500 index inched lower Friday but ended 2023 with a 24.2% gain for the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than 13% this year. The Nasdaq soared 43% for the year, driven by gains in big technology companies, including Nvidia, Amazon and Microsoft. Treasury yields were mixed and crude oil prices were relatively stable.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.Stocks slipped on the final day of trading for 2023 in what has been a surprisingly strong year of gains on Wall Street.Yet the so-called Magnificent 7 companies — Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta Platforms and Tesla — accounted for about two-thirds of the gains in the S&P 500 this year, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. Nvidia leads the group with a gain of about 240%. The S&P 500 index fell 0.3% Friday an...

Mafah runs for 4 TDs, Clemson rallies to beat Kentucky 38-35 in a wild Gator Bowl

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:01:35 GMT

Mafah runs for 4 TDs, Clemson rallies to beat Kentucky 38-35 in a wild Gator Bowl JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Phil Mafah ran for four touchdowns, including a 3-yarder with 17 seconds to play, and Clemson beat Kentucky 38-35 in a wild Gator Bowl on Friday to finish the year on a five-game winning streak.Mafah scored three times in a back-and-forth final quarter that saw five turnovers, four touchdowns and five lead changes. Clemson (9-4) outscored Kentucky (7-6) 28-14 over the last 15 minutes.Cade Klubnik made the play of the game when he connected with Troy Stellato for 16 yards on third-and-18 to set up Mafah’s fourth-down run that moved the chains. Mafah scored three plays later to put the Tigers up for good.Kentucky had a final chance, but Devin Leary’s first-down pass was intercepted by Justin Mascoll.Mafah finished with 71 yards on 11 carries. Klubnik completed 30 of 41 passes for 264 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.Clemson trailed 21-10 after Kentucky’s Barion Brown returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards. Brown scored three touchdowns three d...

Colorado Republican sues to block earned income tax credit increase

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:01:35 GMT

Colorado Republican sues to block earned income tax credit increase DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado representative is accusing House Speaker Julie McCluskie of silencing him during an attempt to get a full reading of a tax credit bill, and now he wants the law blocked.Rep. Scott Bottoms, R-District 15, is suing McCluskie, D-District 13, and Gov. Jared Polis to block the bill, which increases the earned income tax credit. The law will allow low-income Colorado families to receive 50% of the federal tax credit for 2023, instead of the standard 25%. Explaining the 14th Amendment challenges that could disqualify Trump Bottoms claims the bill was "enacted contrary to the Constitution of the State of Colorado" after he was allegedly denied the ability to speak about the bill during the special session. Bottoms filed the lawsuit Thursday in Denver District Court. He is asking for the law to be considered null and void and not be enacted. The measure — HB 23B-1002 — doubled how much of the federal income tax credit low-income families can claim on their state ...

Police still searching for mom accused of killing 2 children, wounding third

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:01:35 GMT

Police still searching for mom accused of killing 2 children, wounding third COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KXRM) — A woman suspected of murdering her two children in Colorado Springs is believed to have left the area Friday, the Colorado Springs Police Department said. Officers are searching for 35-year-old Kimberlee Singler in connection with the killing of her two children, and the wounding of a third. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Police said the 11-year-old girl who was injured is safe and being cared for in Colorado Springs. On Tuesday, Dec. 19 around 12:30 a.m., police received a call about a burglary at a condominium. Officers said when they arrived, they found a woman and the 11-year-old girl suffering from injuries. A 9-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy were also found dead inside the home. Police said the woman has been identified as Singler, the mother of all three children. Police said Singler and the 11-year-old were treated for their injuries on scene before being taken to the hospital. After investigating, o...

Pet rescue app available for download 2 years after Marshall Fire

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:01:35 GMT

Pet rescue app available for download 2 years after Marshall Fire DENVER (KDVR) — Saturday marks two years since the Marshall Fire tore through Boulder County. Two people lost their lives, and it's estimated that a thousand animals were killed.A group created to help pet owners remain prepared for similar situations is celebrating a major milestone. After two years of hard work and development, the Pet Help and Rescue app is now available for many to download."It's cost us as much money as we'd normally spend in a year on our entire budget, and it's been exhausting. But at the same time, we are all driven by this vision of creating a tool that people can use that will make all the difference," David Crawford said.Crawford is the executive director of Animal Help Now, a group focused on helping wildlife. Two years ago, the Marshall Fire hit Crawford personally, overtaking his home and inspiring a new mission for the group too."When there is a disaster and you are not home, your neighbors who are home are your best chance of having your&nb...