No surprise: Florida names Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz its starting QB for opener at Utah

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:30:44 GMT

No surprise: Florida names Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz its starting QB for opener at Utah GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz will be Florida’s starting quarterback when the Gators open the season at Utah later this month.Coach Billy Napier made the announcement Friday, a day after the team’s first scrimmage of training camp.“We’ve seen enough,” Napier said before making his decision public. “The big thing I’ve been impressed with is just his ability to come in and learn the system, translate what he knows and apply that to our system.“And then just relentless in approach. He’s probably worked as hard as any player on our team, probably as hard as a lot of players that I’ve been around in terms of the unseen hours.”Napier’s decision was hardly a surprise considering Mertz transferred to Florida under the guise that he would be the starter after the Gators lost Anthony Richardson to the NFL draft, released incoming freshman Jaden Rashada from his scholarship following a failed name, image and likeness deal, and kicked Jalen Kitna off...

MATCHDAY: Arsenal plays in Premier League as Real Madrid starts its season in Spain

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:30:44 GMT

MATCHDAY: Arsenal plays in Premier League as Real Madrid starts its season in Spain A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Saturday:ENGLANDThe first round of the Premier League continues with Arsenal hosting Nottingham Forest in one of six games. A late collapse saw Arsenal fall short of the title last season and the London club has signed Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber in a bid to further close the gap to champion Manchester City. Promoted teams Luton and Sheffield United play their first games against Brighton and Crystal Palace, respectively. Newcastle, which finished fourth last season, hosts Aston Villa. West Ham visits Bournemouth, and Fulham is at Everton.SPAINReal Madrid kicks off its season by visiting Athletic Bilbao with doubts regarding both its striker and goalkeeper positions. Little used Andriy Lunin will start in goal for Carlo Ancelotti’s team two days after Thibaut Courtois tore a knee ligament. Ancelotti will have to decide who will lead his attack after the club did not bring in a world-class replacement for Karim Benzema ...

Una “testigo potencial” de un secuestro en Missouri fue hallada muerta en un barril

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:30:44 GMT

Una “testigo potencial” de un secuestro en Missouri fue hallada muerta en un barril Las autoridades creen que puede haber otro barril en el río Missouri con más evidencia vinculada al caso de un hombre blanco acusado de secuestrar, violar y mantener cautiva a una mujer negra en el sótano de su casa en los suburbios de Kansas City el año pasado, dijeron las autoridades el jueves. El anuncio se produce después de que los restos de una mujer negra descrita por las autoridades como un “testigo potencial” en el supuesto secuestro fueran encontrados en un barril azul en el río. “Hemos pedido al público que se mantenga atento a cualquier objeto sospechoso, como barriles azules, particularmente en el río Missouri o sus alrededores”, dijo Alexander Higginbotham, portavoz de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Clay. “Tenemos razones para creer que puede haber evidencia adicional en otro barril azul que podría estar ubicado en el río Missouri”. Identifican al cadáver que apareció dentro de un barril en una popular playa Macabro: sigue...

Iowa coach Ferentz says the integrity of the game cannot be compromised as betting probe unfolds

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:30:44 GMT

Iowa coach Ferentz says the integrity of the game cannot be compromised as betting probe unfolds IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Kirk Ferentz has known for weeks that several of his Iowa football players were under investigation for illegal gambling. He said Friday at the team’s media day he didn’t know until recently that some were accused of wagering on their own games. “It can’t be compromised, the integrity of the game, that’s first and foremost,” Ferentz said. “That’s got to be protected, and that’s where everything should start.”Former players Arland Bruce IV and Reggie Bracy and current player Jack Johnson were charged Thursday on suspicion of tampering with records to disguise that they were college athletes and under the legal betting age of 21 at the time they placed wagers. Kicker Aaron Blom was charged last week.Bruce, Bracy and Blom are suspected of betting on Iowa football games in which they played, according to court documents.“To me it’s a deal-breaker if that is, in fact, proven to be true,” Ferentz said.Johnson is alleged to have wagered on football games ...

Burnley removes spectator from stadium after Man City player struck by lighter

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:30:44 GMT

Burnley removes spectator from stadium after Man City player struck by lighter BURNLEY, England (AP) — Burnley said the club removed a spectator who threw a lighter at Manchester City defender Rico Lewis during the first half of the teams’ Premier League game on Friday.The object thrown from the crowd appeared to hit Lewis on the side of his face when he was on the ground near one of the corner flags at Turf Moor.Burnley said the incident was “unacceptable.”“The person responsible has been identified and removed from the ground by the police,” the club said. “Any individual found guilty of throwing missiles within the stadium will receive a banning order.”Late in the game, which City won 3-0, there was a brief delay when a spectator attempted to get onto the field. He was stopped by security before reaching the playing surface.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

Slugger Bryce Harper out of lineup with back spasms; day to day for NL wild card-leading Phillies

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:30:44 GMT

Slugger Bryce Harper out of lineup with back spasms; day to day for NL wild card-leading Phillies PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper flexed his legs, his shoulders, doing all he could to stay in the game for the Philadelphia Phillies. But back spasms forced the slugger out of one game, and he will have to sit out for at least one more.Harper was not in the lineup for Friday night’s game against Minnesota, a day after the two-time NL MVP was sidelined by mid-back spasms. There was some good news for the NL champion Phillies as they try to keep the top spot in the NL wild-card race: Harper is day to day and shouldn’t miss much time.“I felt better today. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow,” Harper said.With Harper out of the lineup, the Phillies started Alec Bohm at first base and moved suddenly streaking shortstop Trea Turner to third in the batting order.Harper said the spasms were unrelated to back pain that kept him out of games in 2021. He said his issues started in the first inning in Thursday’s win over Washington but he wanted to continue to play.“I just didn’t feel like it was fa...

Diakité’s last-gap header earns Lille a 1-1 draw at Nice in French league opener

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:30:44 GMT

Diakité’s last-gap header earns Lille a 1-1 draw at Nice in French league opener NICE, France (AP) — Central defender Bafodé Diakité headed a stoppage-time equalizer as Lille grabbed a 1-1 draw at Nice in the French league’s season opener Friday.Diakité met a free kick from midfielder Angel Gomes at the back post in the 94th minute.Nice took an early first-half lead when striker Gaëtan Laborde clipped the ball over goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier after being set up by strike partner Terem Moffi inside the penalty area.PSG begins its title defense at home against Lorient on Saturday and is expected to be without star striker Kylian Mbappé amid an ongoing transfer standoff.In Saturday’s other game, Marcelino takes charge of his first game for Marseille when it faces Reims at home. ___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

Broomfield burglaries allegedly same crew as Cherry Hills Village

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:30:44 GMT

Broomfield burglaries allegedly same crew as Cherry Hills Village DENVER (KDVR) -- Broomfield police are warning residents to secure belongings and make sure their doors are locked after a series of burglaries have been reported this week. The trespasses and burglaries occurred in the area of Spruce Meadows near 152nd Avenue and Zuni Street, police said. The suspects are believed to be the same four-person crew that allegedly attempted break-ins and stole two cars from Cherry Hills Village last week. 4 armed suspects attempt break-ins, steal cars in Cherry Hills Village The Broomfield Police Department said in a statement that at least one of the suspects was seen carrying a handgun.Investigators believe suspects involved in a series of Broomfield burglaries are the same suspects in Cherry Hills Village burglaries. (Photo credit: Broomfield Police Department)Suspect caught on surveillance in Broomfield burglaries (Photo credit: Broomfield Police Department)Alleged suspects in Broomfield and Cherry Hills Village burglaries (Photo credit: Broomfi...

‘I was shocked’: Elderly victim recalls carjacking in Danvers that led to car chase, apprehension of suspect

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:30:44 GMT

‘I was shocked’: Elderly victim recalls carjacking in Danvers that led to car chase, apprehension of suspect A 38-year-old man from Springfield, Mass., is in custody after authorities say he led state and local police on a chase, following a carjacking in Danvers, and now his alleged victim is speaking to Just One Station.Massachusetts State Police spokesperson Dave Procopio said the pursuit occurred after a suspect allegedly stole a woman’s vehicle in the parking lot of a Stop & Shop.According to Procopio, the suspect went on to drive along Route 97 and I-95 South, pursued by police from Topsfield at one point before state troopers took over.“[The] vehicle had damage from some sort of crash he was in before the pursuit began,” Procopio said in a news release. “We ended up stopping him just north of the Ferncroft rotary on the Danvers-Boxford line.”Following his apprehension, the suspect was taken to a hospital after he “complained of pain.”Procopio said the suspect will later be turned over to the Danvers Police Department, where authorities a...

Maine to convert inactive rail track to recreational trail near New Hampshire border

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:30:44 GMT

Maine to convert inactive rail track to recreational trail near New Hampshire border FRYEBURG, Maine (AP) — Maine is converting an inactive set of rail tracks into a new recreational trail that will run from the southern part of the state to close to the New Hampshire border.Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has signed a bill to create the new walking and biking trail, which will stretch 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Standish to Fryeburg along the Mountain Division Rail Line. The new trail is designed to eventually connect with Portland at its eastern edge and New Hampshire in the west.The cost to perform the work of removing the existing track and replacing it with an interim trail is estimated to be about $20.1 million, state records show. The bill directs the Maine Department of Transportation to do the work “subject to available funding resources, permitting and municipal agreements.”Members of an advisory council that recommended the conversion believe the trail “is the best use of the corridor and the benefits of public access to the trail will be a major economic d...