Can the San Jose Sharks (gasp!) improve? Five ways they can be better than expected

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:35:18 GMT

Can the San Jose Sharks (gasp!) improve? Five ways they can be better than expected SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks were in the early stages of practice — exercising an up-tempo drill — when a sloppy entry by one forward across the blue line resulted in an easy turnover for the opposing defenseman.Right then, Sharks coach David Quinn halted the drill. Using some choice language, Quinn raised his voice and reminded his team that poor puck management was one of the Sharks’ biggest issues last season.“It’s not going to happen this year,” Quinn told his team Tuesday. “We have to work with a purpose.”Fixing those types of mistakes will be crucial for the Sharks if they have any hope of improving upon their 22-44-16 record from last season. This is not a team that figures to light up the scoreboard now that Erik Karlsson and Timo Meier are no longer wearing teal, so playing smart, detailed hockey will be necessary if they want to remain competitive on a nightly basis.“Will we win games 6-5? Probably not,” Sharks winger Mike Hoffman said. “But...

Hayward police investigating fatal crash Monday night

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:35:18 GMT

Hayward police investigating fatal crash Monday night (BCN) -- Hayward police are investigating a fatal collision in the city's Eden Shores neighborhood Monday night.Shortly before 9 p.m., officers responded to a crash in the area of Industrial and Hesperian boulevards. Upon arrival, responding officers found a pickup truck and a sedan on scene, Hayward police said in a statement.The driver and sole occupant of the pickup truck, a 46-year-old man from Modesto, did not suffer injuries, Hayward police said.The second vehicle was occupied by two adults and two children. The driver, a 36-year-old man from Hayward, was treated at the scene by medical personnel for injuries that were not life-threatening.The children also suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were sent to the hospital.A 39-year-old woman, also a passenger in the second vehicle, was transported to a hospital for injuries. However, she eventually died there, according to police.Authorities withheld the identities of the involved parties.The investigation into the crash is...

Powerball drawing Wednesday for second-largest lottery jackpot in history

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:35:18 GMT

Powerball drawing Wednesday for second-largest lottery jackpot in history BURLINGAME, Calif. (KRON) -- One-point-seven-three billion dollars. To put that much money into perspective, even if you spent $10,000 a day, it would still take 466 years to spend that much.Wednesday's drawing of $1.73 billion is happening at 8 p.m., with tickets priced at two bucks each. The cut-off time to purchase a ticket is 7 p.m.The last Powerball won was back in July. There have been 35 straight drawings since with no winner. That makes this drawing the second-largest lottery jackpot in history.The first-largest jackpot was over $2 billion and was won last November in California. SF teachers voting today to authorize strike Your odds of winning are 1 in about 300 million, but some say you should still roll the dice.If you do win, you can accept the $1.73 billion over 30 years, or you can opt for $756.6 million in cash. If you don’t win, you could always save $100,000 a year for the next 17,000 years.

Former NFL player Sergio Brown taken into custody in connection with his mother’s death, source says

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:35:18 GMT

Former NFL player Sergio Brown taken into custody in connection with his mother’s death, source says (CNN) — Former NFL player Sergio Brown, whose mother was found dead last month near her suburban Chicago home, has been taken in custody by authorities in connection with the death, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN.Brown, who had traveled to Mexico, was deported Tuesday and taken into custody by US law enforcement officers near San Diego, the source said, based on an arrest warrant issued in Illinois. Police in San Diego are working to transfer Brown from Southern California to the Chicago area, the source said.Mexican law enforcement officers have known Brown’s whereabouts since at least September 19, the source said, and deported him after authorities in Illinois finally obtained an arrest warrant pertaining to the death of Brown’s mother.Authorities discovered the body of 73-year-old Myrtle Brown last month after relatives alerted police they’d been unable to find or contact her or her son, the Maywood Police Department said in a news release.The ...

Passengers from Israel touch down in MIA as war continues

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:35:18 GMT

Passengers from Israel touch down in MIA as war continues A flight from Israel Wednesday morning touched down in South Florida. The passengers who returned reacted to what it was like after being stuck near the war zone.The plane packed with passengers from Tel Aviv arrived at around 8:45 a.m.7News cameras captured the passengers who had smiles on their faces and waved as they made their way through Miami International Airport. But some passengers arrived with heavy hearts, devastated by the horrific crimes against innocent civilians, women and children back in Israel.One man who was visiting family in a small community, roughly 20 minutes north of the Gaza Strip, spoke with 7News and described what it was like the day terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday. “We can see the rockets overhead and we can see the Iron Dome taking care of the rockets,” Alan Rosenstock said. “It was just an awful experience for those people that got killed and those orphans now. The enemy is not an enemy that you’re normally us...

Detroit dog rescued after 3 days with cheese puff container stuck on head

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:35:18 GMT

Detroit dog rescued after 3 days with cheese puff container stuck on head DETROIT, Mich. (WSVN) — Meet Cheeto, the dog who found himself in a tight spot in Detroit after he spent three long days with a cheese puffs container stuck over his head, but thanks to a compassionate individual, Cheeto is on the path to recovery.A good Samaritan discovered Cheeto roaming around a neighborhood, struggling with the container obscuring his face. They promptly brought him to “The Last Stop Animal Rescue and Sanctuary,” where volunteers carefully worked to remove the container.The prolonged ordeal left Cheeto underweight, as he was unable to eat with the container covering his head. However, there’s good news; he is now recovering well.The rescue group is actively searching for Cheeto’s owners, but if they are not located, Cheeto is assured a long and happy life at the sanctuary.

New government emerges in Slovakia, with Robert Fico as prime minister

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:35:18 GMT

New government emerges in Slovakia, with Robert Fico as prime minister Slovakia has a new government — at least on paper.Following Tuesday’s announcement by the social democratic Hlas (Voice) party, which finished third in the September 30 election with 14.7 percent, that it would focus on coalition talks with leftist-populist Smer (Direction), the victor of the ballot with 23 percent, the two parties on Wednesday announced agreement on forming a ruling coalition.The incoming government will include the conservative populist Slovenská národná strana (Slovak National Party, SNS), which won 5.6 percent. The three parties control 79 seats in Slovakia’s 150-seat parliament.“This is the basis of a coalition agreement, which we want to sign as soon as possible,” said Smer leader Robert Fico. While conceding the parties of the new government would face multiple fiscal and geopolitical challenges, he claimed their previous experience of ruling Slovakia — from 2006 to 2010, and 2012 to 2020 — proved they were up to the task.“[If we are going] to hell, then fine...

Brothers accused of orchestrating deadly Russian strike on Ukrainian village

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:35:18 GMT

Brothers accused of orchestrating deadly Russian strike on Ukrainian village Two Ukrainian brothers helped Russia orchestrate a missile attack on a shop and a café in the village of Hroza, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement Wednesday.  The SBU named the brothers as Volodymyr, 30, and Dmytro Mamon, 23, both former police officers.Russia attacked the village in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region as people were gathering to commemorate a slain local soldier. It was originally believed that 50 people were killed but that has since been revised up to 55, as local prosecutors identified more bodies. Hroza had a population of 350, meaning one in seven residents was killed.During a U.N. Security Council meeting Monday, the attack was condemned as a war crime. Russia’s U.N. ambassador Vasilii Nebendzya at first said Russia does not strike civilian targets but later said that an “influential Ukrainian nationalist funeral was held in Hroza with many Nazis attending.” The people of Hroza had gathered to commemorate Ukrainia...

As strikes devastate Gaza, Israel forms unity government to oversee war sparked by Hamas attack

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:35:18 GMT

As strikes devastate Gaza, Israel forms unity government to oversee war sparked by Hamas attack JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a leading opposition figure on Wednesday created a war-time Cabinet to oversee the fight against Hamas militants after their stunning weekend attack. In the sealed-off Gaza Strip ruled by Hamas, Palestinians struggled to find safety as Israeli bombardment demolished entire neighborhoods and the territory’s only power plant ran out of fuel.The new war-time Cabinet will consist of Netanyahu, Benny Gantz — a senior opposition figure and former defense minister — and current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a statement released by Gantz said. The Cabinet will focus only on issues of the war. It appeared that the rest of Netanyahu’s existing government partners, a collection of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, would remain in place to handle other issues.The unusual arrangement cobbles together a degree of unity after years of bitterly divisive politics, as the military appears increasingly likely to launch...

Mac Jones will remain Patriots’ starting QB this week against Raiders, Bill Belichick says

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 16:35:18 GMT

Mac Jones will remain Patriots’ starting QB this week against Raiders, Bill Belichick says FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots are making some big changes to try to improve their offense.For now, a change at quarterback won’t be one of them.New England coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday that Mac Jones will remain the starter when the Patriots visit the Las Vegas Raiders.“Yeah, we’re not making any changes,” Belichick said.Jones is having his worst season since being drafted 15th overall in 2021. He completed just 12 of 22 passes for 110 yards and two interceptions in New England’s 34-0 loss to New Orleans last week. It computed to a 30.5 passer rating, the second-worst mark of his career.He has had six turnovers over the past two weeks, one of the biggest impediments for an offense that has managed just three points during that stretch. The Patriots (1-4) haven’t scored a touchdown in 10 quarters of play.As bad as things have been, offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien believes there is time to fix the issues.“There’s a lot of season left,” O’Brien said this wee...