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17 hostages released amid fragile cease-fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

Another 17 people were freed by Hamas on Sunday in the third day of hostage releases, including the first with U.S. citizenship: a four-year-old girl whose parents were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks.Abigail Idan, one of three hostages with American citizenship, was initially in the hands of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Hamas militants killed her parents at their home on the Kfar Aza kibbutz near the Gaza border.“One of our fellow Americans, a little girl named Abigail turned 4 years old — she spent her birthday, that birthday and at least 50 days before that held hostage by Hamas,” President Joe Biden said Sunday in Nantucket, where he spent the holidays. “She’s free and she’s in Israel now.”“What she endured is unthinkable,” he added.The total number of people released to the care of the Red Cross included 13 Israelis, three foreign nationals and an individual carrying a Russian passport, in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners, said Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokes...

Report: Former Red Sox OF Jackie Bradley Jr. to retire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

Jackie Bradley Jr.’s career as one of baseball’s most underrated defenders may be in the rear-view mirror.The 33-year-old outfielder is expected to retire after an 11-year career spent mostly in a Red Sox uniform, MLB insider Jon Heyman reported this weekend.Boston drafted Bradley No. 40 overall in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft and he made his Major League debut on Opening Day 2013. He’ll retire with an All-Star season, a Gold Glove Award and two World Series rings to his name.That Bradley only won one Gold Glove in 2018 belies how reliable and spectacular he was defensively (though he was a finalist in several other seasons). For years he was a one-man highlight reel in Fenway’s tricky center field, leaping and diving to make jaw-dropping leaping catches and scaling walls to rob hitters of home runs. Thrice between 2014-17 he was top-10 in the American League in Defensive Wins Above Replacement; his career 10.3 dWAR currently ranks 19th among active players. He led AL cente...

Thousands expected to pass through Chicago's airports, train stations amid holiday travel rush

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

CHICAGO — The holiday weekend is coming to an end and travelers heading back home are flooding Chicago’s airports, train stations and roadways.According to the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), more than 1.65 million people passed through the Midway and O'Hare between last Tuesday and Monday, but the busiest day overall is Sunday. The busiest travel day around Thanksgiving, by the numbers 226,000 people are expected to make their way through O'Hare International Airport on Sunday as many make the trek back home after Thanksgiving.AAA predicts the number of travelers this week reached numbers even higher than pre-pandemic levels.Overnight snowfall made for some hazardous driving conditions across Chicagoland in the early morning hours on Sunday, but the snow mostly cleared up by the afternoon hours. Thanksgiving travel underway in Chicagoland, O’Hare International Airport The skies and roadways aren't the only place seeing the post-holiday congestion. A representative from Am...

Police warning parents about new iPhone feature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) -- Some law enforcement agencies are encouraging iPhone users to be cautious following a new update. The Middletown Division of Police in Ohio posted a warning to parents on Facebook over the weekend regarding the "NameDrop" feature included in the iOS 17 update. The feature allows users to easily share their contact information with another iPhone or Apple Watch by holding the devices very close together. iOS 17 now available: Here’s what’s new in the major update After the devices connect, you can choose to share your info or receive the other person's. You can also cancel the transfer by locking your phone or moving the devices away from each other before the process completes, according to Apple. The company also stated on its website that NameDrop only works for sending new information, not updating a contact already in your phone."PARENTS: Don’t forget to change these settings on your child’s phone to help keep them safe," the Middletown Division of Poli...

Texas volleyball gets No. 2 seed in Stanford Quarter, faces Texas A&M to open NCAA tournament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns volleyball team ran away with their seventh consecutive Big 12 Conference championship this season with a 17-1 record, and now they'll host the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament as defending national champions.The field was announced Sunday on ESPN and the Longhorns, 23-4 overall this season, received a No. 2 seed in the Stanford Quarter and will open the tournament at 6 p.m., Nov. 30, against the Texas A&M Aggies at Gregory Gym. It'll be an all-Texas opening round with Texas State taking on No. 7-seeded SMU in the other match at 4 p.m.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersThe winners of those matches will play at 7 p.m., Dec. 1 in the second round.Tennessee is the No. 3 seed in the quarter, Big 12 newcomer BYU is No. 4 and Arizona State is the 5-seed. Western Kentucky is No. 6 and Houston rounds out the seeded teams in th...

Dane Mizutani: Vikings have handled Justin Jefferson’s recovery process perfectly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

There’s a good chance star receiver Justin Jefferson is inactive when the Vikings host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.That’s more than OK.The past month and a half has been a masterclass from the Vikings in how to take care of their best player. Not every team in the NFL would have been so patient.Literally from the moment that Jefferson hobbled to the sidelines on Oct. 8 during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings immediately started to devise a thorough game plan that ensured he wouldn’t rush back from his hamstring injury at any point.The common refrain from head coach Kevin O’Connell along the way has centered on the Vikings not being willing to cut corners with the recovery process. No matter the circumstance. That includes being fresh off a loss heading into a primetime game against a division rival.“We have urgency to win this football game,” O’Connell said with the Vikings needing a win ...

Broncos report card: Turnover-mad Denver defense, powerful rushing attack power critical win over Cleveland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

Offense — BThe Broncos broke a couple of trends in the first half, not only converting twice in the red zone but both times finishing the drive with a rushing touchdown. They finished the first half with more yards rushing (101) than the stingy Browns allowed per game (99.6) entering Sunday. In the second half, they mostly kept it rolling after a slow start to the third quarter, finishing with a season-high 169 yards on the ground. It was their best rushing output of the season. Russell Wilson finished with 134 yards passing, his seventh time in 11 games this season under 200. Nobody will be complaining, though, if Denver keeps stringing together wins.Defense — B+Three more takeaways and another high-flying outing for Vance Joseph’s defense. The Browns ran the ball too much, but they’re one of the best in the league in that department. Denver’s defense was on its heels when Cleveland mounted consecutive drives of 57, 67 and 79 yards to get within 14-12. The Broncos’ second of three ...

Heroes and Zeros from Broncos’ win over Browns: Samaje Perine breaks Denver’s run game woes in red zone

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

Here are the heroes and zeros from the Broncos’ 29-12 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon at Empower Field at Mile High.HeroesDenver’s run game: The Broncos had one rushing touchdown through 10 games. Against the Browns, they had two in the first half. Running back Samaje Perine powered into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown in the first quarter. In the second, quarterback Russell Wilson took a zone read for a 2-yard score. The Broncos generated their offensive success through the run game. Denver rushed for 169 yards on 39 carries. Perine had 55 yards on seven carries, while running back Javonte Williams ran the ball 18 times for 65 yards.Garett Bolles: It’s not easy to face Browns edge rusher and defensive player of the year candidate Myles Garrett. Bolles, the Broncos’ starting left tackle, handled it well. Bolles didn’t allow a sack against Garrett. In general, Denver’s offensive line was solid against the league’s best pass defense, as the unit allowed one sack....

Broncos four downs: Team Takeaway strikes again, and now Denver’s right back in playoff hunt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

Initial thoughts from Broncos’ 29-12 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 12 at Empower Field at Mile High:Old memories: For those of us old enough to remember the 1980s, Broncos-Browns was appointment viewing once upon a time. This was, of course, before Art Modell committed crimes against humanity by moving the Browns to Baltimore and turning them into the Ravens. The fumble. The drive. Clay Matthews. John Elway. Bernie Kosar. Dan Reeves. Marty Schottenheimer. Sad, sad Marty Schottenheimer. It’s hard not to think about all those moments — all Broncos triumphs, mind you — whenever these two teams come together … and then curse Modell’s name for ruining it all.Garett vs. Garrett: How do you make the Browns defense look ordinary? It starts by neutralizing superstar defensive end Myles Garrett, the No. 1 overall draft pick who entered Sunday’s game as the front runner for NFL defensive player of the year. That’s exactly what veteran left tack...

How it Happened: Broncos clobber Browns for 5th straight win, improve to 6-5 on season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:31 GMT

The Broncos are the hottest team in the NFL with a four-game winning streak. Can they continue their run? Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Browns at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.Live updatesFINAL | Broncos 29, Browns 12It feels like a lifetime ago since the Broncos were 1-5.Denver won its fifth-straight game on Sunday, beating the Browns, 27-12, at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos improved to 6-5 on the season. Full story coming soon.More Broncos coverage:Heroes and Zeros from Broncos’ win over Browns: Samaje Perine breaks Denver’s run game woes in red zone.Broncos four downs: Team Takeaway strikes again, and now Denver’s right back in playoff hunt.Fourth-quarter updatesSafety, Broncos (5:08 p.m.): Zach Allen sacked P.J. Walker in the end zone for a safety. Broncos 29, Browns 12 with 2:17 to go. — Joe NguyenAnother sack (5 p.m.): Josey Jewell with the strip sack on Browns QB P.J. Walker. Cleveland recovered. — Joe NguyenThree...