US conducts airstrikes against Iran-backed groups in Syria, retaliating for attacks on US troops

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:36:37 GMT

US conducts airstrikes against Iran-backed groups in Syria, retaliating for attacks on US troops WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military conducted airstrikes on two locations in eastern Syria involving Iranian-backed groups, hitting a training location and a weapons facility, according to the Pentagon and U.S. officials. It marks the third time in a bit more than two weeks that the U.S. has retaliated against the militants for what has been a growing number of attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria.In a statement, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes targeted sites near Abukama and Mayadin and were used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as well as Iran-backed militias.“The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Austin said.A U.S. official said one site also included weapons storage. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of a military operation.The militant groups, many ope...

‘The Marvels’ opens with $47M at box office, marking a new low for the MCU

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:36:37 GMT

‘The Marvels’ opens with $47M at box office, marking a new low for the MCU NEW YORK (AP) — Since 2008’s “Iron Man,” the Marvel machine has been one of the most unstoppable forces in box-office history. Now, though, that aura of invincibility is showing signs of wear and tear. The superhero factory hit a new low with the weekend launch of “The Marvels,” which opened with just $47 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.The 33rd installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a sequel to the 2019 Brie Larson-led “Captain Marvel,” managed less than a third of the $153.4 million its predecessor launched with before ultimately taking in $1.13 billion worldwide. Wynonna Judd ‘comes clean’ after fans express concern over CMA performance with Jelly Roll Sequels, especially in Marvel Land, aren’t supposed to fall off a cliff. Yet “The Marvels” debuted with more than $100 million less than “Captain Marvel” opened with — something no sequel before has ever done. David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Research Entertainment, called it “an u...

LIVE: Peak fall foliage in Central Texas coming soon

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:36:37 GMT

LIVE: Peak fall foliage in Central Texas coming soon AUSTIN (KXAN) — While Central Texas isn't exactly known for vivid leaf colors in the fall, we do sometimes get treated to some beautiful fall foliage this time of year.During the first week of December 2022, we were treated to some rather beautiful colors, even in downtown Austin as seen from this photo below.Fall foliage in Austin near Riverside Drive and Interstate 35 (Courtesy: Julio Sattler)According to ExploreFall.com, our leaf color is in the "low" category right now with parts of South Texas experiencing little to no color change at all.Latest fall foliage conditions. Courtesy: ExploreFall.comBy mid-November we'll be trending closer to moderate color, especially in parts of the Hill Country.Foliage forecast by mid-November. Courtesy: ExploreFall.comWhen do colors reach their "peak" in Central Texas?According to ExploreFall.com, within 2-3 weeks from now we will arrive in what is normally "peak" fall color here in Central Texas. This map shows you that late November is when we...

Wild’s Freddy Gaudreau begins skating, could play in Sweden

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:36:37 GMT

Wild’s Freddy Gaudreau begins skating, could play in Sweden Forward Freddy Gaudreau, out since a 7-4 victory over Edmonton on Oct. 24, skated for the first time since being sidelined on Sunday, a positive sign for a Wild team still trying to find itself this season.Part of that, of course, has been injuries to key players such as Gaudreau, Matt Boldy, Jared Spurgeon and Alex Goligoski, who have missed games this season a combined 40 times.Spurgeon played his first game of the regular season in a 3-2 loss at Buffalo on Friday, leaving Gaudreau (upper body) and Goligoski (lower body) on the shelf. Both will travel to Sweden for weekend games against Ottawa and Toronto in Stockholm, but only Gaudreau has a chance of playing.Evason said Gaudreau is on long-term injury reserve, which means he won’t be eligible to return until next Sunday’s game against the Maple Leafs.“That’s a possibility,” the coach said before Sunday’s 5 p.m. puck drop at Xcel Energy Center. “We’ll see.”Gaudreau was injured when he took a blind check from former teammate Ryan ...

Another beautiful weekend—but is rain on the way?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:36:37 GMT

Another beautiful weekend—but is rain on the way? ST. LOUIS – Another amazing weekend! Can you stand it? Hard to believe this is November, with highs in the 60s and plenty of sunshine.For a little perspective, last year on this date we had snow falling, and it was cold. Our pattern favors some more nice temperatures this week, with more above-normal highs.We are precipitation-free for this week, too, which is good and bad. Outside events are great, but we need the rain badly. A big fat zero in the rain bucket this month, and for the year, we are over seven inches short.

Police investigating after shooting at Oak Park Mall

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:36:37 GMT

Police investigating after shooting at Oak Park Mall OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Overland Park police are investigating after a shooting at Oak Park Mall Sunday afternoon. It is currently unclear what led up to the shooting or who was involved. It is the second mall shooting in the Kansas City area this week. FOX4 will keep you updated as more details come along and we have a crew headed to the scene. This is a developing story, FOX4 will update with more details as we get more information.

Local teacher's missing son located three weeks after abrupt disappearance 

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:36:37 GMT

Local teacher's missing son located three weeks after abrupt disappearance  A local teacher is now incredibly relieved after her son who had gone missing three weeks ago was located. Evan Ochoa, 23, who suffers from severe schizophrenia, was last seen on Oct. 22 at his home in Oxnard before being located on Sunday, his mother confirmed to KTLA.  According to family members, he left abruptly and without any access to money, taking only a skateboard and a backpack with him. After experiencing periods of homelessness and checking into a drug rehabilitation facility, Evan began to develop “peculiar tendencies,” which included repeating bizarre phrases, talking to himself, and explaining “outlandish” ideas he had, according to his mother, Valarie Ulrich. Evan eventually landed in jail in 2020 for threatening a former friend’s father, Ulrich told KTLA. “He spent the next year in jail as the courts tried to get him sane enough to stand trial,” she said. “COVID issues didn’t help. The court was trying to send him to a state hospital for help with his...

Who says Brock Purdy lacks magic? Not the 49ers after 34-3 win over Jaguars

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:36:37 GMT

Who says Brock Purdy lacks magic? Not the 49ers after 34-3 win over Jaguars Brock Purdy lacks the “magic” necessary to be quarterback of the 49ers.That’s been one of the criticisms on a second-year player who has been pretty hard to criticize until recent weeks when the 49ers lost three straight games, during which Purdy threw his first five interceptions of the season.Purdy was back to his old self in a 34-3 road win over Jacksonville Sunday, doing the things he does best — distribute the ball to a number of dangerous targets, avoid turnovers, be a leader.But there was more to it than just being a selfless game manager who happened to complete 19 of 26 passes for 296 yards, three touchdown and no interceptions. Purdy’s opposite number in every way is Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft the year before Purdy was the last pick at No. 262.The best quarterback on the field was Purdy, as the 49ers harassed Lawrence into a 17-of-29, 185-yard performance with two interceptions. It didn&...

Photos: San Francisco 49ers snap three-game losing streak with 34-3 rout of Jackson Jaguars

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:36:37 GMT

Photos: San Francisco 49ers snap three-game losing streak with 34-3 rout of Jackson Jaguars The San Francisco 49ers snapped their three-game losing streak on Sunday against the Jaguars in Jacksonville.Their embattled defense dominated the NFL’s hottest team, Brock Purdy directed an explosive-play offense, and the 49ers prevailed 34-3. The 49ers welcomed Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel back to the lineup today.“Losing four straight, a lot of people would have wanted to turn the panic lights on, or we could have our proverbial back against the wall,” left tackle Trent Wiliams said. “Winning on the road against a team that’s been rolling … it’s definitely what we needed.”Quarterback Brock Purdy did more than his part, throwing three touchdown passes among his 296 yards, and he went without a turnover for the first time in four games.The Jaguars (6-3) had won an NFL-best five in a row (and 11-of-13 regular-season games dating to last season) before getting completely overwhelmed and committing four turnovers.Next up is a home game Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before...

Kurtenbach: Did we see the ‘real’ 49ers in Jacksonville? I think so

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:36:37 GMT

Kurtenbach: Did we see the ‘real’ 49ers in Jacksonville? I think so Three-game losing streak?What three-game losing streak?On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers looked like world-beaters again, blowing out a hot Jacksonville Jaguars team — in Florida, no less — by 31 points to move to 6-3 on the season.It was the kind of comprehensive, never-let-up performance we came to expect from the Niners in the early weeks of the season when the juggernauts opened with a 5-0 record.It was the kind of performance that looked fleeting as the Niners trudged into last weekend’s bye carrying that three-game losing streak.So, where does the truth lie with this team?Are the 49ers really the kind of team that blows out playoff-caliber teams like Dallas and Jacksonville, or was that three-game skid the accurate indicator of this squad’s quality?Here’s another way to put it: Can we trust these Niners?Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | McCaffrey comes up short of TD despite 49ers’ best efforts San Francisco 49ers | 49ers Studs...