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The Bears’ offense and QB Justin Fields are showing signs of growth

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 06:51:13 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears are showing growth on offense. And it’s not just Justin Fields.The Bears’ offense has put together two solid performances in a row and is looking more like the sort of unit it hopes to become.“It took a giant step,” receiver DJ Moore said. “Last week, like I said, all the stars aligned. This week, we want the sun to align with us.”The Bears (1-4) will try to keep moving forward when they host the Minnesota Vikings (1-4) on Sunday.They stopped a 14-game losing streak with a 40-20 win at Washington last week in which Fields and Moore led another big effort by the offense.The Bears racked up 451 yards against the Commanders after setting a season high with 471 the previous week against Denver, and their offense has jumped from 29th overall to 14th in that span.Fields is coming off his two best games as a passer with a combined 617 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception. He’s looked more comfortable throwing on the run a...

Iowa man sentenced to 2 life terms in death of 10-year-old girl whose body was found in a pond

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 06:51:13 GMT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man was sentenced Wednesday to two life terms for killing a 10-year-old girl who was missing for eight months before her remains were found in a pond. Henry Earl Dinkins also will have to pay $150,000 in restitution to the mother of Breasia Terrell, The Quad City Times reports. The girl’s July 2020 disappearance led to huge searches by dozens of volunteers and numerous law enforcement agencies before fishermen found her body in March 2021 in a rural area north of Davenport. Last month Judge Henry Latham found Dinkins, 51, guilty of first-degree murder and kidnapping. The life sentences he imposed are without parole. Prosecutors charged Dinkins with Terrell’s death in May 2021, alleging he kidnapped and then shot her to death. She had been staying the night with her half-brother and his father, Dinkins. Dinkins is a registered sex offender who was convicted of third-degree sexual abuse in 1990, when he was 17. Latham said the brother, who wa...

Planned purchase of old Louisiana shipyard put on hold amid questions from state financing panel

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 06:51:13 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Plans by the Port of South Louisiana to purchase what was once a major New Orleans area shipyard for construction of military vessels have been delayed. The port announced in January its intent to purchase the old Avondale Shipyard site from the current owner, port terminal operator T. Parker Host. However, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported Wednesday that the purchase has been put off after port officials faced questions last month from the state Bond Commission. Members of the commission, which must approve government debt, had noted that the port had not provided detailed accounts of Host’s revenue at Avondale for previous years. Host bought the site in 2018, roughly four years after the shipyard that once employed thousands was shuttered. The proposed purchase would require more than $400 million in public financing.“With the full cooperation of the seller, we believe the delay is warranted to thoroughly consider points raised by the state Bo...

NH state police cruiser rear-ended on I-93 in Londonderry

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 06:51:13 GMT

Police were investigating Wednesday after a New Hampshire State Police cruiser was rear-ended in Londonderry, officials said. The New Hampshire State Police in a post on social media said the crash happened on the northbound side of I-93 while a trooper was working a detail. Police did not share any additional information about the crash but shared a photo of the damaged cruiser. New Hampshire State Police asked drivers to utilize caution in the area while their investigation continued.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Lynn commuter rail service coming back in December, 9 months ahead of schedule

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 06:51:13 GMT

Commuter rail service has been absent in the Bay State’s eighth largest city for over a year, but transportation officials say that will change in the coming months.A temporary platform at the Lynn commuter rail station is expected to be up and running in December, nine months ahead of schedule, the MBTA announced on Wednesday.The development, Lynn officials and representatives say, brings much needed relief to city residents who, since last October, have been taking a bus to Revere for subway service or Swampscott to hop on the commuter rail there.“Finally, Lynn residents will have commuter rail access back,” U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Salem, said in a statement. “While it is simply unacceptable that Lynn residents have been without a safe, reliable, and affordable public transit option for this long, today’s announcement marks a positive step in the right direction.”Lynn station has been shuttered since Oct. 1, 2022, as the MBTA addresses deterioration issues and is in a years-long...

Second biggest US lottery prize is up for grabs in Powerball drawing

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 06:51:13 GMT

By JIM SALTER (Associated Press)ST. LOUIS (AP) — After 35 straight drawings without a big winner, Powerball players on Wednesday are lining up for a shot at a near-record jackpot worth an estimated $1.73 billion.If winning numbers are drawn, it would be the second largest U.S. lottery prize, topped only by the $2.04 billion Powerball won by a player in California last November. The previous No. 2 was a $1.586 billion Powerball with three winners in California, Florida and Tennessee on Jan. 13, 2016.Powerball’s terrible odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins. And wins in recent months have been few and far between.That didn’t bother those eager to plunk down their money for a long-shot chance at instant wealth.Robert Salvato Jr., a 60-year-old electrician, bought 40 Powerball tickets at a hardware store in Billerica, Massachusetts.“I would take care of family and give my cat that...

Sex-ed for kindergartners bill gets hearing, lawmakers say it brings the state into 21st century

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 06:51:13 GMT

A bill before lawmakers could prevent dire public health consequences for Bay State youths or determine the final destination of your eternal soul, depending on who you ask.Vigorous voices on both sides of a debate on sexual education curriculum in Massachusetts were heard by a committee of the Legislature on Wednesday, as state House members consider a bill aimed at bringing all of the state’s schools on board with a newly updated sexual education “framework” for the first time in more than two decades.Appearing before the Joint Committee on Education advocates pushing for updates to the state’s K-12 curriculum so that it includes information regarding consent, gender identity, sexual orientation, and preventing sexually transmitted diseases or unwanted pregnancies told lawmakers that their reasoning is based in science and data that show students armed with age-appropriate knowledge experience better health outcomes.“Our children can’t risk another 24 years befor...

Bruins celebrate 100 years of history

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 06:51:13 GMT

If you were a Bruins fan, especially one of a certain age, the place to be on Wednesday was in front of the Garden.Prior to the B’s home opener for the organization”s Centennial season, the club staged a “gold carpet” grand entrance for a large number of the greats that have played on Causeway Street.From the Big, Bad Bruins to the Lunchpail AC gang to the greats of the late ’80s-early ’90s to the most recent Stanley Cup team, all the stars and characters were represented. Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Terry O’Reilly, Tim Thomas, Derek Sanderson, Phil Esposito, Zdeno Chara. And the list went on and on. In a pre-game ceremony, they held “Rafters Reunion” for great players, or their descendants, from all eras. Orr, as usual, got the biggest hand, but it was closely rivaled by members of the 2011 Cup team.Johnny Bucyk has been a connected to the Bruins in one way or another for 68 of the 100 years the team has existed ever since being traded here from the Red Wi...

Battenfeld: Democrats embroiled in bickering over how to respond to attack on Israel

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 06:51:13 GMT

Democrats are embroiled in controversy over how to respond to the terrorist attack on Israel and the far left’s position that the U.S. should support a cease-fire in the Middle East.While President Biden takes a hard line in strong support of Israel, other Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts, are calling for a de-escalation of fighting.It’s a split that’s reflective of a long-simmering dispute over Israel and its “occupation” of Palestinian territory, with some liberals and progressive groups blaming Israel for igniting more violence.Markey is not the only Democrat taking flak for not supporting Israel’s war posture.Members of Pressley’s “Squad” are being criticized by fellow Dems for suggesting the U.S. should stop funding Israel and calling for an end to the occupation.“As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue,” U.S. Rep. R...

Brockton’s A.J. Dybantsa reclassifies to the 2025 class

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 06:51:13 GMT

Brockton native A.J. Dybantsa, the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 recruiting class and one of the country’s top high school basketball players, made a big Instagram announcement WednesdayThe 6-foot-8 wing plans to reclassify to the 2025 class. Some analysts say he could go No. 1 in the NBA draft.He’s attending Prolific Prep in California and figures to put up huge numbers, just like he did this past July when he turned plenty of heads at the Nike Peach Jam. He easily led the event in scoring, averaging 25.8 points in five games.Dybantsa played before packed gyms last winter when he was at St. Sebastian’s. He finished the season averaging 19.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.BARRY SCANLON