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Local farms accepting donated Christmas trees 

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:52 GMT

With Christmas winding down, some people may already be itching to take down their Christmas trees. For those interested, local farms have options, with hungry goats and other animals ready to munch on old Christmas trees. “They literally know when it’s tree time,” said Slightly Off Course Farm Owner Alyssa Belanger. “They get excited and they do a little dance once they see that first tree coming down the driveway, because it’s their favorite time of year.” At Slightly Off Course in Ashburnham, staff are hoping for a hefty donation this season as their herd of Nigerian dwarf goats are all expected to give birth this spring. “We are going to be multiplying in the spring, which is super exciting, so the more food the better,” Belanger said. Evergreen Grove in Gardner is also accepting trees. The farm rescues animals that were abused or abandoned. It is also part of the Carl E. Dahl House, a nonprofit organization that connects animals with people w...

1st Amendment claim struck down in Project Veritas case focused on diary of Biden’s daughter

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Criminal prosecutors may soon get to see over 900 documents pertaining to the alleged theft of a diary belonging to President Joe Biden’s daughter after a judge rejected the conservative group Project Veritas’ First Amendment claim.Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman said on behalf of the nonprofit Monday that attorneys are considering appealing last Thursday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan. In the written decision, the judge said the documents can be given to investigators by Jan. 5.The documents were produced from raids that were authorized in November 2021. Electronic devices were also seized from the residences of three members of Project Veritas, including two mobile phones from the home of James O’Keefe, the group’s since-fired founder.Project Veritas, founded in 2010, identifies itself as a news organization. It is best known for conducting hidden camera stings that have embarrassed news outlets, labor organizations and Democratic...

TV actor Kamar de los Reyes of 'One Life to Live' and 'Call of Duty' dies at 56

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:52 GMT

Kamar de los Reyes, a television, movie and voice actor best known for playing a gang member-turned-cop in the soap “One Life to Live” and a villain in the video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops II," has died in Los Angeles at 56, the family announced.De los Reyes died Sunday following a brief battle with cancer, according to a statement from Lisa Goldberg, a publicist for de los Reyes’ wife, Sherri Saum.In “One Life to Live,” de los Reyes starred as Antonio Vega, a former gang member who became a lawyer and then a cop, alongside Saum. In the popular video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops II," he played the villain Raul Menendez. He also had roles in Fox’s “Sleepy Hollow,” ABC’s “The Rookie” and CW's “All American.”The family statement said that at the time of his death, de los Reyes was filming “All American” — and had recently shot roles in Marvel’s upcoming “Daredevil” series and Hulu’s yet to be released “Washington Black,” starring Sterling K. Brown. Read more: Latest Chicago news ...

Police offer warning to Bridgeport residents after string of garage burglaries

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are offering a warning to residents on the city's South Side after several garage break-ins over the past month. According to Chicago police, the burglaries all happened in Bridgeport over a period of about nine days, between Dec. 5 and Dec 14. Driver, passenger of scooter critical after car crash on NW Side Police say during each of the burglaries, thieves gained entry into the garages through a side door and stole property from inside. Officers say the burglaries happened at several different times of the day and did not provide details on what types of items were stolen. Chicago police provided the following timeline of the garage burglaries that took place in December:900 block of 33rd Place at 9 p.m. on Dec. 5.2800 block of South Farrell Street at 8 a.m. on Dec. 7.1200 block of West 35th Street at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 14. 2 Illinois lottery players win $1 million each on new $50 scratch-off ticket Police advise residents to keep the perimeter of thei...

Helping Hand Home continues to change children's lives

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Helping Hand Home for Children in Austin has been helping abused and neglected children for many years."We take care of kids 4 to 13 that have suffered abuse and neglect,” said Chris Janawicz who works at the home.Janawicz said forming a bond with the kids and gaining their trust is crucial to help them heal."The theory is that a child needs at least one secure attachment figure in their life to help them feel safe and really that is the first thing we do with a child when they come here,” Janawicz said.Many of the kids have gone through things no one should ever have to deal with and their trauma can mean a difficult transition, but the Helping Hand Home is dedicated to each child who they take in."We offer therapy services,” Janawicz said. “Each kid has an individual therapist that they see once or twice a week. We do group therapy."Most kids are at the facility for about a year and half."Around 90% of the children that leave Helping Hand Home each year go to f...

Dane Mizutani: For sake of Justin Jefferson, Vikings must get this next decision right

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:52 GMT

As soon as the words left his mouth, star receiver Justin Jefferson went out of his way to make sure everybody knew he wasn’t being disrespectful. He was simply stating an opinion about franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins that has more or less morphed into fact over the past couple of months.“I think it goes to show the world the type of player Kirk is,” Jefferson said after the Vikings suffered a 30-24 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. “This is a tough league. Not everybody is meant for this job. It’s tough not having No. 8 out there.”Even if it wasn’t meant as a slight to career backup quarterback Nick Mullens, nobody would’ve blamed Jefferson if he wanted to be critical in that moment. After doing everything in his power to will the Vikings to a comeback win they didn’t deserve, Jefferson couldn’t overcome Mullens quite literally throwing the game away down the stretch.Jefferson tried. He really did.On the final...

Endangered Silver Advisory issued for missing Spanish Lake man

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - The St. Louis County Police Department issued an Endangered Silver Advisory for a Spanish Lake man reported missing on Christmas morning.The advisory states the incident occurred at 7 a.m. in the 11000 block of Del Rosa Way.According to police, Albert Lee Hill, 77, left his home and drove away in his vehicle without telling anyone where he was headed.While Hill does have family in Illinois, they have not heard from him. Hill, who has Alzheimer's, is also without his medication. Search for missing St. Louis mother intensifies Hill is described as a Black man, 5'11" tall, 185 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes, wearing a blue and gray long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans. Hill is driving a gray 2017 Nissan Sentra with Missouri license plates NA7N7W.Anyone with information on Hill’s whereabouts should dial 911 immediately to contact their nearest law enforcement agency or call the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210.

Broncos release safety Kareem Jackson

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:52 GMT

Kareem Jackson’s time with the Denver Broncos is now in limbo.The franchise released the veteran safety Monday, according to the NFL transaction wire, a day after Denver’s playoff hopes took a serious blow with a 26-23 loss to the New England Patriots.Jackson will be available to any team on the waiver wire for 24 hours. If he goes unclaimed, the Broncos are expected to sign him back to their practice squad, according to a league source. The team has had conversations with Jackson about the process over the past few days.Related ArticlesDenver Broncos | Jonathon Cooper after Broncos’ loss to Patriots torpedoes playoff chances: “We had everything to play for” Denver Broncos | Broncos report card: So many little failures add up to one big stinker for Sean Payton’s team Denver Broncos | The Patriots looked content with overtime. Broncos coach Sean Payton took timeouts until they considered something else. Denver Br...

Former CU Buffs guard Dom Collier starting coaching career

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:52 GMT

It wasn’t as if Dominique Collier was planning for the end of his professional playing career.Unfortunately for the former Colorado point guard, fate proved otherwise.Spurred in large part by diminished opportunities overseas caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Collier found himself back in his native Denver no longer playing for a paycheck while pondering the next move in his basketball journey.Coaching was the answer.Since his playing days ended abruptly, Collier has been an assistant coach at Accelerated Prep (formerly Denver Prep), the local prep school that helped produce current CU freshman forward Assane Diop.“I was still trying to play at that time, but with me not playing the previous year and a half, that hurt me getting back overseas. That’s when I got into coaching,” Collier said. “… That’s when I got into coaching at Denver Prep, and then over the years I really got into the coaching scene.“I look at it as both an opportunity and a challenge.”At Accelerated Prep, Col...

Colorado weather: Christmas blizzard conditions could slow travel across Eastern Plains

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:52 GMT

Updated at 4:52 p.m.: 3 to 7 inches of snow and 60 mph winds are expected across El Paso tonight, according to a tweet from NWS Pueblo. A Winter Weather Advisory has also been issued for Teller County.Damaging winds and blizzard conditions will spread across portions of El Paso county late tonight through Tue. Strong north winds will also impact much of the plains. Monitor forecasts at https://t.co/359SEz6HN7 and road conditions at https://t.co/QJCAoKirgn. #cowx pic.twitter.com/xHF7nQT8hO— NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) December 25, 2023Updated at 4:31 p.m.: “Blizzard conditions will develop over much of northeast Colorado tonight, mainly east of Sterling, Brush, Byers, & Castle Rock,” NWS Boulder tweeted. “It will become windy with areas of blowing dust/drifting snow where there’s not much new snow.”NWS shared a timetable for tonight’s inclement weather:Here's a look at the timing. Worst conditions late tonight through Tuesday evening for ...