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For downbeat Sharks, World Juniors provides hope for future, and intriguing possibilities

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:59 GMT

There might come a time during the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championships when Team USA’s Will Smith matches up against Canadian and fellow centerman Macklin Celebrini.Smith, the top player in the San Jose Sharks pipeline, competing against Celebrini, arguably the best player available in the 2024 NHL Draft. They’re the two best NHL prospects at the under-20 tournament in Gothenburg, Sweden, per The Athletic, and with some Sharks’ lottery luck, could be teammates as soon as next season, and for several years to come.“Any time when you have an opportunity to see talent versus talent,” Chris Morehouse, the Sharks’ director of amateur scouting, said recently, “is an exciting thing,”Seeing Smith and Celebrini in teal uniforms one day is a tantalizing proposition for anyone following the Sharks, who entered the Christmas break in last place in the NHL’s overall standings with a 9-22-3 record.If the season ended today. San Jose would have the best chance of winning the NHL’s draft...

What you can - and can't - recycle on Christmas morning

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:59 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Before you get out a trash bag when it comes time to open gifts, some parts of the present are recyclable. But don't recycle everything, especially most wrapping papers.If your gifts are already wrapped in paper decorated with Santa Clauses and glitter, there's not much you can do.According to Recycle Colorado, wrapping paper is usually not recyclable. Local woman looking for owner of Christmas card with cash Wrapping paper that is glossy, metallic or has glitter on it should be put in the trash and not recycled.It's actually more harmful if you try and recycle wrapping paper that isn't recyclable.Ridwell, a Denver recycling provider, calls it "wishcycling," which is when you hope something that isn't recyclable will be recycled somehow.This ends up being more harmful because it can lead to hold-ups and contamination, which will either slow down the recycling facility or cause the facility to throw the entire batch in the landfill if it's contaminated with so...

Pompano Beach toy giveaway unites community

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:59 GMT

The Pompano Beach Fire Rescue Benevolent Christmas Express has brought together over 20 local businesses, the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), and Pompano Fire Rescue for a grand toy giveaway.Three U-Haul trucks filled with toys for boys and girls were packed and ready to be delivered on Christmas morning. This effort is to spread holiday cheer to those who cannot afford to make Christmas happen. More than 20 businesses in Pompano Beach have joined forces with the BSO and Pompano Fire Rescue to collectively purchase over $20,000 worth of toys for the community. “This is actually, probably one of our biggest years,” said one woman with the Pompano Beach Fire Department volunteering in the event. “I’ve actually never had to have three U-Hauls before so, this one here is our overflow this year. So we usually have boys and girls, but this year we’ve had so many donations. We’ve been blessed in so many ways. It’s truly a Christmas miracle.&#...

Christmas Eve shooting at Colorado mall leaves 1 dead and 3 injured

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:59 GMT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A man was fatally shot and three people were hurt as gunfire rang out at a shopping center in Colorado on Christmas Eve, police said Sunday.A fight broke out between two groups of people in the afternoon at the Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs and officers received a report of gunshots and responded, the Colorado Springs Police Department said in a series of posts on the social media platform X.One adult male was dead at the scene with a gunshot wound, and two more, each of whom had been shot at least once, were taken to hospitals in serious condition, police said.A female also was taken to a hospital with what were said to be minor injuries.Police said they detained “multiple people” and were “working to determine their involvement.”The mall was cleared and closed, police said, and there was no known continuing threat to the community.Colorado Springs is about 71 miles (114 kilometers) south of Denver.

Egypt floats an ambitious plan to end the Israel-Hamas war as Netanyahu vows to expand Gaza combat

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:59 GMT

By SAMY MAGDY, NAJIB JOBAIN and MELANIE LIDMAN (Associated Press)CAIRO (AP) — Egypt has put forward an ambitious, initial proposal to end the Israel-Hamas war with a cease-fire, a phased hostage release and the creation of a Palestinian government of experts who would administer the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank, a senior Egyptian official and a European diplomat said Monday.Word of the proposal came as Israeli airstrikes heavily pounded central and southern Gaza, crushing buildings on families sheltering inside. In the Maghazi refugee camp, rescue workers were still pulling bodies from the wreckage hours after a strike that killed at least 106 people, according to hospital records seen by The Associated Press — one of the deadliest of Israel’s air campaign.The Egyptian proposal, worked out with the Gulf nation of Qatar, has been presented to Israel, Hamas, the United States and European governments but still appeared preliminary. It falls short of Israel’...

Woman in hospital following stabbing in Dundas East and Parliament area

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:59 GMT

A woman is in hospital after being stabbed early Monday morning in the Dundas Street East and Parliament Street area.Police were called to the area just after 4:30 a.m., and a woman in her 20’s was found with a stab wound. She was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Police are still searching for the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

1 in custody after officer hit by vehicle on SW Side: CPD

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:59 GMT

CHICAGO -- A person is in custody after an officer was hit by a vehicle during a disturbance on the city's Southwest Side Sunday night.Police say officers were responding to a domestic disturbance between two people inside a vehicle near the 4500 block of West 59th Street around 9:24 p.m. in West Elsdon. Driver, passenger of scooter critical after car crash on NW Side Once officers arrived on the scene and exited the car, one was hit by the offending vehicle.Other officers were able to remove the driver of the striking vehicle and place him into custody without further incident.The officer sustained swelling to the arm and leg. He was transported to Little Company of Mary in good condition.There were no other injuries and charges are pending.

Suspect found dead after Christmas Eve standoff, fire in Hermosa Beach

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:59 GMT

LOS ANGELES - A Christmas Eve standoff with a domestic violence suspect in Hermosa Beach ended late Sunday evening when the suspect was found dead, authorities said.The first 911 call was received around 3:30 p.m. from the 600 block of 11th Street near Ardmore Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.A witness told KTLA 5 News that neighbors heard a loud argument and saw a man with a gun. Video captured by Frank Taraborelli Jr. shows a townhome in Hermosa Beach ablaze during a standoff on Dec. 24, 2023. “Officers discovered that a domestic incident occurred and a male made several verbal threats towards the victim causing her and other family members to flee the residence for safety,” Hermosa Beach said in a statement early Monday morning. “The male then barricaded himself inside the residence and refused any contact with police.”At about 4:30 p.m., the garage of the two-story home caught fire and flames quickly spread throughout the rest of the building. Fir...

Pope Francis denounces weapons industry in annual Christmas appeal for peace

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:59 GMT

Pope Francis on Monday blasted the weapons industry and its “instruments of death” that fuel wars as he made a Christmas Day appeal for peace in the world and in particular between Israel and the Palestinians.Speaking from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to the throngs of people below, Francis said he grieved the “abominable attack” of Hamas against southern Israel on Oct. 7 and called for the release of hostages. And he begged for an end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the “appalling harvest of innocent civilians” as he called for humanitarian aid to reach those in need.Francis devoted his Christmas Day blessing to a call for peace in the world, noting that the biblical story of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem sent a message of peace. But he said that Bethlehem “is a place of sorrow and silence” this year.Pope Francis waves before delivering the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for 'to the city and to the world' ) Christmas' day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basili...

What happens to the billions spent on unused gift cards?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:07:59 GMT

Gift cards make great stocking stuffers — just as long as you don't stuff them in a drawer and forget about them after the holidays.Americans are expected to spend nearly $30 billion on gift cards this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Restaurant gift cards are the most popular, making up one-third of those sales.Most of those gift cards will be redeemed. Paytronix, which tracks restaurant gift card sales, says around 70% of gift cards are used within six months.But many cards — tens of billions of dollars’ worth — wind up forgotten or otherwise unused. That’s when the life of a gift card gets more complicated, with expiration dates or inactivity fees that can vary by state. Jury’s Out: Gift card scams and holiday party liability Here’s what to know about the gift cards you’re giving — or getting:LOVED, BUT LOSTAfter clothing, gift cards will be the most popular present this holiday season. Nearly half of Americans plan to give them, according to the Nat...