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Best of the West: Arizona on top but Mountain West claims five spots as best league in the region

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:02 GMT

With the calendar set to turn and conference play about to begin, the Mountain West remains the best league in the western third of the country.It’s 6-1 in head-to-head matchups against the Pac-12 and 16-6 against the West Coast Conference.It has five teams with at least 10 wins and five in the top 40 of the NET rankings.This, with one of the most anticipated matchups looming: San Diego State’s visit to Gonzaga on Friday night (6 p.m. on ESPN2).If the Aztecs win in Spokane, let there be zero doubt: The Mountain West will reign supreme.(Note: The Best of the West rankings will be published in this space each Wednesday for the remainder of the regular season.)1. Arizona (9-2)Last week: 1Results: beat Alabama 87-74, lost to FAU 96-95NET ranking: No. 2Next up: at Cal (Friday)Comment: There’s no secret to what derailed the Wildcats in their two losses: Purdue and FAU were 71-of-137 from the field (52 percent). Granted, that’s a high bar for Arizona’s opponen...

They eat what? New Year’s food traditions around the world

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:02 GMT

By Amanda Kludt | Special to CNNNew Year’s Day is meant for fresh starts. But maybe even more, it’s meant for food.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | 7 terrific Bay Area things to do over New Year’s weekend Restaurants, Food and Drink | Noon Year’s Eve and other ways to ring in the New Year in the South Bay Restaurants, Food and Drink | What to do when someone gives you a gift you don’t really want Restaurants, Food and Drink | The secret life of gift cards: Here’s what happens to the billions that go unspent each year Restaurants, Food and Drink | Here’s a look at a few things about Santa Claus you may not have considered As the new year arrives around the world, special desserts abound, as do long noodles (representing long life), field peas (representing coins), herring (representing abundance) and pigs (representing good luck).The particulars vary, but the general theme is the ...

Oakland PD details enhanced police deployment for New Year's Eve

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:02 GMT

(KRON) -- The Oakland Police Department has announced Thursday an enhanced police deployment in preparation for New Year’s Eve celebrations across the city. DUI checkpoints and added officer presence will be utilized to address public safety issues.There will be an increased presence of Oakland police officers on New Year’s Eve to provide rapid response to emergencies and enhance overall public safety, according to Oakland PD. Police patrols will focus on “key areas” and events, and officers will actively engage with the community.“We encourage residents to approach and communicate with our officers during these patrols,” a statement from Oakland PD said. Oakland Mayor Thao rejects list of police chief candidates DUI checkpoints will be conducted by Oakland police at “strategic locations” within the city on New Year’s Eve, according to authorities. Residents and visitors are advised to “celebrate responsibly and plan ahead for a safe ride home if they choose to consume alcohol,” O...

Clemson looking to end disappointing season on a high note against Kentucky in the Gator Bowl

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:02 GMT

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Kentucky (7-5) vs. Clemson (8-4), Dec. 29, noon Eastern (ESPN).FanDuel Sportsbook College Line: Clemson by 4 1/2.Series record: Kentucky leads 8-5.WHAT’S AT STAKEClemson tries to end its worst season since 2010 with a five-game winning streak. The Tigers, one of 11 Power Five teams to go undefeated in November, have won a postseason game (conference championship, bowl or playoff game) in each of the last 12 years — the longest streak in major college football history. Kentucky, meanwhile, dropped five of its last seven after a 5-0 start but ended the regular season with a 38-31 victory against in-state rival Louisville in the annual Governor’s Cup.KEY MATCHUPKentucky running back Ray Davis versus Clemson’s front seven, which will be without two of its top defenders. Davis, who totaled 1,383 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, opted to play in the Gator Bowl after announcing his decision to enter the NFL draft. He now faces a Tigers defense without star linebac...

Today in Sports – New England Patriots become 1st team in NFL history to finish regular season 16-0

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:02 GMT

Dec. 291926 — Merlyn Phillips of the Montreal Maroons scores five seconds into the game at Chicago for an NHL record for the fastest goal from the start of a game. The Black Hawks win the game in overtime, 5-4. It would be matched three times.1934 — The first college basketball doubleheader is played at New York’s Madison Square Garden. NYU beats Notre Dame 25-18 and Westminster defeats St. John’s 37-33.1957 — Tobin Rote passes for four touchdowns and scores another to give the Detroit Lions a 59-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the NFL championship game.1961 — Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scores 60 points against the Los Angeles Lakers at Hershey, Pa., the future site of his 100-point game.1963 — Chuck McKinley and Dennis Ralston give the United States a 3-2 victory over Australia for the Davis Cup title.1968 — The Baltimore Colts shut out the Browns 34-0 to win the NFL championship at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.1968 — The New York Jets beat the Oakland Rai...

3 years after White’s Ferry closed, Md. group feels ‘betrayed’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:02 GMT

White’s Ferry stopped running on Dec. 28, 2020 after a stalemate between then-ferry owner Herb Brown and Libby Devlin, owner of Rockland Farm, which is the landing site in Virginia.(WTOP/Neal Augenstein) White’s Ferry stopped running on Dec. 28, 2020 after a stalemate between then-ferry owner Herb Brown and Libby Devlin, owner of Rockland Farm, which is the landing site in Virginia.(WTOP/Neal Augenstein) On the third anniversary of the shutdown of historic White’s Ferry, which runs between Montgomery County, Maryland, and Loudoun County, Virginia, people on the Maryland side of the Potomac River say they feel “beyond frustrated” and “betrayed,” that the ferry remains closed with “no e...

Today in Sports – Week Ahead, December 29 January 4

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:02 GMT

Dec. 291926 — Merlyn Phillips of the Montreal Maroons scores five seconds into the game at Chicago for an NHL record for the fastest goal from the start of a game. The Black Hawks win the game in overtime, 5-4. It would be matched three times.1934 — The first college basketball doubleheader is played at New York’s Madison Square Garden. NYU beats Notre Dame 25-18 and Westminster defeats St. John’s 37-33.1957 — Tobin Rote passes for four touchdowns and scores another to give the Detroit Lions a 59-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the NFL championship game.1961 — Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scores 60 points against the Los Angeles Lakers at Hershey, Pa., the future site of his 100-point game.1963 — Chuck McKinley and Dennis Ralston give the United States a 3-2 victory over Australia for the Davis Cup title.1968 — The Baltimore Colts shut out the Browns 34-0 to win the NFL championship at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.1968 — The New York Jets beat the Oakland Rai...

Sports on TV for Friday, December 29

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:02 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsFriday, December 29COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)6 p.m.ACCN — North Florida at Miami7 p.m.BTN — E. Kentucky at PurduePEACOCK — Maine at MinnesotaSECN — Illinois St. at Kentucky8 p.m.ACCN — Charleston Southern at North CarolinaCBSSN — St. Thomas (Minn.) at North DakotaPEACOCK — Jackson St. at Northwestern8:30 p.m.PAC-12N — Washington St. at Utah9 p.m.BTN — Fairleigh Dickinson at IllinoisESPN2 — San Diego St. at GonzagaESPNU — Washington at Colorado10:30 p.m.PAC-12N — Arizona at California11 p.m.ESPN2 — Arizona St. at StanfordCOLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)5 p.m.PAC-12N — Stanford at CaliforniaCOLLEGE FOOTBALL12 p.m.ESPN — The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Clemson vs. Kentucky, Jacksonville, Fla.2 p.m.CBS — The Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Oregon St. vs. Notre Dame, El Paso, Texas3:30 p.m.ESPN — The AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Memphis vs. Iowa St., Memphis, Tenn.8 p.m.ESPN — The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Missouri vs. Ohio St., Arlington,...

Florida pilot displays holiday spirit by outlining Christmas tree while on flight path

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:02 GMT

A pilot in Southwest Florida put their Christmas spirit on full display. His plane took off from Punta Gorda Airport and he outlined a Christmas tree by using a plane flight path. The whole ride took about 101 minutes, while the tree took only about 50 minutes to outline. All of this happening on Christmas Eve.

Airlines are frustrating travelers by changing frequent flyer program rules – here’s why they keep doing it

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:02 GMT

(CNN) — As the US holiday travel season picks up, many people are noticing that their frequent flyer benefits aren’t going as far as they used to.In September 2023, Delta Air Lines revamped its frequent flyer program to make it tougher to earn status — a tiered system offering travel privileges based on the reward points earned — only to partially reverse course a month later and make it easier. American Airlines also made big changes to its loyalty scheme in 2022 and minor changes in spring 2023. And British Airways recently announced that it is adjusting the way it awards points for travel.We are business school professors who study rewards programs. Many people think flying is a miserable experience, and having status sometimes makes flights better. So it’s only fair that frequent flyers are asking why it’s seemingly harder to obtain such status.Why miles are a multibillion-dollar businessOne big idea to understand is that airlines don’t earn very much money, if any at all, from ...