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Callahan: How different will the Patriots look in 2024?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:12:23 GMT

For a 24th straight New Year’s Eve, Bill Belichick reigned as the Patriots’ head coach and general manager.But for the first time in Robert Kraft’s ownership, a tenure that spans three decades, the Patriots entered the holiday having clinched back-to-back losing seasons.So what will New Year’s Eve look like next season in Foxboro?If Kraft parts with Belichick, dominos will fall throughout the organization, toppling key members of the front office and coaching staff. Players continue to prepare and play hard for Belichick, as evidenced by their performance in Sunday’s 27-21 loss at Buffalo after gifting four turnovers in the first half. Nonetheless, his fate feels uncertain, something Belichick himself has expressed to those close to him in recent weeks, according to a team source.If Belichick stays, it’s likely Kraft will force some concessions, as he did last year pushing for Bill O’Brien’s hiring after the offense collapsed under Bel...

New Year’s Day hikes offer a chance to start 2024 in motion

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:12:23 GMT

If you are among the millions of Americans who will resolve themselves to losing some weight or just being more active with the coming of the New Year, then the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation has a plan to get you started on day one.As they have every year for three decades now, DCR will host several New Year’s Day hikes at state properties across the Commonwealth. The hikes are generally guided, free to join, and many come with hot cocoa at the end.“First Day Hikes brings people of all ages, backgrounds, and demographics together with a common goal of starting their year off at our state parks,” Gov. Maura Healey said in her announcement of the event’s 33rd year.“We are proud to continue this cherished tradition that encourages communities to come together, take in fresh air, and experience the beauty of our state,” she said.First started at Blue Hills Reservation by a group of about 400 hikers in 1992, the annual New Year’s Day outdoors program has expanded into...

Quebec City looks to Finland’s successful approach to ending homelessness

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:12:23 GMT

QUEBEC — As Quebec faces a worsening homelessness crisis, some politicians, including Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand, have suggested the solution may be a Finnish model that aims to give everyone a home.But while Finland has managed to massively reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness through its “housing first” approach, one Quebec expert said she’s not sure it could be applied here, even if the provincial government was interested.“It’s the right way to fight the problem of homelessness,” Helsinki Mayor Juhana Vartiainen said of his country’s approach in a recent interview. The Finnish model is simple, he said: give people quality, permanent housing before attempting to address other issues — such as alcohol and drug use, or mental health problems — or helping people find jobs “That’s really the fundamental idea of our policy, if we give people a home, there will be very positive side-effects,” Vartiainen ...

What’s open and closed in Toronto on New Year’s Day

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:12:23 GMT

Due to the fact New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday, it means a long weekend for many in the GTA, but if you’re looking to do something to shake off that New Year’s Eve hangover on the first day of 2024, there are few options available in the city.Many businesses will be operating on holiday hours and several services will be paused and/or postponed by one day.Banks, Canada Post offices and government services will be closed on Monday, Jan. 1. The Toronto Public Library will also be closed.If your garbage pick up day is Monday, it will switch to Tuesday this week. Recycling collection that is normally scheduled for Tuesday will be moved to Wednesday this week. The rest of the week remains unchanged.In Toronto, almost all city attractions will remain open including the CN Tower, Toronto Zoo, Casa Loma and Ripley’s Aquarium.Here is what else is open and closed in Toronto:TRANSITGO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule for both Jan. 1.The TTC will be on a Sunday schedule&n...

E-bike catches fire on subway at Sheppard-Yonge station

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:12:23 GMT

A fire broke out on board a subway train due to an e-bike at at Sheppard-Yonge subway station on Sunday afternoon.Police and firefighters responded to a call just after 3:00 p.m. of reports of a working fire on board a train. A small e-bike caused the fire on the first car of a subway train, which was then moved onto the platform and the station was evacuated. The owner of the e-bike, a man in his 30’s, was sent to hospital with serious, non-life threatening injuries including second degree burns to his hands. Medics say a second patient was also sent to hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported. Toronto District Fire Chief Michael Ancio says it’s very common for damaged lithium ion batteries to catch fire, and that Toronto Fire is working on different techniques to extinguish future lithium ion battery fires, which are difficult to put out.Regular service has resumed between Sheppard-Yonge and Bayview stations.

Bears earn 7th win, beat Falcons 37-17

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:12:23 GMT

CHICAGO -- In weather that's typical of Soldier Field in Late December, the Chicago Bears played exceptional ball on offense behind the likes of Justin Fields and DJ Moore, as they defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 37-17, Sunday.Despite snowy conditions most of the afternoon, Fields and Moore's connection was on strong display, as Fields went 20/32 for 268 passing yards and a touchdown, which went to Moore, who had 9 catches and 159 yards on the day, on top of the score.Fields also notched a score on the ground, where he accounted for 11 carries and 45 rushing yards to go with the TD. It was the fourth such time Fields scored both a rushing and passing TD in a single game this season, and tenth time he has done so in his three-year NFL career.Khalil Herbert added 18 carries for 124 yards on the ground and a touchdown, while Cairo Santos hit three out of four field goal attempts, the longest being from 42 yards out, to help contribute toward their victory over the Falcons. Opinion: Why...

Chicago-born comic Shecky Greene, improv master and lord of Las Vegas, dies at 97

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:12:23 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shecky Greene, the gifted comic and master improviser who became the consummate Las Vegas lounge headliner and was revered by his peers and live audiences as one of the greatest standup acts of his generation, has died. He was 97.His widow, Marie Musso Green, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that her husband died early Sunday at their home. She said her husband of 41 years died of natural causes.Those who saw Greene in his decades of comedy dominance on the Vegas Strip in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s said that with a mic in his hand he could roam a room and work a crowd like no other.He couldn’t wait to abandon written jokes for the shared thrill of improv.“I’ve never had an act,” Greene told the Las Vegas Sun in 2009. “I make it up as I go along.”Greene made huge fans of his fellow entertainers including Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, and, most famously, Frank Sinatra, who hand-picked him as his opening act for a stretch. Greene couldn’t resist the gig...

How to watch Texas Longhorns vs. Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:12:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas and Washington clash in the Sugar Bowl, one of the College Football Playoff semifinals, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Monday.The game is scheduled to start at 7:45 p.m. CT following the Rose Bowl, but chances are it will start later than that. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, so unfortunately there won't be a non-cable option for home viewing, whether it's through a traditional cable service or streaming. 7:45 p.m. CT, Jan. 1, 2024, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans Allstate Sugar Bowl: Washington Huskies vs. Texas Longhorns Sarkisian, DeBoer eager to get on the Sugar Bowl field and ‘battle’ .cls-4{fill:#000;} Why is it called the Sugar Bowl? .cls-4{fill:#000;} There’s mutual respect between Washington’s offense, Texas’ defen...

Winnipeg sweeps weekend series from Wild with 3-2 victory

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:12:23 GMT

Marc-Andre Fleury became the fourth NHL goaltender to play 1,000 games, but Vladislav Namestnikov and Dominic Toninato each scored a power play goal in the third period as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Wild, 3-2, Sunday at Xcel Energy Center.Playing without points leaders Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello, the Wild surrendered two one-goal leads, the Wild opened leads of 1-0 late in the first period and 2-1 early in the third, but each time the Jets quickly answered.Adam Lowry tied the game 1-1 with just more than 2 minutes off the clock in the second period, and Namestnikov tied the game on a power play goal less than a minute after Freddy Gaudreau had put the Wild up, 2-1, on a one-timer with 4 seconds left in a power play.Toninato then scored on a delayed penalty to make 3-2 at 7:32 and the Jets held off the Wild to sweep a home-and-home series between the Central Division rivals. Winnipeg moved into first place in the division, a point ahead of Colorado pending the Avalanche’s la...

Aaron Gordon returns to Nuggets practice, explains dog bite injury on Christmas: “When you (mess) around, you find out”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:12:23 GMT

Aaron Gordon rejoined the Nuggets for practice Sunday after missing two games due to injuries from a dog bite on Christmas. Gordon told The Denver Post he feels ready to play Monday when the Nuggets host the Hornets.A league source said it’ll be Gordon’s call as to whether he plays against Charlotte, and that the team feels comfortable allowing him to play if he’s ready.The dog that bit Gordon was his Rottweiler, which he adopted about four years ago when the dog was six weeks old, Gordon said. Due to the travel demands of the NBA schedule, he doesn’t get to spend much time around his pet during the season, so he has family looking after it for him. Gordon is considering possible training alternatives.“I love dogs. I grew up with dogs my whole life,” Gordon said. “But because we’re on the road so much, my dad’s taking care of him, so I can’t really train him how I need him to be. … But I feel good. Everything is fine....