Former LSU women’s basketball standout Danielle Ballard fatally struck by car

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:06:02 GMT

Former LSU women’s basketball standout Danielle Ballard fatally struck by car MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Former LSU women’s basketball player Danielle Ballard died Thursday after being struck by a car.Memphis police said Ballard, 29, “succumbed to her injuries” at a hospital after being taken from the scene of an accident that was reported to emergency dispatchers at 1:26 a.m.Authorities have not identified the driver of the vehicle that struck Ballard or provided further details, saying an investigation was ongoing and in its preliminary stages. Ballard, who grew up in Memphis, played guard for LSU from 2012 to 2015. She averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists and was among the Tigers’ top players when they advanced to the third round of the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Tournaments. She also was named All-SEC in 2015.“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Danielle,” LSU said in a statement. “She meant a great deal to our program and was such a big part of our women’s basketball family. It’s difficult to understand why this happened to someon...

Florida man gets 18 years in federal prison for supporting Islamic State extremist group

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:06:02 GMT

Florida man gets 18 years in federal prison for supporting Islamic State extremist group TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man accused in 2020 of plotting terror attacks in the U.S. and acquiring an arsenal of weapons was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in federal prison.Mohammed Al-Azhari, a 26-year-old U.S. citizen, was sentenced in Tampa federal court, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in February to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State extremist group.Al-Azhari admitted in court papers that he scouted potential terrorism targets in the Tampa Bay area, sought to acquire multiple weapons and pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State. The FBI recorded many conversations between Al-Azhari and confidential or undercover sources in which he discussed avenging imprisoned Islamic State fighters and using violence to oppose U.S. military actions in the Middle East.An FBI affidavit says Al-Azhari was recorded as expressing admiration for Omar Mateen, the deceased shooter at the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre in 2016. In a conversation w...

Memphis Grizzlies forward Kenneth Lofton among undrafted players shining in summer league

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:06:02 GMT

Memphis Grizzlies forward Kenneth Lofton among undrafted players shining in summer league Memphis Grizzlies forward Kenneth Lofton Jr. is among several undrafted players making an impact in the Las Vegas summer league.The former Louisiana Tech standout who was not selected in 2022 is averaging 20.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in three games while shooting 58% from the field.Lofton uses his 6-foot-6, 275-pound frame to seemingly score at will. He was the G-League Rookie of the Year for the Memphis Hustle last season and later got his two-way contract converted into a regular deal. He took advantage of a call-up to the Grizzlies and had 42 points and 14 rebounds against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the team’s regular-season finale.In Las Vegas, he scored 23 points against the Chicago Bulls in the Grizzlies’ opener on July 8 and had 24 points and 10 rebounds against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.Other undrafted players who have stood out:— Golden State guard Lester Quinones, undrafted out of Memphis in 2022, is the No. 3 scorer in Las Vegas with 24 points per game...

Barbasol Championship Par Scores

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:06:02 GMT

Barbasol Championship Par Scores ThursdayAt Champions at Keene TraceNicholasville, Ky.Purse: $3.8 millionYardage: 7,328; Par: 72First RoundLucas Glover, United States31-32—63-9Ryan Armour, United States32-32—64-8Ryan Moore, United States33-31—64-8Daniel Brown, England32-33—65-7Wesley Bryan, United States32-33—65-7Cody Gribble, United States33-32—65-7Andrew Novak, United States31-34—65-7Marcus Helligkilde, Denmark33-33—66-6Angel Hidalgo, Spain33-33—66-6Marcus Kinhult, Sweden33-33—66-6Adam Long, United States31-35—66-6Vincent Norrman, Sweden33-33—66-6Bo Van Pelt, United States34-32—66-6Johannes Veerman, United States35-31—66-6Deon Germishuys, South Africa34-33—67-5Wes Homan, United States34-33—67-5Patton Kizzire, United States32-35—67-5Peter Malnati, United States32-35—67-5Niklas Norgaard Moller, Denmark31-36—67-5Sean O’Hair, United States34-33—67-5Chad Ramey, United States33-34—67-5JC Ritchie, South Africa33-34—67-5Clement Sordet, France35-32—67-5Akshay Bhatia, United States35-33—68-4John Catlin, United States...

Caregiver for disabled people charged with sexual assault, police seeking other victims

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:06:02 GMT

Caregiver for disabled people charged with sexual assault, police seeking other victims DENVER (KDVR) -- The Arvada Police Department is asking any possible victims of a caregiver who was arrested and charged with an alleged sexual assault at a day program facility for individuals with disabilities to come forward.An investigation of Eugene “Gene” Gillespie, 71, began in February after police received accusations of ongoing sexual abuse at a facility that cares for people with a "degree of cognitive impairment," Arvada police said. Repeat offender bear euthanized in Boulder Gillespie was arrested on April 6. The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office charged him with four counts, including sexual assault against an at-risk person, unlawful sexual contact against an at-risk person, neglect of an at-risk person, and stalking. Police said Gillespie is also facing similar charges from 2015 related to an at-risk victim in Lakewood. Since Gillespie has been a caregiver for about 25 years, police are asking anyone with information or possible victims to contac...

Caesars Palace hostage suspect will be extradited to Colorado

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:06:02 GMT

Caesars Palace hostage suspect will be extradited to Colorado LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Matthew Mannix, the man accused of holding a woman hostage for several hours in a Caesars Palace hotel room will be extradited to Colorado to face charges there, according to Las Vegas Justice Court records. ‘I’m never doing drugs again,’ Man arrested after Caesars Palace standoff speaks from jail However, before he is extradited, his Nevada charges must be resolved. Mannix, 35, faces charges of kidnapping, coercion with threat of force, destroying property, resisting a public officer with a deadly weapon, and disregarding the safety of people and property.Las Vegas Metropolitan police respond to Caesars Palace on July 11, 2023, after reports of a man holding a woman against her will. (KLAS)During the Tuesday, July 11 incident, numerous Las Vegas Metropolitan police officers and SWAT responded to the hotel on the Las Vegas Strip and attempted to get Mannix to leave the room but he threatened he would shoot, according to the arrest report. Suspect in custody a...

Skateboarder killed in Miami Gardens street shooting ID’d amid search for gunman

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:06:02 GMT

Skateboarder killed in Miami Gardens street shooting ID’d amid search for gunman Police have identified the skateboarder who was shot and killed in broad daylight in Miami Gardens, as the search continues for the man who was caught on video pulling the trigger.Miami Gardens Police on Thursday said that 18-year-old Jacob Alexander Zamora is the young man captured in the cellphone video being shot in traffic on Tuesday afternoon. Detectives have been searching for the shooter ever since.Investigators said the shooting happened at around 2:15 p.m. near Northwest 167th Street and 17th Avenue, just off the Palmetto Expressway.A witness from inside a car pulled out a cellphone and recorded the moments leading up to the gunshot.Zamora is seen backing up while holding his skateboard while the gunman charges toward him. and fires the fatal shot.The video also shows a white car with its driver’s side door wide open.Sources told 7News that car has since been impounded and is considered evidence.Detectives hope the cellphone video and still images can help them identi...

Drummer and singer Sheila E. honored with her own star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:06:02 GMT

Drummer and singer Sheila E. honored with her own star on Hollywood Walk of Fame Sheila E. became famous for making music with Prince, but now the pop queen is a star in her own right.Believe it, because Sheila E. has the star to prove it!From collaborating with Prince during his “Purple Rain” era to dropping her own music, Sheila E. has proven she’s a star in her own right.The drummer and singer is now being honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Ringo Starr: “Sheila, we love you. Peace and love.”Ringo Starr and singer H.E.R. were there to sing her praises.Ringo Starr: “Sheila was only 5 years old when she knew she wanted to be a percussionist, way ahead of me. I was 13 when I realized I only wanna be a drummer, so you win.”H.E.R.: “I thank you so much for representing women, for representing artists, for musicians, for women who are musicians. And getting that respect, that we deserve because, you know, sometimes we’re underestimated.”Sheila’s friends and family were there, too,...

Think pink! 2 hotels in Miami are embracing summer trend with ‘Barbie’ theme

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:06:02 GMT

Think pink! 2 hotels in Miami are embracing summer trend with ‘Barbie’ theme In case you haven’t heard or seen, this is the summer of pink.Thanks to the “Barbie” movie, we’re seeing this blush color everywhere — especially at two hot spots in Miami, where they are embracing their inner pink, and doesn’t that sound nice?Ariana Greenblatt (as Sasha): “Where are we?” Margot Robbie (as Barbie): “This is Barbie Land.”Everything is perfect in Barbie’s world, and it can also be perfect for living dolls like you.Over at the Epic Hotel, life’s a dream.Erica Nelson, general manager, Epic Hotel: “The Dream Cabana hosts up to seven people in our poolside cabana. It’s all decked out in pink, we’ve got pink flip-flops, bubbles. We’ve got a special cocktail menu with zero-proof cocktails — everything with a little shade of pink.”And there are yummy eats.Erica Nelson: “Dance to the Beet of Your Own Drum with fresh beet puree. We have our California Dreaming...

Hollywood actors vote to join screenwriters in historic industry-stopping strike as contract talks collapse

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:06:02 GMT

Hollywood actors vote to join screenwriters in historic industry-stopping strike as contract talks collapse LOS ANGELES (AP) — Leaders of a Hollywood’s actors union voted Thursday to join screenwriters in the first joint strike in more than six decades, shutting down production across the entertainment industry after talks for a new contract with studios and streaming services broke down.It’s the first time two major Hollywood unions have been on strike at the same time since 1960, when Ronald Reagan was the actors’ guild president.In an impassioned speech as the strike, which begins at midnight, was announced, actors’ union president and former “The Nanny” star Fran Drescher chastised industry executives.“Employers make Wall Street and greed their priority and they forget about the essential contributors that make the machine run,” Drescher said. “It is disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history.”Hours earlier, a three-year contract had expired and talks broke off between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists&nb...