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Opinion: Pac-12 is ‘Conference of Champions.’ Don’t let it disappear

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:12 GMT

No collegiate athletic conference has been more dominant than the Pac-12 when it comes to winning national trophies. As of this month, the conference has earned an unmatched 553 NCAA championships, with a 200-plus trophy cushion over the second-place league.And this legacy of success doesn’t belong just to the powerhouse sport of football.Consider the Olympic sports contested across the NCAA: Pac-12 schools dominate the top 25 national rankings and finishes, and Stanford, UCLA and USC sweep the podium spots for schools with the most NCAA team titles. If the Pac-12 were a nation, it would have placed fifth in the medal count at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021 and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. Indeed, it is Olympic sports that have made the Pac-12 the “Conference of Champions.”One would think that with stats like these, the college presidents and university athletic directors in the Pac-12 wouldn’t let the conference disintegrate, picked apart by its fellow leagues and set t...

Two women arrested for stealing $1,900 of merchandise at Great Mall in Milpitas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:12 GMT

(KRON) -- Two women were arrested at the Great Mall in Milpitas Wednesday for organized retail theft and grand theft, the Milpitas Police Department announced on Thursday. Detectives were driving through the parking lot at the mall when they noticed two people coming out of the mall. Over $130K of property stolen from rental car parked in San Mateo Police described the subjects as "suspicious characters" who were "hurrying out of the Great Mall with large bags filled with merchandise." Officers observed them get into a car and drive away.A patrol officer who was nearby stopped the car. Inside, officers found nearly $1,900 in merchandise allegedly stolen from Marshalls, as well as a tool used to remove security sensors.The car's driver and passenger, two women from Merced, were arrested, police said. One of the women allegedly tried to trick officers by giving them a fake name. Officers learned her true identity and that she had a felony warrant for grand theft.The suspects were bo...

Man facing 24 years in prison for allegedly trafficking cocaine in Alameda County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:12 GMT

(BCN) -- A man is facing over 24 years in prison for allegedly trafficking cocaine in Alameda County, according to prosecutors.Alfredo Moranperez on Tuesday was arraigned on charges of possession for sale of more than 10 kilos of cocaine, plus a special enhancement allegation and possession of a controlled substance with firearms present and child abuse for storing contraband in a room in close proximity to minor children, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office said in a statement.According to authorities, officers had served a search warrant at Moranperez's house where they found cocaine, including organized kilo bricks, over $108,000 cash, and two loaded firearms, including a Glock-style "ghost gun" and a Glock 9 mm pistol. Suspect arrested in connection with two killings in parking lot of East Bay gym He was arrested on Oct. 12. The judge set his bail at $1,250,000 at the request of prosecutors.Moranperez faces a sentence of 24 years and 4 months in state prison if convi...

Rep. Jim Jordan will try again for House gavel but Republicans won’t back the hard-line Trump ally

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:12 GMT

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who failed in a crucial second ballot yesterday to become Speaker of the House, talks to reporters as he leaves a closed meeting of the Republican Conference, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who failed in a crucial second ballot yesterday to become Speaker of the House, talks to reporters as he leaves a closed meeting of the Republican Conference, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite deepening opposition, Rep. Jim Jordan made an impassioned push to become House speaker ahead of a Friday vote...

Will Jawando drops out of US Senate race

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:12 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 31: Will Jawando, a member of the Montgomery County Council, speaks during a rally on the National Mall on May 31, 2021 in Washington, DC. Members and allies of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community are speaking out in response to a rise in anti-Asian violence in the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Samuel Corum) WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 31: Will Jawando, a member of the Montgomery County Council, speaks during a rally on the National Mall on May 31, 2021 in Washington, DC. Members and allies of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community are speaking out in response to a rise in anti-Asian violence in the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Get...

Dunking balls in a bucket part of England’s prep for Rugby World Cup semifinal against South Africa

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:12 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Rugby teams have all kinds of behind-the-scenes specialists in their backroom staff these days.The English even have a ball-dunker.With rain in the forecast for its semifinal against South Africa at the Rugby World Cup on Saturday, England has been practicing with a wet ball in training this week to get its players attuned.“There (has been) a logistics guy on the sidelines,” England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth said on Friday, “with a bucket of water with balls ready to go into whenever we are swapping or starting a set.“We are focusing in on what it might be like to handle a wet ball rather than a dry one.”The likelihood of handling errors increases in wet weather, so teams may choose to kick the ball more in such conditions.The Springboks are renowned for having a strong kick-chase game when they need it, and that’s a department England has looked to improve since coach Steve Borthwick was hired late last year.Freddie Steward can expect to have a busy...

Republic Bancorp: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:12 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republic Bancorp Inc. (RBCAA) on Friday reported net income of $21.6 million in its third quarter.The bank, based in Louisville, Kentucky, said it had earnings of $1.10 per share.The holding company for Republic Bank & Trust posted revenue of $99.9 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $78.8 million, beating Street forecasts._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on RBCAA at https://www.zacks.com/ap/RBCAASource

Philadelphia 76ers count on MVP Joel Embiid, new coach as season arrives marred by Harden turmoil

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:12 GMT

PHILADELPHIA 76ERSLast season: 54-28, reached Eastern Conference semifinals. Coach: Nick Nurse (1st season with 76ers, 277-163; 6th season overall, 329-293).What to expect: Headaches. The 76ers again reign as Team Turmoil. Only two years removed from watching former No. 1 pick Ben Simmons sit out and cause a roster disruption, the Sixers are at it again with James Harden. All Harden did in the offseason was pick up a $35.6 million contract option only to then demand a trade. When the Sixers couldn’t find a suitor, Harden called team president Daryl Morey a liar and vowed he would never again play for a team run by Morey. Harden did report to the final days of training camp and practiced to meet certain contractual obligations before he skipped practices ahead of the preseason finale. The 76ers can only hope reigning NBA MVP and two-time scoring champion Joel Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey can keep them afloat under first-year coach Nick Nurse until the situation is resolved.Dep...

All eyes on Victor Wembanyama as the No. 1 pick opens a new era with San Antonio Spurs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:12 GMT

SAN ANTONIO SPURS Last season: 22-60. The Spurs missed the playoffs for fourth straight season.Coach: Gregg Popovich (29th season, 1,366-761).What to expect: Wembanyama! Wembanyama! Wembanyama! All eyes have been on No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama and that hype will only increase once the season gets underway. At 7-foot-3 with an 8-foot wingspan, Wembanyama has impressed in the preseason with his long-range shooting, footwork in the paint, ability to quickly close defensively and block shots as well as his immense skills around the rim. The 19-year-old from France has done little to dampen the hoopla that began swelling following his performance in the 2021 FIBA U19’s in Latvia. Tim Duncan had a lot of talent around him when he joined the Spurs a quarter-century ago, but that’s not the case for Wembanyama. His supporting cast includes Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson along with Zach Collins at center and Tre Jones at point guard. Key re...

Mavs have Doncic, Irving from the jump after their partial-season debut was a dud

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:34:12 GMT

DALLAS MAVERICKSLast season: 38-44, missed playoffs.Coach: Jason Kidd (3rd season with Mavericks, 90-74; 8th season overall, 273-264).What to expect: The Mavericks will find out what a full season looks like for the All-Star pairing of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Dallas faded and missed the playoffs after the blockbuster trade that brought Irving from Brooklyn. Injuries limited their chances together. This season starts with an injury question for Doncic. He’s battling a left calf strain that might keep him out of the opener. The Dallas front office believed the roster around Doncic and Irving was part of the problem last season. The club’s two first-round picks — Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper — could be in the rotation or even start. Grant Williams was acquired from Boston in an effort to upgrade the frontcourt. Sharpshooting Seth Curry is back for a third stint in Dallas, which hopes his presence will loosen things for Doncic and Irving and give the cl...