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Democrat John Whitmire elected Houston mayor, defeating congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:55:40 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston elected Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire as its next mayor on Saturday night, elevating a Texas lawmaker who has represented the city for 50 years by giving him a victory over U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in a runoff.Whitmire, 74, who is one of Texas’ most powerful Democratic legislators, will now be at the helm of America’s fourth-largest city. His campaign focused on reducing crime, improving streets and bringing people together. He heavily outspent Jackson Lee, who was running to become Houston’s first Black female mayor. The congresswoman’s campaign also had to deal with fallout from the release in October of an unverified audio recording that purported to capture her profanely berating staff. Whitmire built an insurmountable lead among early voters, winning among those voters by 30 percentage points.Whitmire and Jackson Lee had made it to Saturday’s runoff after emerging from a crowded field of nearly 20 candidates in the Nov. 7 general election. Both ...

Dickinson scores 13 points, has 16 rebounds, helps lead No. 2 Kansas over rival Missouri 73-64

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:55:40 GMT

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson had 13 points and 16 rebounds, Kevin McCullar Jr. and KJ Adams had 17 points each and No. 2 Kansas beat rival Missouri 73-64 on Saturday.The Jayhawks closed out the first half on a 14-0 run started by a Elmarko Jackson’s 3-pointer to turn a 2-point deficit into a 41-29 halftime lead.“They were better than us to start the game, but that run was the difference in the game,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “We made a lot of good basketball plays in the last six minutes of the first half.”McCullar Jr. had 14 points and six rebounds in the first half.Sean East II led Missouri with 21 points and Nick Honor scored 17, but the Tigers were without one of their guards, Caleb Grill. Grill injured his non-shooting wrist last Sunday and is expected to miss 5-7 weeks. He averages 8.4 points and nearly six rebounds per game.“We were creating for one another and we just wanted to use the ball screens effectively and I thought we did that well,” ...

Hinson’s 26 allows Pitt to pull away late, hold off Canisius, 82-71

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:55:40 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Blake Hinson scored 26 points and Pittsburgh pulled away late to post an 82-71 victory over Canisius on Saturday. Hinson, who came into the game leading the NCAA with 39 3-pointers made through his first 10 games, knocked down 3 of 4 from distance. Canisius led at the break, 41-40 and Siem Uijtendaal’s three-point play with 13:15 left gave Canisius a 54-47 lead, but Carlton Carrington, Jorge Diaz Graham and Hinson each hit from behind the arc to put Pitt in front, 56-54. Frank Mitchell’s layup with 8:11 left put the Golden Griffins back in front, 61-60, but Ishmael Leggett sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a layup by Federiko Federiko put Pitt in front, 68-61. Hinson scored six of the Panthers’ final nine points to close out the win. Hinson hit 8 of 13 from the floor and went 7-for-7 shooting from the line to lead Pitt (7-3). Carrington added 16 points and dished five assists and Leggett hit 3 of 5 from distance to add another 13 points. Uijt...

Bloody clash in Mexican hamlet kills 4 villagers and 10 gunmen, including drug cartel’s leader

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:55:40 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A clash between gunmen from a notoriously violent drug cartel and residents of a small farming community in central Mexico left 14 people dead, including the cartel’s leader, authorities said Saturday. Seven others were injured and still being treated for wounds. Dramatic video of the fight Friday posted on social media showed villagers in cowboy hats with sickles and hunting rifles chasing down suspected gang members amid bursts of automatic gunfire.Police in the State of Mexico, which abuts Mexico City, said the bloodshed occurred in the hamlet of Texcaltitlan, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of the capital. Officials said 10 of the dead were members of the violent Familia Michoacana drug cartel, including its leader, Rigoberto de la Sancha Santillán, known as “El Payaso” or “The Clown.” Four others killed were village residents. The cartel has been dominant in the area for many years. The video appeared to show the attackers wore military-style ...

Houston elects John Whitmire, a Texas lawmaker who has represented Houston for 50 years, as mayor

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:55:40 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston elects John Whitmire, a Texas lawmaker who has represented Houston for 50 years, as mayor.Source

Denver Jewish community says Hanukkah holds extra meaning this year

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:55:40 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Saturday marks the third night of Hanukkah, the annual Jewish celebration of lights. As the Israel-Hamas war continues, Denver rabbi Raphael Leban says this year's holiday holds extra meaning.  Israel presses on with its Gaza offensive after US veto derails Security Council efforts to halt war “It’s very important that we remain confident, courageous, and committed Jews," he said. "And we put our menorahs in the window now as much as ever.”It comes as a new report from the Anti-Defamation League shows antisemitic reports are up 300% in Colorado this year. “I think to our great dismay, there is a rising degree of concern about being openly Jewish in America,” Leban said. Leban said that's led some Jews to remove menorahs from the window and bring them further inside the home to places like the dining room table. He said the history of Hanukkah, which celebrates a war-time miracle when a single night of oil somehow burned for 8 nights, is something they're pulling f...

6 dead, nearly 2 dozen injured after severe storms tear through Tennessee

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:55:40 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN/AP) — Severe storms that tore through central Tennessee killed six people Saturday and sent about two dozen to the hospital as homes and businesses were damaged in multiple cities.Nexstar's WKRN has been covering the disaster across the state, with much of the damage and injuries occurring in the Clarksville area of Montgomery County and in Davidson County.Montgomery CountyThree people were reported dead after severe weather rolled through the area Saturday afternoon. As of Saturday night, first responders were still out in full force in Clarksville.The Clarksville Police Department announced that officers, as well as members of Clarksville Fire Rescue and Montgomery County EMS, were responding to multiple locations due to extensive damage from the tornado that touched down at approximately 1:35 p.m.Montgomery County officials told News 2 that first responders are currently in the “search and rescue phase” following the tornado activity, which destroyed multip...

Woman who drove robbery getaway car involved in deadly Westchester wreck arrested, police say

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:55:40 GMT

Police said they have arrested a woman in connection to a deadly wreck in Southwest Miami-Dade.Dymariz Picon faces a long list of charges, including vehicular homicide and driving with a suspended license.According to Miami-Dade Police, the 28-year-old drove a getaway car after two men robbed an On the Run convenience store, Friday morning.Detectives said Picon ran a stop sign and crashed into a work van at Southwest 92nd Avenue and 21st Terrace in the Westchester section.The two men inside the van were taken to the hospital, where they are listed in critical condition.Police said a 34 year-old man who was a passenger in the getaway car was killed, and they are still looking for a third person who was in that vehicle.If you have any information on the second passenger’s whereabouts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Suspect in TD Bank robbery in Palmetto Bay arrested in Pinecrest

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:55:40 GMT

A suspected robber is behind bars in connection to a bank robbery in Palmetto Bay.Federal authorities confirmed the robber was arrested near Southwest 70th Avenue and 133rd Street in Pinecrest, Saturday morning.According to the FBI, the suspect demanded cash from a teller at the TD Bank branch on South Dixie Highway and 143rd Street.Investigators said the employee handed over the money.No one at the bank was hurt.Multiple law enforcement agencies, including Miami-Dade Police and Pinecrest Police, assisted FBI agents in apprehending the suspect.

Candlelight vigil held for National Grid worker killed in crash at Waltham job site

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:55:40 GMT

A vigil was held in Cambridge on Saturday in honor of a National Grid worker who lost his life in a crash at a work site in Waltham on Wednesday.The vigil for 36-year-old Roderick Jackson was held at Hoyt Field in Cambridge. Jackson was working at a utility project when he was struck by a driver. Two other National Grid workers were injured and Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey was also killed.Hundreds of people gathered to light candles and honor Jackson’s memory.Jackson is being remembered by his loved ones as the heart of his family. His mother called him “her treasure.” His brother called him his “everything.” His grandmother remembered him as a “good guy” who was “always willing to help.”Those gathered Saturday night said they wanted the driver who struck Jackson to be brought to justice.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.