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Editorial: Don’t give into the gloom about Ukraine

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:45:42 GMT

Nearly two years ago, Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine unified European nations, reinvigorated the trans-Atlantic alliance and forged a spirit of rare bipartisanship in Washington. Now that resolve is fraying.President Joe Biden’s administration and the European Union are struggling to deliver aid for Ukraine’s military and budget, with even some of the country’s staunchest supporters expressing doubts about its battlefield prospects and calling for negotiations to end the war.This frustration is perhaps understandable, but it’s misguided. It ignores the enormous sacrifices Ukraine’s people have made to defend their freedom and push back against Russian aggression — and underestimates the ability of Ukraine’s military to regain the advantage, if given sufficient weaponry. Abandoning the war effort now would wreck the West’s credibility and ultimately endanger the democracies supporting Ukraine’s defense as much as Ukraine itself.It’s true that Ukraine’s forces failed to ad...

Murray: Immigrant voting an affront to democracy

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:45:42 GMT

“The town of Boston,” a 1771 Massachusetts colonial governor complained to his predecessor, “is the source from whence all the other parts of the Province derive more or less troubled water.”The defiant stance of those early whigs, and their cussed purely American determination to create a new nation, could not have foreseen that their sacrifices would eventually produce a public servant such as outgoing Democratic Socialist Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara. Her home rule petition to give noncitizens the right to vote in municipal elections seems to treat so much of what we hold sacred in this city of the Freedom Trail as passing fashions for old timers.  Progressives like Lara can’t see that the democratic traditions of Boston shine far brighter than a Revere bowl to the world.Voters are like jurors and their worth and truthfulness to their duty must be vetted. The nascent American republic and its urban centers matured, and found that the best way to govern ourselves was to allow...

Dear Abby: Dad thinks DIL baby-trapped son

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:45:42 GMT

Dear Abby: Our son “Ted” met a young lady, “Gina,” who I really like. She told him she had polycystic ovary syndrome and would have a hard time conceiving. Well, she got pregnant and they ended up, spur of the moment, going to the courthouse to get married.When Gina went into labor, we drove three hours to be with them and stayed in a hotel, only to be told she didn’t want company. She’d had a horrible three-day labor that ended with a C-section. I sort of understand her not wanting to see anybody, but we dropped everything and weren’t able to even see our grandchild.My husband, “Peter,” has a lot of resentment toward Gina and Ted. My problem is, when Peter and I married, I was three months pregnant. He has it stuck in his head that Gina “trapped” Ted into getting married. When Peter and I went through a rough patch, he made that comment about us a couple times.When Ted and Gina come here, which isn’t often, my ...

Trump’s dominance in GOP frustrates some in Iowa eager for a competitive campaign

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:45:42 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa frenzy is typically in full force by now.With less than three weeks until the Iowa caucuses formally usher in the presidential nomination process, White House hopefuls are usually in a heated competition. They fan out across the state and pack as many events into a single day as is humanly possible — all in a bid to appeal to undecided voters and lock down support that could lift them to victory in Iowa and keep them in the race for months to come. But as the campaign intensifies ahead of the Jan. 15 caucuses, the normal frenzy is subdued. While the schedule is filling up, former President Donald Trump is such a commanding force in the party that some voters worry the contest that normally transforms Iowa into the center of the political world may turn out to be something of a snooze. “It’s kind of frustrating,” said Jenna Maifeld, a 19-year-old student at the University of Iowa who is eager to participate in her first caucus but is disappointed with...

Retirements could tip control of the House majority. It’s Republicans who have the early edge

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:45:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A chaotic year for the House is coming to a close with more Democrats than Republicans deciding to leave the chamber, a disparity that could have major ramifications in next year’s elections.About two dozen Democrats have indicated they won’t seek reelection, with half running for another elected office. Meanwhile, only 14 Republicans have said they are not seeking another term, with three seeking elected office elsewhere.More retirements can be expected after the holidays, when lawmakers have had a chance to spend time with families and make decisions ahead of reelection deadlines. But so far, the numbers don’t indicate the dysfunction in the House is causing a mass exodus for either party.“Members sort of knew that this is what the institution is currently like when they chose to run for office,” said Molly Reynolds, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a think tank that maintains a database of vital statistics on Congress, including retireme...

California is expanding health care coverage for low-income immigrants in the new year

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:45:42 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — More than 700,000 immigrants living illegally in California will gain access to free health care starting Monday under one of the state’s most ambitious coverage expansions in a decade. It’s an effort that will eventually cost the state about $3.1 billion per year and inches California closer to Democrats’ goal of providing universal health care to its roughly 39 million residents.Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers agreed in 2022 to provide health care access to all low-income adults regardless of their immigration status through the state’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. California is the most populous state to guarantee such coverage, though Oregon began doing so in July.Newsom called the expansion “a transformative step towards strengthening the health care system for all Californians” when he proposed the changes two years ago. Newsom made the commitment when the state had the largest budget surplus in its history. But as...

States set to enact new laws on guns, pornography, taxes and even fuzzy dice

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:45:42 GMT

Fuzzy dice finally will be free to dangle in Illinois. Starting Monday, police there no longer will be allowed to pull over motorists solely because they have something hanging from the rearview mirror of the windshield. That means air fresheners, parking placards and, yes, even those dice are fair game to hang. The revised Illinois windshield rule is one of hundreds of new laws taking effect with the new year in states across the U.S. While some may seem a bit pedestrian, others have real practical effects or touch on controversial issues such as restrictions on weapons and medical treatments for transgender people.Though the original Illinois windshield law was meant to improve roadway safety, it came to be seen by some as an excuse for pulling over drivers. The new law still prohibits objects that obstruct a driver’s view but forbids law enforcement officers from conducting stops or searches solely because of suspected violations.“With this new law, we are sending a powerfu...

Shorthanded CU Buffs dominate late to top Washington in Pac-12 opener

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:45:42 GMT

Fast breakWhy the Buffs won: CU outrebounded Washington 49-31 and held the Huskies to a .385 mark from the floor.Three stars:CU’s KJ Simpson: Posted his first double-double of the season and second of his career with 21 points and a career-high-tying 10 rebounds. Simpson also had seven assists and three steals.CU’s Eddie Lampkin Jr.: Finished with his third consecutive double-double and his fourth of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds.UW’s Keion Brooks Jr.: Scored 15 of his team-high 20 points in the second half and went 4-for-8 on 3-pointers.Up next: CU completes the first homestand of the Pac-12 schedule against Washington State on Sunday (noon, Pac-12 Network).When Colorado suddenly found itself without freshman standout Cody Williams ahead of one of the biggest nonconference games of the season earlier this month, the Buffaloes responded by toppling nationally-ranked Miami away from home.When the Buffs suddenly were without senior leader Tristan da Silva...

Ryan Johansen and Devon Toews lead Avalanche past Blues 2-1

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:45:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ryan Johansen and Devon Toews scored and the Central Division-leading Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 2-1 on Friday night.Alexander Georgiev made 28 saves for Colorado, which won for the sixth time in nine games.“I like the fact that we got better defensively as the game went on, and Georgiev played the best game I’ve seen him play in a while, especially the first period,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “As the game went on, I thought we really tightened it up on the defensive side of it, took care of the house pretty well, too. If they were going to get a scoring chance as the game went on, it was more to the outside.”Robert Thomas scored and Jordan Binnington made 21 saves for St. Louis, which had its three-game winning streak halted. The Blues slipped to 5-2 under interim head coach Drew Bannister.“I’ll take that effort every night,” Bannister said. “I thought we competed, we played well. Maybe 10 minutes of the second period I t...

Marvin Harrison Jr. opts out of playing in Cotton Bowl for Ohio State vs Missouri

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:45:42 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Two-time AP All-America receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. opted out of playing in the Cotton Bowl for seventh-ranked Ohio State, though the junior has not revealed whether he will declare for the NFL draft.Harrison wore his No. 18 jersey over a black hoodie when he ran out on the field with his Buckeyes teammates before Friday night’s 14-3 loss to No. 9 Missouri. He immediately went to the sideline and picked up a football, and held on to it throughout the game. Ohio State was also without starting linebacker and leading tackler Tommy Eichenberg, the fifth-year player who had been questionable because of an arm injury. Eichenberg missed two games in the regular season, although he returned for the finale against Michigan.If the 21-year-old Harrison declares for the draft, the Heisman Trophy finalist is expected to be one of the top picks in April.The 6-foot-4 Harrison had 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He has 155 catches for 2,613 ...