LeBron James on Denver Nuggets entering Western Conference Finals bubble rematch: “They’re better, but they were great then.”

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:34 GMT

LeBron James on Denver Nuggets entering Western Conference Finals bubble rematch: “They’re better, but they were great then.” What the Joker claims he can’t recall, the King refuses to overlook.The last time the Nuggets and Lakers met in the Western Conference Finals, they were quarantined at Disney World and LeBron James was hellbent on bringing a championship banner back to Disney Land for the first time in a decade. Los Angeles advanced in five games, then won the title.“To be honest, I don’t remember,” Nikola Jokic said when asked what he learned from the experience.What James remembers isn’t the number of games the series lasted, but rather the margin for error. He remembers a series in which no game was decided by more than 12 points, one in which the only reason L.A. didn’t trail 2-1 was an Anthony Davis buzzer beater.“They’re better (than they were), but they were great then,” James said Monday, politely protesting questions about how different Denver is now vs. then. “And they’re great now. Joker has got two more years under his bel...

Cherry Creek State Park suffers significant flood damage, some areas closed

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:34 GMT

Cherry Creek State Park suffers significant flood damage, some areas closed Having received 6 inches of rain over a three-day period last week, Cherry Creek State Park has sustained significant flood damage that includes road washouts, officials said Monday. Some areas of the park have been closed.Related ArticlesOutdoors | Colorado wildflowers could be epic this year thanks to abundant snowpack, but other factors in play The level of the reservoir has risen 10 feet since last Wednesday, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman Kara Van Hoose, resulting in the closing of the east and west boat ramps. The reservoir is open for boating, but only for hand-launched watercraft such as kayaks. The swim beach and some picnic areas on the east side of the park are closed.A road at Cherry Creek State Park was heavily damaged by flooding last week. The level of Cherry Creek Reservoir rose 10 feet. Park officials have not determined how long it will take to repair the damage. (Provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife)“We won’t kn...

Cottonwood Pass road now open for the season

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:34 GMT

Cottonwood Pass road now open for the season Cottonwood Pass — which runs from Gypsum to the Roaring Fork Valley — is now open and will remain open through the fall, conditions permitting. Cottonwood Pass drivers are urged to use caution when driving this road. Traffic and weather can have a significant impact on road conditions. Furthermore, portions of the road are not paved, and there are many sharp turns and steep drop-offs. Regulations prohibit travel on portions of Cottonwood Pass for oversized vehicles without a permit. Any vehicle that exceeds 8 feet 6 inches in width, 14 feet 6 inches in height and 35 feet in length will require a permit to travel over Cottonwood Pass. Read the full story from our partner at vaildaily.com. Related ArticlesTransportation | Colorado weather: Aurora firefighters rescue man stranded in truck in high water Transportation | Massive sinkhole north of Paonia shuts down Colorado 133 Transportation | E. 13th Ave. in Denver’s Capitol Hill re...

Black bear plays 'ding dong ditch' on cabin in San Bernardino County wilderness

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:34 GMT

Black bear plays 'ding dong ditch' on cabin in San Bernardino County wilderness A black bear in the mountains of San Bernardino County was caught on camera last month after it triggered the doorbell camera at a cabin and surprised its owners.The video was captured April 18 at a cabin near Running Springs. It shows a large black bear approach the cabin's front door, stand up on its hind legs and look around. At one point, the bear appears to stare right at the camera.The video was shared with KTLA by Ring, the popular brand of security doorbell cameras.The owner of the cabin told Ring that the bear stopped by the cabin around 2:45 a.m., and while bears have been known to roam around the neighborhood, one has never gotten that close to the cabin before."Upon viewing, we were in disbelief," said Cesar, the owner of the cabin. "This was a very big bear. We want to share the video to bring awareness to the local community and tourists that bears do roam the area. This awareness will minimize potential danger for both people and wildlife/bears." Black bear living ...

NASA studies find lower methane emissions across Los Angeles area

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:34 GMT

NASA studies find lower methane emissions across Los Angeles area Despite reports of air quality dipping to dangerous levels in Los Angeles this week, a pair of studies from NASA found that one type of emission has been successfully reduced across the region in recent years.Two contrasting studies sought out to determine whether or not levels of methane, one of the primary greenhouse gases associated with global climate change, lowered in Los Angeles over the past several years.While taking different approaches, both studies found that human-caused methane emission has gone down.The first study was published in February in Environmental Research Letters. Scientists looked at sensors across Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties and found that methane emissions were reduced by 33 million pounds, or about 7%, per year.The scientists evaluated data from ground-based sensors placed around the region as part of the "Megacities Carbon Project," a globe-spanning initiative to monitor greenhouse gases in major metropoli like Los Angele...

Fire crews battle house fire in Pico-Union

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:34 GMT

Fire crews battle house fire in Pico-Union A two-story home in Los Angeles’ Pico-Union neighborhood was severely damaged in a fire Monday afternoon.The fire at 1426 S. Burlington Ave. was reported just after 1 p.m.Nearly two dozen firefighters responded to the scene and extinguished the flames within 30 minutes, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. The extent of damage to the craftsman-style home was not immediately known.Investigators say the fire may have been connected to a roofing operation.No injuries were reported.

Connolly staffers hospitalized after baseball bat attack in district office

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:34 GMT

Connolly staffers hospitalized after baseball bat attack in district office Two staffers for Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) were hospitalized Monday after a man entered the congressman’s district office in Fairfax, Va., and assaulted them with a metal bat, underscoring the threats faced by lawmakers amid extreme political polarization in the U.S.Connolly, who represents Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, said the assailant asked for him before attacking his staffers, who were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The suspect struck a senior aide in the head and an intern in the side with the metal bat, Connolly told CNN. It was the intern’s first day on the job, Connolly said. The congressman told the network he was at a ribbon-cutting for a food bank when the assailant entered his office.The alleged attacker — identified by authorities as Xuan Kha Tran Pham, 49, of Fairfax — is in custody and faces one count of aggravated malicious wounding and one count of malicious wounding.“This morning, an individual entered my District Offic...

At least 6 die in hostel fire in Wellington, New Zealand

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:34 GMT

At least 6 die in hostel fire in Wellington, New Zealand By Nick Perry | Associated PressWELLINGTON, New Zealand — An overnight fire at a four-story hostel in New Zealand’s capital has killed at least six people, the prime minister said Tuesday.Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told the AM morning news program that he understands that six people have been confirmed dead in the fire in Wellington, and that there are likely to be more. Police said they don’t yet have an exact count of the number dead, although they believe it’s fewer than 10 people.Emergency services were called to the Loafers Lodge hostel about 12:30 a.m.Wellington Fire and Emergency District Manager Nick Pyatt said 52 people have been accounted for, but that a number still remained unaccounted for.“I can sadly report that this will be a multi-fatality incident. Our thoughts at this time are with the families of those who have perished and with our crews who valiantly rescued those (they could) and attempted to rescue those that they couldn’t,̶...

Woman sues Giuliani, alleging sex coercion, says she’s owed $2M

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:34 GMT

Woman sues Giuliani, alleging sex coercion, says she’s owed $2M By Michael R. Sisak | Associated PressNEW YORK — A woman who says she worked as an off-the-books employee for Rudy Giuliani during his stint as Donald Trump’s personal lawyer alleges in court papers that the former New York City mayor coerced her into sex and owes her nearly $2 million in unpaid wages.Noelle Dunphy said in the lawsuit that she was Giuliani’s business development director and public relations consultant from 2019 to 2021. She initially made her allegations public in January, but she detailed her claims further in a 70-page legal complaint filed Monday in New York.Messages seeking comment were left with Giuliani and a lawyer representing his companies.Giuliani’s attorney, Robert Costello, told The Daily Beast when Dunphy first filed her legal claim that she never worked for “any Giuliani entity” and that the allegations were “nonsense.”The new court filing portrays Giuliani, 78, as a hard-drinking, Viagra-popping womanizer who...

Former MLB umpire Don Denkinger dies; blown call in 1985 World Series overshadowed stellar career

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:34 GMT

Former MLB umpire Don Denkinger dies; blown call in 1985 World Series overshadowed stellar career By Ronald Blum | Associated PressNEW YORK — Don Denkinger, a major league umpire for three decades whose blown call in the 1985 World Series overshadowed a career of excellence, died Friday. He was 86.Denkinger died at Cedar Valley Hospice in Waterloo, Iowa, Denise Hanson, one of his three daughters, said.Denkinger joined the American League staff in 1969. He worked four World Series over three decades in the big leagues but was remembered most for a call he didn’t get right.St. Louis had a 3-2 Series lead over Kansas City and was ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 6, three outs from the title, when pinch-hitter Jorge Orta led off with a slow bouncer to the right side. First baseman Jack Clark ranged to field the ball and flipped a sidearm toss to reliever Todd Worrell covering the bag.Denkinger signaled safe but replays showed Worrell caught the throw on the base ahead of the runner. After Steve Balboni’s single, a bunt, a passed ball and an intentional...