Local News Washington DC

Most crimes against Mexico journalists, activists unpunished

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:58:42 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A senior government human rights official said Thursday that 90% of crimes against activists and journalists go unpunished in Mexico.

The assistant interior secretary in charge of human rights said that in those cases where the culprits have been identified, almost half are local officials.

Local officials in Mexico are often angered by corruption accusations against them, but in some cases they are also in league with criminal or business interests.

Alejandro Encinas said new laws are needed to protect activists and reporters.

Mexico currently has a protection mechanism of alarms or guards that as of October covered 495 journalists and 1,011 activists. But critics have said the measures are insufficient. Nine people covered by the protection measures have been killed since Dec. 1, 2018, when President Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office.

Mexico is one of the most dangerous places on earth for reporters outside active war zones.

Official figures show that in the first three years of the administration of López Obrador, 96 community, environmental or rights activists have been killed in Mexico, and 47 journalists or media workers.

Encinas also commented on the rather limited results of an amnesty law for Indigenous people, elderly non-violent offenders and those who didn’t get a fair trial. Under that program, only 44 people have been freed out of 1,798 who applied. Many cases are still under study.

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Kim Potter found guilty of first, second-degree manslaughter in death of Daunte Wright

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:51:11 GMT

The 12-member jury also found Potter guilty of second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Wright during an April traffic stop.

Possible relics of lost WWII US bomber, crew found in Italy

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:49:20 GMT

MILAN (AP) — An archaeological dig in Sicily has uncovered traces of a lost World War II American heavy bomber shot down in 1943, and possible human remains that could lead to identification of five airmen whose bodies were never recovered.

The six-week dig that ended this week was carried out by a team from the Pentagon’s Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which locates and identifies missing U.S. military personnel around the world.

The site near Sciacca was identified in 2017 by investigators using historical records and metal detectors.

This year’s dig uncovered wreckage “consistent only to a B-25 aircraft,’’ said archaeologist Clive Vella, the scientific director of the expedition, contributing to hopes that any confirmed remains would be linked to the missing crew.

“We owe (their) families accurate answers,’’ Vella told the Associated Press Thursday.

The North American B-25 Mitchell heavy bomber with a crew of six was one of 52 air losses with missing personnel in the area during WWII, mostly during 1943 as the Allies pushed into southeastern Sicily.

It was shot down as it targeted a camouflaged German airstrip amid olive groves and pastureland on July 10, 1943. A German military report documented the crash of a U.S. aircraft about two kilometers (just over a mile) from the Sciacca airport, Vella said.

One crew member was located immediately and buried in the town’s cemetery. The body was claimed in 1944 by U.S. military officials, but the other five airmen remained missing.

In the intervening decades, the crash site “like most others in the Mediterranean region, was scavenged for metal, the land restored to its original use,’’ Vella said. “The scars of a crash were mostly gone.”

The evidence, which includes possible human bones as well as potential remnants of the aircraft, has been transported to a laboratory in the U.S. for examination.

Worldwide, there are more than 81,600 missing U.S. military personnel, including 72,350 from World War II, 7,550 from the Korean War and 1,584 from the Vietnam War. Over 41,000 of the total are presumed lost at sea.

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Gold and silver rise

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:47:12 GMT

The December gold contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange closed today at $1811.20 an ounce – up $9.60.

The current silver contract on the “NYMEX” closed at $22.93 an ounce – up 14 cents.

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Maryland hospitals to implement pandemic plans since COVID-19 hospitalizations have surpassed 1,500

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:46:20 GMT

The governor says the state could reach record levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the coming weeks.

NBA teams may add patches to warmup shirts, jackets

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:45:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA’s Board of Governors has approved a plan where teams may now add sponsorship patches to their shooting shirts and warmup jackets.

It’s similar to the jersey patch program, which has been in place since 2017. Teams are now permitted to add a patch — a 3-inch square — on either the right sleeve or left chest of the shirts and jackets. The patch may depict a marketing partner or team initiative.

The patch program has grown a bit in recent years. It was originally brought on for a three-year trial and was extended indefinitely in April 2019, after the patches — as expected — generated new revenue for teams and exposure for sponsors.

Before last season, the program was expanded to allow company names or logos across the middle of team practice jerseys.

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New Year’s Eve in Times Square still on, with smaller crowd

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:45:11 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Revelers will still ring in the new year in New York’s Times Square next week, there just won’t be as many of them as usual under new restrictions announced Thursday as the city grapples with a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Viewing areas that normally accommodate about 58,000 people will be limited to about 15,000 to allow for more distancing, and everyone in attendance must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a news release announcing the changes.

“There is a lot to celebrate and these additional safety measures will keep the fully vaccinated crowd safe and healthy as we ring in the New Year,” de Blasio said, noting the city’s success in getting residents vaccinated while also keeping businesses open.

The added precautions for New Year’s Eve in Times Square were spurred by the rapid spread of the omicron variant in the Big Apple, where lines for testing have snaked around blocks in recent days.

On Tuesday, the city set a one-day record with 17,200 new cases, though a true comparison to the number of cases during the initial COVID-19 surge in spring 2020 is impossible because tests were very limited at the time.

Because of vaccinations, hospitalizations and deaths from the current surge are far fewer than at the pandemic’s height.

The new wave of cases has led to the cancellation of concerts, sporting events and Broadway shows, but de Blasio has shown a strong preference for having the annual Times Square ball drop go on as planned — the last major event of his eight-year tenure, which ends Jan. 1.

Little more than a month ago, de Blasio gleefully announced that a fully vaccinated crowd of hundreds of thousands of people would be back at the iconic celebration — donning goofy 2022-themed glasses and watching a crystal-clad ball drop at midnight — after it was limited last year to small groups of essential workers.

But that was before omicron caught fire, forcing city officials and event organizers to rethink just how many people they wanted to squeeze into the bright, billboard-lined tourist haven known to some as the Crossroads of the World.

On Tuesday, the Fox network gave its verdict, pulling the plug on a planned live broadcast from the New Year’s Eve event. Other networks plan to air the festivities, including Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on ABC, the stalwart now hosted by Ryan Seacrest.

De Blasio said along with Thursday’s announcement that the city is monitoring the COVID-19 situation and could impose additional precautions if needed. Among the other changes announced Thursday, revelers won’t be allowed into viewing areas until 3 p.m., much later than in past years.

On New Year’s Eve last year, Times Square was mostly empty, with Jennifer Lopez and other artists performing behind police barricades. After vaccines became widely available in the U.S., the city allowed crowds back to the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and other events.

“New York is the best place in the world to celebrate New Year’s Eve and now it will be one of the safest against COVID as well,” Mayor-elect Eric Adams said in a written statement endorsing the new precautions. “New Yorkers and visitors alike can now enjoy Times Square and the rest of our city as we ring in 2022.”

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Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.

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Crude rises

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:44:46 GMT

Crude oil futures prices ended higher on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The near-month contract for the benchmark grade rose $1.03 — closing at $73.79 a barrel.

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Ecuador: coronavirus vaccination mandatory for most citizens

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:43:56 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador said Thursday that vaccination against COVID-19 will be mandatory for most citizens.

Only Ecuadorians with a medical condition that could be complicated by vaccination will be exempt from the new rule, the government said in a statement. Those people must have documentation to prove it, according to the statement.

The government said it was implementing the requirement because of an increase in coronavirus infections and the circulation of new variants such as omicron. Ecuador has enough vaccines to ″immunize the entire population,″ the government said.

This week, Ecuador’s Special Operations Committee, which runs health policies to combat the pandemic, said vaccination certificates must be shown in order to access places such as restaurants, cinemas and other public areas.

As of Tuesday, about 77% of 17.3 million people in Ecuador have been vaccinated. More than 920,000 people have received a booster shot.

About 33,600 people in Ecuador are confirmed to have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Last month, Austria announced a national lockdown and a plan to mandate vaccinations as coronavirus infections hit a record high.

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Dollar mixed

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:43:06 GMT

The U.S. dollar is mixed against other North American currencies in New York trading.

It’s worth 1.28 Canadian dollars, unchanged from late Wednesday.

And the dollar is trading at 20.63 Mexican pesos, down from late Wednesday.

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Italy tightens rules on unvaccinated, New Year’s festivities

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:42:43 GMT

SOAVE, Italy (AP) — Italy on Thursday again tightened COVID-19 restrictions, focusing on the unvaccinated and on New Year’s Eve celebrations as the new omicron variant pushed recorded infections to the country’s highest one-day total ever.

Under the new rules, people who have not been vaccinated will be barred from entering museums, exhibitions, amusement parks, bingo parlors and betting halls — places that until now they could access with a negative test. Already forbidden seating in restaurants, their dining options have now been completely shut down as they can no longer be served standing at a bar.

“It is important that we present a series of measures to respond to the growth of cases that we see in the last days, due to the arrival in our country in a significant way of the omicron variant,’’ Health Minister Roberto Speranza told a press conference.

The measures come as Italians prepare to celebrate the Christmas holiday weekend, with many planning family gatherings that were barred last year during the surge of the delta variant. The government has not mandated any rules for private gatherings, but it has set its sights on New Year’s Eve, banning outdoor events and closing discotheques until the end of January.

The new regulations will be gradually implemented starting Friday.

Long lines formed at testing sites in Milan on Thursday, as people worried about suspected cases sought to be tested alongside those who continue to get tested every 48 hours to access workplaces. And in neighboring Veneto, some testing sites for PCR swabs posted notices that they had exhausted their available appointments for the next 60 days.

In the last 24 hours, Italy recorded nearly 44,600 new infections, its highest ever, and 168 deaths. The omicron variant of the coronavirus represents nearly one-third of the new cases. The head of Italy’s national health institute, Silvio Brusaferro, said that omicron would be dominant by next week with “slow but continuous growth.”

Italy was the first major economy to adopt a health pass to access workplaces, but has allowed a negative test every 48 hours to stand in for a full vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID. Mask mandates have remained in place in public indoor settings and public transport. Now, that has been upgraded and only more-protective FFP2 masks may be worn on all public transport, as well as in cinemas, theaters and stadiums.

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Follow all of AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

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Florida judge latest to block Biden contractor vaccine rule

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:41:47 GMT

TAMPA, Fla (AP) — A federal judge in Florida on Wednesday blocked President Joe Biden’s requirement for federal contractors to receive coronavirus vaccines, adding to a series of legal setbacks for the mandate.

U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday wrote that Florida’s lawsuit against the rule demonstrated a “substantial likelihood” that the White House did not have authority to set the requirement.

The preliminary injunction in Florida comes after a federal judge in Georgia this month had already blocked enforcement of the rule nationwide. Judges in Missouri and Kentucky have issued similar rulings.

The decision marks the one of the latest victories for Republican-led states challenging Biden’s vaccine mandates, which the White House argues are necessary to protect Americans during the pandemic. Florida, along with other GOP states, conservative organizations and businesses, have also filed suit against White House vaccine mandates for health care workers and companies with more than 100 employees.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has railed against Biden’s pandemic policies and recently signed legislation that forces businesses to let workers opt out of coronavirus vaccine mandates. DeSantis is running for reelection and is widely considered to be mulling a 2024 presidential run.

The requirement for federal contractors stems from a September executive order issued by Biden in September. Florida sued the following month.

Separately, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday said it will hold a special session in just over two weeks to weigh challenges to the White House vaccine requirements for businesses and health care workers.

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40 federal judges confirmed in 2021; Biden nominates 2 more

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:41:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday made two final nominations to the federal bench this year as he caps his first year in office with 40 judges confirmed, the most since Ronald Reagan was president.

Nancy Gbana Abudu, his nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in the deep South, would be the first Black woman to sit on that court. The circuit covers Alabama, Georgia and Florida, where 8.5 million people are Black yet there is only one Black judge on the 12-person panel, Charles Wilson, and he was nominated by former President Bill Clinton.

The second nominee, also a woman of color, is J. Michelle Childs, currently a U.S. District Court judge for South Carolina. She is nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Former GOP president Donald Trump and then-Senate Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky oushed through a flurry of federal judges and three Supreme Court justices who will shape the courts for a generation.

Biden and the Democrats are working to counter with a rapid number of diverse nominations and confirmations. But that is stoking fears of the politicization of the judiciary, something judges roundly reject as they affirm their ability to be fair and impartial.

Abudu currently serves as the deputy legal director for strategic litigation at the Southern Poverty Law Center and was at the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida before that and also worked at the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project. She graduated from Tulane University law school in 1999.

Her deep experience in voting rights will be extremely relevant, White House officials and advocates say, especially considering the increasing challenges facing voters this year following a series of GOP-led restrictions. She would also be the first judge of color to sit on the court from Georgia, a state that was among the most critically watched during the 2020 elections.

“This is an extraordinary appointment,” said Leslie Proll, senior adviser on judicial nominations for NAACP. “Nancy Abudu’s nomination addresses a breathtaking gap in representation on this Southern appellate bench. Her substantial voting rights expertise will be a welcome addition to this court, which has an outsized voting rights docket and is pivotal to protecting our democracy.”

Childs has been on the bench in South Carolina since 2010, appointed by former President Barack Obama. She received her master’s in Judicial Studies from Duke University School of Law in 2016. She got her law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

With these two, Biden has now nominated 75 federal judges. Of the 40 confirmed so far, 80% are women, with 53% being people of color, according to the White House.

The U.S. Senate must confirm the nominations. But with no Supreme Court opening to slow them, Biden and Senate Democrats are putting judges on federal trial and appellate courts at a much faster clip than any of Biden’s recent predecessors, Trump included.

The Senate confirmed 18 circuit and district court judges in Trump’s first year in office, and 12 in Obama’s inaugural year.

Obama and Clinton, the last two Democratic presidents, were slow to move judicial nominations. But they both had early, time-consuming Supreme Court vacancies to deal with.

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Metro pauses return of 7000-series railcars out of ‘an abundance of caution’

Anna Gawel — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:40:13 GMT

Metro paused the return of additional 7000-series railcars on Thursday out of what it said was an abundance of caution.

The move comes after the subway system began to gradually return some 7000-series train cars to service late last week after they were ordered off the tracks in October, following an investigation into a derailment on the Blue Line that revealed a wheel defect.

In announcing the pause, Metro General Manager and CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld said he was ordering a new regime of daily 7000-series inspections.

Wiedefeld said that although there were no new issues of concern, the system’s chief safety officer and chief operating officer met with its independent consultant Transportation Technology Center Inc. “and Metro officials concluded in an abundance of caution that moving to a nightly inspection of 7000-series railcars is the prudent course of action,” according to a news release.

“While I recognize the pause is unexpected, we are going to continuously evaluate data we are collecting to ensure that we are enhancing safety,” Wiedefeld said. “I feel that requiring a daily inspection is the safest course until we know more and … have an opportunity to review the data we are collecting with the few trainsets now in operation.”

The 7000-series comprised the majority of Metro’s fleet and have been out of service since a design flaw was uncovered that causes the wheels to spread too wide on the axles, allowing the carriage to slip off the tracks.

The resulting reduction in service has led to train delays that Metro says will last into the new year.

Metro said it notified National Transportation Safety Board and Washington Metrorail Safety Commission on Thursday afternoon of the updates to its 7000-series restoration plan.

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Cam Akers returns to Rams practice after offseason injury

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:38:47 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Running back Cam Akers has returned to practice with the Los Angeles Rams, taking one of the final steps in his rapid comeback from a torn Achilles tendon.

The Rams (10-4) also designated Akers for return from injured reserve Thursday, which means he is in a 21-day window for reactivation to the roster.

Akers was the Rams’ leading rusher as a rookie last season, but he tore his Achilles tendon in private workouts shortly before the start of training camp in July. The team initially expected the second-year pro to miss the entire season, but he made rapid progress in his rehabilitation workouts and spurred hopes he could return late in the year.

Akers now seems likely to be in uniform at some point in the final three games for the Rams, who are even with Arizona (10-4) atop the NFC West. Los Angeles is in the first wild-card playoff position. Los Angeles visits Minnesota on Sunday and travels to Baltimore next week before finishing the regular season at home against San Francisco.

Akers racked up 625 yards rushing in 2020 despite not getting consistent playing time until the second half of the season. The second-round pick out of Florida State showed impressive speed and toughness down the stretch and in the playoffs, where he rushed for 131 yards at Seattle and 90 yards at Green Bay, scoring a touchdown in both games.

He was expected to be Los Angeles’ primary running back this season, but the injury led the Rams to acquire Sony Michel in a trade with New England.

Darrell Henderson leads the Rams this season with 671 yards and five touchdowns despite missing three games because of injury, but Michel has been Los Angeles’ most effective back lately, with 292 of his 597 yards coming in the past three games.

The Rams’ running game has been solid, but is secondary to their strong passing game led quarterback Matthew Stafford and NFL receiving leader Cooper Kupp. Los Angeles’ eight rushing touchdowns are tied for the second fewest in the league.

The Rams also designated three more players to return from the reserve/COVID-19 list: defensive backs Juju Hughes and Antoine Brooks and injured tight end Johnny Mundt.

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US has reunited 100 children taken from parents under Trump

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:37:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Biden administration effort to reunite children and parents who were separated under President Donald Trump’s zero-tolerance border policy has made increasing progress as it nears the end of its first year.

The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that 100 children, mostly from Central America, are back with their families and about 350 more reunifications are in process after it took steps to enhance the program.

“I would have loved to have this happen much more quickly. But we are making progress and I feel like we’re gaining momentum,” said Michelle Brané, executive director of the administration’s Family Reunification Task Force.

President Joe Biden issued an executive order on his first day in office to reunite families that were separated under the Trump administration’s widely condemned practice of forcibly separating parents and children at the U.S.-Mexico border to discourage illegal immigration.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas thanked community organizations for helping to locate and contact family members as he announced the program’s milestone on Twitter. “We have a lot more work to do,” he wrote. “We are dedicated to finding every family and giving them the chance to reunite and to heal.”

The work of the task force has been complicated by a number of factors, including inadequate or missing records on the separated families, the sheer number of cases and the fact that many parents are in remote Central American communities and were unable to track down their children or get to the United States to retrieve them.

In September, the task force had reunited 50 families when the administration announced a partnership to speed up the effort with the International Organization for Migration. A web portal — Juntos.gov or Together.gov — was created for parents to contact the U.S. government and work through the reunification process.

About 5,500 children were forcibly removed from their parents under Trump, mostly in 2018. His administration was seeking to stop an increase in people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border by resorting to criminal prosecutions, even if the migrants were presenting themselves to authorities to seek asylum as permitted under the law.

Amid widespread condemnation, including from Republicans, Trump stopped the practice in June 2018 just days before a judge ordered an end to the program in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Brané said in an interview ahead of Thursday’s announcement that officials believe there are still about 1,150 children whose whereabouts have not been confirmed. The total fluctuates as some cases are resolved with new information and new ones emerge, including some who have reached out through the new web portal.

“Obviously, this is nowhere near the end,” Brane said. “This is just the beginning of this ramp up and hopefully families will see that reunifications are happening and they will feel confident coming forward.”

Reunited parents and children, including some who arrived at U.S. airports this week, are being granted humanitarian parole to reside in the country for a minimum of three years, and may pursue permanent status through asylum or another program. They are also receiving counseling services.

Hundreds of families have also filed lawsuits against the federal government.

The Justice Department last week told lawyers representing several groups of families that it was withdrawing from settlement negotiations, after eight months of talks, and would defend each case in court.

That came after media reports of a proposed settlement that would include payments of several hundred thousand dollars to each affected person sparked outrage among Biden administration critics in Congress and elsewhere.

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Browns face plenty of uncertainty as they head to Green Bay

wtopstaff — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:33:39 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Cleveland Browns are residing in the AFC North basement, dealing with COVID-19 complications and playing two road games in a span of six days.

Yet they remain in the mix for a second straight playoff berth.

The Browns (7-7) can give their fading postseason hopes a major boost by winning Saturday as they attempt to hand the NFC North champion Green Bay Packers (11-3) their first home loss of the season.

Cleveland is attempting to bounce back from a 16-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders that was decided by a field goal on the game’s final play.

“We have to go out there, forget what happened, understand the situation to win and understand that we can’t have any more mess-ups,” Browns defensive tackle Malik Jackson said. “That is it. Just live in that reality.”

The Browns were missing coach Kevin Stefanski and about a dozen usual starters — including quarterback Baker Mayfield — who were on the reserve/COVID-19 list for the Raiders game.

Stefanski has since returned. The Browns also expect to have some players back who weren’t available for Monday’s game, maybe even Mayfield, who might not travel with the team to Wisconsin, but is expected to start.

He remained on the COVID-19 list through Thursday, and Mayfield hasn’t practiced since going on the COVID-19 list Dec. 15. His 10-day quarantine period ends Saturday, and Stefanski said he’ll likely start despite not practicing.

“If he’s healthy as he’s been and he’s cleared and ready to go, then I anticipate him playing.”

With the late kickoff, the Browns will have a walkthrough before the game, which will give Mayfield a chance to go over the game plan and throw after being limited to virtual meetings the past two weeks.

It has been a challenging two weeks for the Browns, who have dealt with numerous obstacles while preparing for one of the NFL’s top teams.

“The challenge is facing a really good Packers team,” Stefanski said. “You know they have star players. They are very well coached. We have our work cut out for us. Who is available to us and all of those type of things, we will just deal with it day by day.”

While the Browns are trying to stay in the playoff picture, the Packers also have plenty at stake in this Christmas Day contest.

Green Bay already has secured its third straight NFC North title, but is competing for the top seed in the conference playoffs, which would give the Packers a first-round postseason bye. The Packers are seeking their first Super Bowl berth since their 2010 title run after losing in the NFC championship game each of the last two years.

The Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are all one game behind Green Bay in the conference standings.

“We can’t take these next three opponents lightly because we still have a lot left out there for us,” Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard said. “Yes, we’ve had success. Yes, we’ve won division titles. We’ve gone to the NFC championship the past two years, but ultimately when the season’s over with, we didn’t reach our goal.”

PASSING FAVRE

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ next touchdown pass will be his 443rd, which would overtake Hall of Famer Brett Favre for the franchise lead. Favre threw 508 touchdown passes, but that total includes 22 with the New York Jets in 2008 and 44 for the Minnesota Vikings from 2009-10.

“After last season, I knew that I was getting closer and if I had a decent season this year, I could get home and get this record,” Rodgers said, “which is definitely meaningful to me because of the history of the franchise and how much I’ve enjoyed my time here.”

MISTER RODGERS

Jackson may know Rodgers personally, but that doesn’t mean he’ll treat him nicely on the holiday.

The Browns defensive tackle believes he also might have provided the inspiration for Rodgers to dress up on Halloween like John Wick, the movie hitman portrayed by Keanu Reeves. Jackson and Rodgers worked out together in California during the past offseason.

“He came in one day with the hair slicked back,” Jackson said. “Just the whole vibe was just John Wick, just do not care and just walking around doing your thing. I called him Mr. Wick.”

SPECIAL TEAMS ISSUES

The Browns addressed some troubling special teams issues this week. While they decided to ride it out with wayward kicker Chase McLaughlin, the Browns waived punter Jamie Gillan.

Nicknamed “The Scottish Hammer,” Gillan struggled all season. He went on the COVID-19 list two weeks ago, and veteran Dustin Colquitt took his job.

McLaughlin has missed six of his last 12 field goal tries, including a 47-yarder that proved costly against Las Vegas.

The Packers have their own special teams issues.

They committed three penalties at Baltimore. One week earlier, they allowed a 97-yard punt return to Chicago’s Jakeem Grant and had several other special teams gaffes.

PLAYING ON CHRISTMAS

This marks the first time the Browns have played on Christmas Day.

The Packers have played on Christmas twice before. They lost at home to the Bears in 2005 and beat the Bears at home in 2011.

POSSIBLE COACHING MILESTONE

Packers coach Matt LaFleur is 37-9 in the regular season. A victory Saturday would enable LaFleur to match George Seifert’s record for most wins by a head coach in his first three seasons.

Seifert had a 38-10 regular-season record in his first three years.

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AP Sports Writer Tom Withers contributed to this report.

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More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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2 men dead in triple shooting in Southeast, DC

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:33:32 GMT

Police said a car found at the scene is being investigated as part of the incident.

Metro pauses return of 7000-series trains to service, more inspections needed

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:22:45 GMT

The decision comes after Metro officials met with the independent consultant hired to help with its root cause analysis following the derailment.

Yes, Kwanzaa originated in the United States

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 19:35:38 GMT

Kwanzaa is a holiday that celebrates family, community and culture. It was created in 1966, a year after the Watts Riots in Los Angeles.

No, omicron cannot 'target' vaccinated individuals

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:49:43 GMT

A virus cannot target a specific person regardless of vaccination status. "Immune evasion," along with increased transmissibility, are reasons why omicron spreads.

No, Coca-Cola did not invent the modern image of Santa Claus

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:44:28 GMT

While Coca-Cola helped popularize today’s image, its version of Santa Claus drew inspiration from an 1822 poem and earlier Santa depictions.

No, taking activated charcoal won't affect COVID-19 vaccines

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:36:26 GMT

Doctors say since activated charcoal is ingested orally and does not enter a person’s bloodstream, it won’t affect the COVID-19 vaccines.

Woman in critical condition after crash in Clarendon, police say

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:28:53 GMT

A driver hit a parked vehicle and the impact of the collision resulted in a woman getting seriously injured, police say.

COVID-19 Live Updates | Virginia sees over 6k new cases ahead of Christmas

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:15:28 GMT

You'll find important information about coronavirus cases as well as the impacts that COVID-19 is having on life in Hampton Roads and in northeastern North Carolina.

Joan Didion, peerless prose stylist, dies at 87

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 17:36:51 GMT

Among her many works, Didion wrote “The Year of Magical Thinking,” a classic work about grief that won the National Book Award.

Proof of COVID vaccination will be required at DC bars, nightclubs, gyms and more starting in January, Mayor Bowser says

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 17:24:44 GMT

Some businesses are exempt, but there is no testing alternative currently.

George Washington University kicks off spring semester virtually due to COVID

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 17:20:22 GMT

They said the changes were the result of the unprecedentedly rapid rise in cases and the unknown information about the severity of the omicron variant.

Trump asks Supreme Court to block release of documents to Jan. 6 committee

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 17:15:55 GMT

Trump is claiming that as a former president he has right to assert executive privilege over the records sought by the panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

2 vehicles—including Virginia State Police car—struck by impaired driver in Fairfax County Wednesday

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 17:04:22 GMT

A Nissan struck the trooper's police car as well as a Toyota. No one was injured from the crash.

No, President Biden was not against the war in Afghanistan from the very beginning

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:54:56 GMT

In a recent interview, the president talked about Afghanistan and said he was against the war “from the very beginning.” That’s false.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle share first photo of Lilibet with Archie in Christmas card

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:06:18 GMT

The new family photo from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex features a smiling Archie on his dad's lap, while Meghan sits next to them and holds up Lilibet.

'Supports our position' | Some DC businesses welcome new vaccine mandate

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:04:22 GMT

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that most residents will need to show proof of vaccination to enter restaurants and gyms starting in January.

Top skywatching events of 2022 you don't want to miss

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:25:22 GMT

Get out your calendar and mark down these celestial shows, so you don't miss out on all the excitement in the sky in 2022.

Yes, alcohol sales have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:18:35 GMT

Researchers have found alcohol sales spiked in mid-March 2020 and have remained higher than in previous years for most of the months since.

'We don't deserve her' | Arlington woman donates 100% of side hustle baking profits to charities

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:13:22 GMT

I sampled Natasha Gannon's chocolate and cinnamon babkas. After being revived, I realized they were the most delicious baked goods in the history of Earth.

VERIFY: Military COVID vaccine designed to protect against multiple variants, but it has not been tested on omicron yet

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:06:49 GMT

Recent reports claim the trials have already tested the vaccine against omicron. The Verify team has learned that is false.

Merck's COVID-19 pill may have far smaller role than initially predicted

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:02:22 GMT

The FDA authorized Merck’s pill for adults with early symptoms of COVID-19 who face the highest risks of hospitalization.

Christmas 2021: Which stores will be open, closed

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 14:29:22 GMT

Many stores will be closed on Christmas Day and have limited hours on Christmas Eve.

Buttigieg doles out $241M to US ports to boost supply chain

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 12:45:16 GMT

The transportation money is being made available immediately to 25 projects in 19 states.

To grandmother's house or no? Omicron disrupts holiday plans

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 12:04:22 GMT

Many facing difficult choice amid omicron surge: cancel holiday gatherings and trips or figure out ways to forge ahead as safely as possible.

Man found shot in car in Oxon Hill

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 10:10:24 GMT

Prince George's County Police say the man was found in the 5500 block of Livingston Road

These 8 DC libraries are getting at-home rapid COVID testing kits

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 04:30:08 GMT

DC Health will supply the eight library branches with 1,000 rapid test kits each, per day. Residents will be able to obtain two kits per day.

Long lines, long waits: COVID concerns bring many out for testing

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 04:29:56 GMT

On Wednesday, a line stretched around the block at Courthouse Plaza as hundreds of people waited to get tested for COVID.

National Cathedral moves services online as COVID cases continue to rise

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 04:29:46 GMT

All cathedral services will move online and the building will be closed to visitors and worshippers during the holiday season.

'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' actor Sally Ann Howes dies at 91

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 04:03:58 GMT

Howes' nephew said she died peacefully in her sleep.

Lose your vaccine card? Forget it at home? Different ways to show proof of vaccine at DC businesses

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 04:01:54 GMT

There are a few different options when it comes to showing proof of your vaccine status to enter a business requiring it in DC.

Man shot to death after 'talking trash' at football game, witness says

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 03:18:20 GMT

A witness claimed the deadly shooting was due to a touchdown scored during a flag football game.

VERIFY: Yes, cats and dogs can get the virus that causes COVID-19. But it's rare, and symptoms are mild

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 02:31:15 GMT

As the omicron variant continues to spread, COVID-19 cases are on the rise. Some are wondering if they should worry about their pets if they get infected. We Verify.

9-year-old believed to be paralyzed from the neck down after being struck by car in Southeast DC, mother says

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 01:12:08 GMT

According to his mother, Kaidyn's lungs were badly damaged in the crash and another surgery is scheduled for January.

DC landlord under federal investigation for placing chicken laced with rat poison by sewers

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 00:45:20 GMT

The EPA fears the poison leached into the Anacostia River

Kim Potter trial: No verdict after third day of deliberations

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 00:26:22 GMT

On Tuesday, jurors asked Judge Regina Chu what would happen if they can't reach a consensus. Potter is charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter.

Yes, vaccinated people can spread COVID-19 to others

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 23:31:15 GMT

Public health agencies, like the CDC and WHO, say vaccinated people can spread COVID-19 to others despite recent claims, including one made by President Biden.

Proud Boys member pleads guilty, agrees to flip on Capitol Riot co-defendants as part of deal

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 23:30:19 GMT

Matthew Greene, 34, of Syracuse, hopes to receive a reduced prison sentence for felony conspiracy and obstruction charges.

D.C. to require coronavirus vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms and other businesses

Michael Brice-Saddler — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 22:55:17 GMT

D.C. to require coronavirus vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms and other businesses

Michael Brice-Saddler — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 22:55:17 GMT

2 alarm fire burns through former Virginia governor Chuck Robb's McLean home

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 22:54:10 GMT

The former governor and his wife, the daughter of former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

D.C.’s new ward boundaries head to mayor’s desk

Julie Zauzmer Weil — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 00:08:55 GMT

The D.C. Council settled a heated dispute between Ward 1 and Ward 5 over property surrounding several hospitals.

D.C.’s new ward boundaries head to mayor’s desk

Julie Zauzmer Weil — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 00:08:55 GMT

The D.C. Council settled a heated dispute between Ward 1 and Ward 5 over property surrounding several hospitals.

In latest affordable housing push, Bowser focuses west of Rock Creek Park

Michael Brice-Saddler — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 23:13:26 GMT

D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) wants to build 2,000 new units of affordable housing west of Rock Creek Park, an area that contains some of the District’s wealthiest neighborhoods.

In latest affordable housing push, Bowser focuses west of Rock Creek Park

Michael Brice-Saddler — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 23:13:26 GMT

D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) wants to build 2,000 new units of affordable housing west of Rock Creek Park, an area that contains some of the District’s wealthiest neighborhoods.

Leaf collection is behind schedule in D.C., leaving piles that can catch fire or clog storm drains

Julie Zauzmer Weil — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 11:00:38 GMT

The city is scrambling to hire more workers, but has not explained what's causing the delay.

Bowser submits plan for breakup of D.C.’s beleaguered Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs

Michael Brice-Saddler — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 01:38:44 GMT

The council voted unanimously last year to separate the agency in hopes of shoring up its services in the face of years of criticism from residents and businesses.

D.C. attorney general sues Proud Boys, Oath Keepers over Jan. 6 attack

Devlin Barrett — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 18:00:00 GMT

A legal tactic used against the Ku Klux Klan is deployed against far-right groups whose members are charged with the attack on Congress.

How three D.C. buildings became one — with 16 condos

Scott Sowers — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 13:00:00 GMT

BUYING NEW | The Anne still has 14 one-bedroom units available for purchase in Northwest Washington.

Plot twist: Best-selling author Patricia Cornwell meets one of her biggest fans

John Kelly — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 18:12:02 GMT

Wesley Thomas once lived on D.C.’s streets. Cornwell’s novels helped him escape.

I never believed in making my bed. It turns out, I was right all along.

John Kelly — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 22:33:00 GMT

If only I’d had the experts behind me when I was a whiny, lazy kid.

Why do clocks have IIII for 4 o’clock rather than the Roman numeral IV?

John Kelly — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 20:31:05 GMT

There are nearly as many theories as there are numbers on a clock face.

D.C. will mail coronavirus tests to preschoolers instead of testing in school

Julie Zauzmer Weil — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 21:26:47 GMT

Small children have had trouble with the saliva-based test used in many D.C. schools. City leaders hope it will be easier for them to use a nasal swab at home.

Sears kit house in Cleveland Park for sale for $1.5 million

Kathy Orton — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 10:30:00 GMT

HOUSE OF THE WEEK | The 1911 bungalow contains original features of the Avondale model. It is one of several built by prominent developer Harry A. Kite.

Bowser bolsters efforts to stem gun violence

Michael Brice-Saddler — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 22:47:30 GMT

The city's fleet of violence interrupters will grow from 30 to 80 and expand to three new neighborhoods, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said Thursday.

Candidate who advocated that D.C. become part of Maryland files for Ward 3 Council seat

Michael Brice-Saddler — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 18:18:40 GMT

David Krucoff challenged Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) last year, and has made headlines for his alternate proposal to D.C. statehood.

We still love some cars, even when they’re rusted-out, broken-down and tire-less

John Kelly — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 21:20:45 GMT

Readers remember the cars that got away. (On a trailer, not under their own power.)

D.C. attorney general’s office: Housing chair ineligible to serve due to tax debt

Paul Schwartzman — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 22:55:23 GMT

The opinion is nonbinding but causes more uncertainty for beleaguered agency.

Provision to give D.C. control of its National Guard scuttled in Congress’s major defense bill

Meagan Flynn — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 22:48:45 GMT

The Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol renewed the urgency of D.C. officials to seek control of the National Guard.

D.C. Council approves redistricting plan, reshaping Wards 7 and 8

Julie Zauzmer Weil — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 22:34:24 GMT

The latest proposal, which the council voted for 11-1, moves Navy Yard to Ward 8 and neighborhoods bordering the Anacostia to Ward 7.

From co-pay to no-pay: Bread for the City treats low-income patients

John Kelly — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 20:28:41 GMT

“We are going to see you, even if you don’t have the funds,” says medical director.

D.C. Housing Authority scrambles to extend terms of three board members

Paul Schwartzman — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 01:51:14 GMT

Their terms expired Oct. 1, after the agency failed to hold elections.