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By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won’t apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith’s move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump’s political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump’s presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it’s possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith’s team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump’s presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump’s 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump’s argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could get a chance to do so. Related Articles National Politics | After delay, Trump signs agreement with Biden White House to begin formal transition handoff National Politics | Rudy Giuliani in a courtroom outburst accuses judge in assets case of being unfair, drawing a rebuke National Politics | Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump’s promised crackdown on immigration National Politics | Expecting challenges, blue states vow to create ‘firewall’ of abortion protections National Politics | Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith’s team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump’s two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump’s second term, while Trump’s lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.NASSAU, Bahamas — At the tail end of a forgettable trip to Paradise (Island), the Arizona Wildcats found one of their key privileges had been taken away. They could have really used it this time, too. Normally able to quickly escape an away game via a charter flight that has minimal security and bag hassles, the Wildcats instead were subject to the madness that was Lynden Pindling International Airport on Saturday morning, just like everyone else. It actually had nothing to do with their 1-2 performance in the Battle 4 Atlantis, nor their 3-4 overall record, but simply because all U.S.-bound passengers face the same procedures regardless of their flight style. Still, it might have felt that way. Motiejus Krivas’ limited production and Tobe Awaka’s reliability prompted Tommy Lloyd to put Awaka in the starting lineup all week in the Bahamas. The Wildcats had to wade through a theme-park-style line that snaked tightly back and forth, skirted past a glass barrier, then snaked back and forth and around until hitting a security screening for U.S.-bound flights. Then they faced additional queuing for U.S. Customs and immigration pre-clearance. The whole process took so long that Arizona’s charter was delayed nearly two hours from its scheduled departure time, meaning the Wildcats’ plans to arrive before kickoff of the UA-ASU football game were pretty much shot. But just after Tommy Lloyd made it through all that, before making his way to the Wildcats’ overcrowded gate area, the UA coach still had half a smile left on his face. “We’ll be all right,” he said. Part of his team’s troubles could be attributed to a November in which Arizona played only two lower-level opponents at home before opting to play at Wisconsin, host Duke and then enter the always competitive Battle 4 Atlantis field. That was nearly the opposite approach of a team that schedules softies leading up to Thanksgiving or even afterward. Both can backfire: Too hard a schedule and you risk losing too many games and maybe your confidence. Too easy, and you won’t be prepared for higher-level play and the NCAA Tournament down the road. “The art of scheduling,” Lloyd said. Then there was some simple math: The Battle 4 Atlantis featured seven high-level teams, three of them ranked, and a proud mid-major program in Davidson. Not everyone was going to go home happy. “Coming here, one team is going to go 0-3, a couple teams are going to go 1-2 a couple are going to go 2-1 and one team is going 3-0,” Lloyd said. “Our hope was to come here and find a way to try to get to 3-0. We didn’t do that. We ended up in the one and two slot. That’s our reality. “We’re gonna wear it. We own it. We’ll take responsibility for it and see if we can make the necessary changes to flip it.” Lloyd and the Wildcats have basically two weeks to do so. They have only a Dec. 7 home game against Southern Utah before facing UCLA in Phoenix on Dec. 14, allowing plenty of time for practice, video review and deep thoughts. Maybe even positive thoughts. Guard Caleb Love tried one out during the postgame news conference after West Virginia beat Arizona 83-76 in overtime in the Atlantis third-place game Friday. “I still believe we’re a good team,” Love said. “It’s early in the season and I’m not panicking. We just know once we get back to Tucson we’re gonna regroup and figure this thing out.” West Virginia (40-39) outrebounded Arizona despite the Wildcats’ height advantage, Nov. 29, 2024. There are many places for them to start working on. Here’s a few of them: Find their 7-footers While the Imperial Ballroom’s 26-foot ceiling still left plenty of room above Motiejus Krivas and Henri Veesaar, neither one appeared comfortable all week. Krivas averaged just 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in UA’s three games, while playing 16.6 minutes off the bench behind Tobe Awaka, while Veesaar averaged 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds despite averaging 24 minutes a game. Although Trey Townsend hit a groove as UA’s starting power forward after a slow start to the season, averaging 15.3 points and shooting 58.1% over the three games, center is still a question mark. Lloyd gave Krivas the start on Nov. 22 against Duke but Krivas’ limited production and Awaka’s reliability prompted Lloyd to put Awaka back in the starting lineup all week in the Bahamas. “If he’s going to eventually start, I wanted him to earn it,” Lloyd said of Krivas. “I’m kind of waiting for him to do that. It’s nothing against Tobe; it’s just me trying to kind of figure out a way to take advantage.” Get tougher Both Oklahoma (38-34) and West Virginia (40-39) outrebounded Arizona despite the Wildcats’ height advantage and that didn’t tell the whole story. While Lloyd complained the Wildcats were out-toughed physically against Oklahoma, the Wildcats also lost the mental game on Friday. West Virginia had played two overtime games just to get to a third one Friday against Arizona, but the Mountaineers didn’t let it faze them. “Going to the overtimes, you’re not really thinking much about how tired you are,” said West Virginia forward Tucker DeVries, who led the Mountaineers with 26 points. “I think the team that gives in the quickest and thinks about how tired they are is going to fold. I thought our group just stuck with it and just continued to focus on the next play.” Trey Townsend hit a groove as UA's starting power forward after a slow start to the season, averaging 15.3 points and shooting 58.1% over the three games. Emotional control Just as Love did at Wisconsin on Nov. 14, guard KJ Lewis committed what became a costly technical foul against Oklahoma. Love extended an arm out for a light shove on Wisconsin’s John Blackwell after fouling him, giving Wisconsin four ensuing free throws. They hit all four, expanding their lead from 9-8 to 13-8 while Love eventually fouled out with just six points. Lewis drew a T for taunting after his 3-pointer pulled UA within four points with 15 minutes left against the Sooners. But Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears took advantage by hitting both ensuing technical free throws, and UA’s momentum was slowed. Oklahoma won 82-77. Lewis finished with five points and was held out of the starting lineup against West Virginia as a result. “We’ve gotta exhibit more winning habits,” Lloyd said. “We’re gonna have to look deep within to find those.” Who: Arizona (3-4) vs. Southern Utah (6-2) When: Noon, Saturday, Dec. 7 Where: McKale Center TV: CBSSN Radio: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at bpascoe@tucson.com . On X(Twitter): @brucepascoe Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Reportercasino roulette game 。

T-cell Malignancies Market Dynamics: Key Insights on Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma, Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma, Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, and Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma | DelveInsightLEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Isaac Brown and Duke Watson rushed for two touchdowns each, Ramon Puryear returned one of Louisville's five takeaways for a score and the Cardinals blew out rival Kentucky 41-14 on Saturday to win the Governor's Cup for the first time since 2017. Brown's 1-yard TD run started the Cardinals (8-4) toward a 20-0 halftime lead before he busted a 67-yard, exclamation-point score midway through the fourth as they halted a five-game losing streak against the Wildcats (4-8). He finished with career highs of 178 yards on 26 carries to surpass quarterback Lamar Jackson and become Louisville's first true freshman to rush for 1,000 yards. Jackson ran for 960 yards in 2015, a year before winning the Heisman Trophy. “I wanted to beat the record, so I had to stay focused and not let the outside get to me," said Brown, who has 1,074 yards and 11 touchdowns. Watson, another freshman, rushed six times for 104 yards. He exploded down the left sideline for a 58-yard TD in the second quarter before breaking a 24-yard scoring run late in the third to make it 34-7. Louisville totaled 358 yards rushing in freezing temperatures, notable for a team that entered the game with the nation's 13th-ranked passing attack. Puryear preceded that score with a 20-yard fumble return for a TD to blunt Kentucky's momentum after Ja'Mori Maclin caught a 4-yard TD pass from Gavin Wimsatt for its first score. Wimsatt, who started the second half in relief of Wildcats freshman Cutter Boley, also connected with Maclin for an 83-yard score in the fourth and was 4 of 9 for 125 yards. Kentucky finished with its sixth loss in seven contests after having its school-record eight-year postseason streak stopped. Defensive back Tamarion McDonald recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass for Louisville, which outgained Kentucky 486-328, denied all nine third-down situations and one fourth-down chance. “We did a good job pressuring the quarterback," Louisville defensive end Ashton Gillotte said. "They have a good run game, so they’re going to run at any stage, any part of the game and keep running. ... Our DBs capitalized on the moments and we capitalized in terms of sacks.” Louisville’s reward was the Governor’s Cup, a 33-inch-high, 110- pound trophy comprised of marble, crystal and 23-karat gold-plated brass and pewter. Brown was awarded the Howard Schnellenberger MVP award. Brown helped Louisville earn a rare achievement with its first 1,000-yard rusher to go along with a 1,000-yard receiver and 3,000-yard passer in the same season. It’s just the third time the Cardinals have done so and first since 1999. Receiver Ja’Corey Brooks previously surpassed 1,000 yards while quarterback Tyler Shough broke the 3,000-yard passing plateau last week against Pitt. Louisville: The Cardinals actually could have put it out of reach in the first half if they hadn't settled for field goals near the goal line. No big deal, as Brown and Watson broke it open in the second half with Puryear highlighting their huge defensive performance that created chances. They also had two sacks. “We talked about tackling," coach Jeff Brohm said. "Everybody tackling with your eyes, with your shoulders, with your arms, your body, not going for the ankles and swarming the ball. when you do that, that’s when you get extra arms and hands on the ball and you can knock things out.” Kentucky: Boley was supposed to offer a peek into the Wildcats' future in his first collegiate start but tossed two interceptions and completing just 6 of 15 passes for 48 yards. Jamarion Wilcox's two fumbles also hurt and Wimsatt was picked off, but his relief effort sparks offseason questions about a QB battle next spring. “I have a lot of confidence in Cutter,” coach Mark Stoops said. “We’ve got to make sure we build a very good team around him. We have to make sure that we have strong competition.” Louisville awaits its bowl assignment on Dec. 8. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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MANHATTAN, Kan. — DJ Giddens rushed for 143 yards, on just 15 carries, with two touchdowns, as Kansas State defeated Cincinnati 41-15 Saturday night. Kansas State (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory. Cincinnati (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) lost its fourth straight game. The Bearcats need a home win against TCU next Saturday to achieve bowl eligibility. Avery Johnson was 13-of-23 passing for 147 yards and two touchdowns for KSU. Brendan Sorsby was 21 of 39 for 200 yards and two touchdowns for the Bearcats. Trailing by 24 points, Cincinnati found the end zone on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Sorsby to Tony Johnson late in the third quarter. The 2-point conversion failed. Giddens had his second rushing touchdown on K-State's next drive. Johnson's 8-yard touchdown pass to Will Swanson put K-State up 41-9. Sorsby then found Johnson for a 6-yard touchdown. Kansas State wasted little time grabbing a 7-0 lead on its opening drive on a 21-yard touchdown run by Johnson. That capped a five-play, 65-yard drive. The Wildcats extended the lead to 10-0 on a 28-yard Chris Tennant field goal, and then to 13-0 on his 32-yarder. After K-State held Cincinnati on fourth-and-8 at the KSU 33, Giddens pushed the Wildcats' lead to 20-0 when he used a spin move at the line of scrimmage and then raced 32 yards for a touchdown, capping a four-play drive. Cincinnati got on the scoreboard with 4:17 left in the first half with a 42-yard field goal by Nathan Hawks. Brendan Mott then intercepted a Sorsby pass at the Cincinnati 22-yard line and returned it to the 6. Two plays later, Johnson found Tre Spivey for a 6-yard touchdown and the Wildcats led 27-3 at halftime. THE TAKEAWAY Cincinnati: The Bearcats struggled to convert at crucial times. They were just 3 of 12 on third-down conversions and 0 for 5 when going for it on fourth down. Kansas State: The score may have been lopsided in Kansas State's favor, but the Wildcats were not dominant. They out-gained Cincinnati by just 54 total yards. UP NEXT Both teams will conclude the regular season on November 30. Cincinnati will host TCU, while K-State will travel to Iowa State.

Saquon Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season as the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East title with victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The 27-year-old achieved the feat with a 23-yard run during the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ crushing 41-7 success at Lincoln Financial Field. Barkley is 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams, ahead of next week’s regular season finale against the New York Giants. Single-season rushing record in reach. @saquon @Eagles pic.twitter.com/iSHyXeMLv1 — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 However, he could be rested for that game in order to protect him from injury ahead of the play-offs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept alive their dreams of reaching the play-offs by overcoming the Carolina Panthers 48-14. Veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield produced a dominant performance at Raymond James Stadium, registering five passing touchdowns to equal a Buccaneers franchise record. he BAKED today 👨‍🍳 pic.twitter.com/eFX9fd1w5P — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 The Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC conference number two seed for the post season with a 40-14 success over the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium. Josh Allen passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another. Buffalo finish the 2024 regular season undefeated at home, with eight wins from as many games. The Indianapolis Colts’ hopes of reaching the play-offs were ended by a 45-33 defeat to the Giants. FINAL: Drew Lock accounts for 5 TDs in the @Giants victory! #INDvsNYG pic.twitter.com/N8HJYth09F — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 Malik Nabers exploded for 171 yards and two touchdowns and Ihmir Smith-Marsette broke a 100-yard kick-off return to give the Giants their highest-scoring output under head coach Brian Daboll. Quarterback Drew Lock threw four touchdown passes and accounted for a fifth on the ground to seal the win. Elsewhere, Mac Jones threw two touchdowns to help the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Tennessee Titans 20-13, while the Las Vegas Raiders beat the New Orleans Saints 25-10.Jim Leach, among the longest-serving Iowa congressmen, dies at 82Mason Maggio seems on the brink of securing a contract for the 2025 NASCAR season, as he's been hinting at future moves. When asked about his plans on the social media platform, now named X, Maggio simply replied, "soon". This has sparked excitement and discussions about his next steps in the racing world. The NASCAR community is abuzz with speculation about which team Maggio, a talented young driver, might end up with. Soon. ✍️ Mason Maggio is not your average 19-year-old. Born in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, he has been racing since he was 11. His journey began with go-kart racing and quickly expanded to winning multiple championships in various racing series. Over the years, Maggio has competed in everything from Legend cars to the NASCAR Truck Series. In 2022, he made his debut as a rookie in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, followed by a race debut in the Xfinity Series in 2024, gaining invaluable experience with Reaume Brothers Racing and Joey Gase Motorsports. The rumor mill is buzzing with talks of Maggio possibly driving full-time in the Ryan Shane Sieg Racing no. 29 Ford or joining Joey Gase's racing team. Some are also considering his past ties with Floridian Motorsports as a potential factor in his decision-making process. Maggio's past racing involvement certainly plays a part in these speculations, as he's been associated with notable teams, including Floridian Motorsports, where he drove the No. 21 car during the 2024 season. His outstanding record is hard to ignore, and his potential full-time role in 2025 could hugely impact his career and the strategies of the team he chooses. Each team is likely to be eager to harness Maggio's skills and experience. As a driver with a track record of competence and success, Maggio could be the key to a team's successful season. For the 2024 racing season, Maggio's schedule included several vital tracks, such as World Wide Technology Raceway, Gateway, and Nashville Superspeedway. The public is deeply invested in Maggio's career moves, with his next choice being a real turning point for the driver. 2024 Xfinity Series Results

As the holidays approach, there’s no better time to celebrate the magic of giving than by choosing gifts that come from the heart—and from our own South Shore community! This year, more than ever, local businesses are creating unique, handcrafted, and memorable items and experiences that add a special touch to every gift. Supporting our local artisans, shops, businesses, and nonprofit organizations helps keep our community thriving and adds meaning to each present exchanged. Whether you’re looking for a little something to bring holiday cheer or a memorable gift to surprise a loved one, the Tahoe Chamber is curating a Go Local Holiday Gift Guide to make your shopping experience as seamless and rewarding as possible. Packed with unique treasures from right here in Tahoe, this guide will be your best resource for thoughtful gifts that support both local and small businesses, as well as highlight the best of our region. Who is the Tahoe Chamber? The Tahoe Chamber is a nonprofit organization focused on developing, promoting, and representing South Shore businesses. By connecting businesses, residents, and visitors, the Chamber helps keep Tahoe’s spirit alive and its economy strong. Why Go Local This Holiday Season? Shopping locally means more than buying a product; it’s an investment in our community. It supports small-town artisans and business owners, preserves Tahoe’s unique charm, and strengthens the local economy: for every $100 spent at a locally-owned business, $68 will stay in the community. Are you an early bird holiday shopper? Here’s a teaser of some local gems to keep an eye out for in our Go Local Holiday Gift Guide! These curated picks are just a taste of what our local businesses have to offer, bringing a little bit of Tahoe into every home and heart this holiday season. 1) For the Sports Enthusiasts: Lake Tahoe Golf Course The Clubhouse at LTGC is now open year-round with full dining, a bar, and multi-sport simulators, offering fun for the whole family. Whether you’re looking for golf-related gifts, such as golf balls and golf clothing, or an experience for sports enthusiasts, consider Lake Tahoe Golf Course this holiday season. https://www.laketahoegc.com 2) For Wellness Lovers: Sierra Sauna Club Help loved ones unwind with the ultimate relaxation experience you can share together. This luxury mobile sauna includes a built-in cold plunge and comes directly to your location, offering a unique and rejuvenating experience for groups, couples, or solo wellness enthusiasts. https://www.sierrasaunaclub.com 3) For the Little Ones (and fur babies): South Lake Brewing Co. SLBC’s Little Bear Baby Onesies and Tees feature their constellation bear and make an adorable gift for families with a baby on the way. Or, for the fur babies, consider their Beer Can Dog Toys fresh off the canine canning line. Keep your dog engaged and entertained with this Plush Dog Toy while you enjoy your own crisp beverage. https://www.southlakebeer.com 4) For Earth Lovers: Gaia-licious Global Gifts This global gift boutique specializes in Fair Trade, locally made, and eco-friendly gifts. Here you’ll find unique clothing, accessories, yoga items, books, and Tahoe-themed gifts for the whole family, all while supporting local artists and a woman-owned business. https://www.gaialicious.com 5) For Date Night: Whittell Boosters Club Give the gift of a unique and meaningful date night experience by supporting George Whittell School’s students as they prepare for an educational trip to Boston and New York City. The Whittell Boosters are hosting a Disco Prom fundraiser on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Tahoe Blue Estate, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Perfect for couples looking to mix fun with philanthropy, the event features groovy disco vibes, delicious appetizers, silent and live auctions, and even shuttle service to and from designated pick-up locations. https://www.whittellboosters.com 6) For the Practical-Minded: AirMedCare Network Gift your loved ones peace of mind this holiday season. With three annual household membership options for CA and NV residents, this practical gift is perfect for the entire family. https://www.amcnrep.com/msm/sonja-keller 7) For Stocking Stuffers: Blue Bear Apothecary Their 2024 Holiday collection features perfect gift and stocking stuffer ideas, including personalized gift baskets or individual gifts of scented candles, reed diffusers, car diffusers, and organic room sprays. Handmade lip balm, body oil, body butter, and sugar scrub are available in the festive Candy Cane Kiss scent. https://bluebear-apothecary.shop This holiday season, make an impact by choosing gifts that support our community and celebrate South Shore’s authentic charm. The Tahoe Chamber’s Go Local Holiday Gift Guide is your best source for thoughtful presents that give back to local businesses and artisans. Whether you’re an early bird shopper or searching for a last-minute find, you’ll discover something memorable that adds a personal touch to every celebration. Stay tuned this week for the full guide on the Tahoe Chamber’s website, newsletter, and social media platforms!The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and expressing support for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, although they reflect world opinion. Israel has faced growing international criticism over its conduct in Gaza as it fights Hamas militants, especially when it comes to humanitarian aid for desperate people in the besieged and heavily destroyed territory. Israeli airstrikes in northern and central Gaza killed at least 33 people overnight and into Wednesday, Palestinian medical officials said. Hospital records show one Israeli strike in northern Gaza killed 19 people in a home, including a family of eight — four children, their parents and two grandparents. The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas militant in the vicinity of the hospital, part of a blistering offensive in Gaza’s isolated and heavily destroyed north . The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people, including children and older adults. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials. They say women and children make up more than half the dead but do not distinguish between fighters and civilians in their count. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. Here's the latest: JERUSALEM — Israeli hospital officials say a young boy is fighting for his life after a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. An Israeli bus came under fire from a suspected Palestinian attacker late Wednesday, the military said, and Israeli forces are searching for the shooter. Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem says at least three people were wounded in the shooting, which took place just outside the city in an area near major Israeli settlements. The hospital says the boy, who is about 10, is in grave condition. It says two other people, ages 24 and 55, were also hurt. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban . The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9 with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions to support the agency known as UNRWA. The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group . General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly. Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions. BEIRUT — Israeli forces withdrew from a strategic town in southern Lebanon and handed it back to the Lebanese army in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, the two militaries said Wednesday, marking an important test of the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants. It appeared to be Israel's first pullout from a Lebanese border town captured during this fall’s ground invasion, and comes as part of the initial phase of the ceasefire. The Lebanese army said Wednesday it has deployed units to five positions around the town of Khiam coinciding with the Israeli army’s withdrawal. Israel's military confirmed this was the first town it has turned over to the Lebanese army under the truce, which — if it endures — would end nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel has said the truce deal gives it the right to use military force against perceived ceasefire violations. Israel has launched near-daily strikes, mostly in southern Lebanon, that have killed at least 28 people and wounded 25 others since the ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27. Still, the shaky truce appears to be holding. Five people were killed Wednesday by at least three Israeli strikes in different towns in the southern municipality of Bint Jbeil, Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state news agency said. The Lebanese army warned civilians to stay out of Khiam until it can clear the area of any unexploded munitions. The strategic hilltop town, located less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the border with Israel, saw some of the most intense fighting during the war. Thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war returned home two weeks ago after a ceasefire took hold , driving cars stacked with personal belongings and defying warnings from Lebanese and Israeli troops to avoid some areas. WASHINGTON — All Russian naval ships that were docked at the Syrian port of Tartus have left and it appears Moscow is now looking for a new base along the coast now that its key ally, Bashar Assad, has been ousted a ruler of Syria, a U.S. official said. It’s not clear where the ships will go, but Russia may seek a new port on the Mediterranean Sea along the African shoreline, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. assessments. The official did not say how many vessels Russia had in Syria at the time Assad was overthrown. Moscow has dedicated the bulk of its military assets to the war in Ukraine. Asked about Tartus on Wednesday, Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said that the U.S. is seeing some Russian forces and naval vessels leaving Syria. “They just had one of their key political allies, ousted,” said Singh. “We’re seeing Russia consolidate assets.” — By Lolita C. Baldor UNITED NATIONS – The Palestinians are urging United Nations member countries to vote in favor of resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and supporting the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees, which Israel has moved to ban in Palestinian territories. The Palestinian mission to the United Nations issued the urgent appeal to the 193 U.N. member nations ahead of Wednesday afternoon’s votes on the resolutions in the General Assembly, whose members have has been listening to two days of speeches overwhelmingly supporting the measures. Israel and close ally the United States have spoken against the resolutions. The Palestinians and their supporters went to the General Assembly after the U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution last month demanding an immediate ceasefire in the war in Gaza. It was supported by the 14 other Security Councilmember nations, but the U.S. objected because the resolution did not include a link to an immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The General Assembly resolution being voted on Wednesday mirrors the Security Council language: It “demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire to be respected by all parties, and further reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” Unlike the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the General Assembly. But while council resolutions are legally binding, assembly resolutions are not, though they do reflect world opinion. The second resolution being voted on supports the mandate of the U.N. agency caring for Palestinian refugees known as UNRWA which was established by the General Assembly in 1949. It “deplores” legislation adopted by Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Oct. 28 banning UNRWA’s activities in the Palestinian territories, which takes effect in 90 days. It calls on the Israeli government “to abide by its international obligations, respect the privileges and immunities of UNRWA and uphold its responsibility to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance in all its forms into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip.” JERUSALEM — Israel has lifted restrictions on public gatherings and outdoor activities in areas near the Lebanese border in the northern Golan Heights, two weeks after a ceasefire with Hezbollah. The army’s Home Front Command said it was changing its public safety guidelines to “full activity” from “partial activity.” Israel had tightened restrictions on Nov. 25, reflecting concerns that fighting could intensify ahead of any possible cease-fire between Israel and Lebanese militants. The truce went into effect on Nov. 27. In recent days, Israeli tanks and troops have advanced out of Israeli-held territory in the Golan Heights and pushed into a buffer zone inside Syria — a move Israel said it took to prevent attacks on its citizens. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally, except by the United States. BEIRUT - Syria-based Palestinian factions have formed a unified delegation to meet with the country's new rebel-led authorities. The factions said in a statement after their meeting Wednesday at the Palestinian Embassy that they stand by the side of the Syrian people. The factions condemned Israel’s airstrikes on Syria over the past few days that have destroyed much of the assets of the Syrian army. The factions decided to form a joint committee to run the affairs of Palestinians in Syria as well as to be in contact with the new insurgent-led transitional government, following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians live in Syria, many of them refugees, and the factions that have been based in Damascus were close to Assad’s government. Hamas was based in Syria until it left in 2012 a year after the county's civil war began. PRETORIA, South Africa — The United Nations chief says the fall of Syria’s authoritarian government has brought hope to the troubled Middle East, and pledged the global body’s support to the country's new leaders to ensure a smooth transition. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday that the U.N. wants to see “an inclusive political process in which the rights of all minorities will be fully respected, and paving the way towards a united sovereign Syria, with its territorial integrity fully re-established.” The jihadi-led Syrian rebels took control of the capital Damascus after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving many areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. A Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed force also controls large parts of northeastern Syria. Guterres said he fully trusts the people of Syria to be able “to choose their own destiny”. “I think it is our duty to do everything to support the different Syrian leaders in order to make sure that they come together and are able to guarantee a smooth transition, an inclusive transition in which all Syrians can feel that they belong," Guterres said. “The alternative does not make any sense.” Guterres is in South Africa to discuss the country’s role as it takes over the G20 presidency, among other issues. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli strike in central Gaza Strip killed four people and injured 16 others Wednesday, health officials said. Those killed and injured were taken to Awda Hospital after the strike hit a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp, according to the press center at the hospital. Since Israel’s war in Gaza began in October last year, at least 44,805 people have been killed and 106,257 others have been injured, according to the latest update by the Gaza Health ministry. BEIRUT — The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East was in Lebanon on Wednesday meeting with the head of the Lebanese army. In the wake of shocking overthrow of the government in neighboring Syria, the two military leaders discussed the security situation in Lebanon, a statement from the country's army said. U.S. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, who leads U.S. Central Command, met with the head of the Lebanese army Gen. Joseph Aoun to discuss ongoing American support for the implementation of the U.S.-and French-brokered ceasefire agreement, which ended more than a year of war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Israel has said the truce deal gives it the right to use military force against perceived ceasefire violations. Israel has launched near-daily strikes, mostly in southern Lebanon, that have killed at least 28 people and wounded 25 others since the ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27. Still, the shaky truce appears to be holding. Five people were killed Wednesday by at least three Israeli strikes in different towns in the southern municipality of Bint Jbeil, Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state news agency said. On Tuesday, Kurilla was in eastern Syria visiting U.S. military bases and meeting with members of a Kurdish-led Syrian force that is backed by the U.S. He was assessing what CENTCOM described as efforts to counter a resurgence of the Islamic State group. He also visited Baghdad for talks with Iraqi officials on regional security and counter-IS operations. DAMASCUS — With the fall of Damascus, security forces of the deposed Bashar Assad government and staff withdrew from the Damascus International airport, grounding flights and stranding passengers. The airport has not been functional since. Now, security members of the rebel alliance in control of Syria have taken control of the airport, hoping to restore security, a sense of confidence, and the legitimacy needed to restart flights out of the capital, and from one of the country’s three international airports. “Damascus international airport is the heart of the city because it is the gateway for international delegations and missions,” Omar al-Shami, a security official with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the faction that led the shock offensive that led to the fall of Assad, told The Associated Press, calling it "the passage for Syria to breathe.” Al-Shami said security was restored at the international airport nearly 12 hours after the fall of Damascus. The factions entered the capital before dawn, and security members of the rebel alliance took charge before sunset on Sunday. He said he hoped the airport would be operational in less than a week. On Wednesday, a handful of engineers were inspecting four planes that were on the tarmac. Cleaning staff were removing broken furniture, glass windows, and trash from ransacking by looters following the fall of Damascus. The attack, reportedly by mobs and looters from the neighboring areas, left parts of the airport halls destroyed, with smashed furniture and merchandise. “There was a lot damage in the airport’s equipment and facilities in 90% of the sections,” Anis Fallouh, the head of the airport, told the AP. Fallouh said the operations to clean up the airport aim to convince international airlines to resume their flights to Damascus. “Soon in the coming days, flights will resume when we reopen air traffic to Syria and inform countries that Damascus airport is operational. We may start with domestic or test flights to ensure that everything in the airport is operational and avoid any mistakes. Then we can resume international flights.” Engineers were inspecting the four planes on the tarmac, from two Syrian airlines. Some administrative staff were visiting the airport as the new administrators of Damascus work to convince state officials to return to their posts. “We are on the Airbus 320, the technical team. Because of the security vacuum that happened on Sunday, some ill-intentioned people tried to cause damage but thank God the plane is fine — the body, the engines and its systems. Some things are missing and we are trying to fix that,” said Bassam Radi, the engineer in charge of maintenance, said. BERLIN — German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday addressed Berlin's reservations but also willingness to work the Syrian militant group in control of Damascus, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. “Nobody overlooks the origins of HTS in the al-Qaeda ideology. It is therefore clear that we will measure HTS by its actions,” Baerbock told reporters in Berlin. “Any cooperation presupposes that ethnic and religious minorities are protected, women’s rights are respected and acts of revenge are prevented.” She said that “whether we like it or not, the HTS militia ... is one of the decisive actors for the future of Syria.” “Together with our partners, we are therefore looking for an adequate way of dealing with HTS, with whom many have had no direct contact for good reasons,” she added. Ahmad al-Sharaa, the insurgent leader also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicted himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike near the southern Lebanese town of Bin Jbeil killed one person and wounded another, the state news agency reported. National News Agency said Wednesday’s airstrike hit a home. It gave no further details and there was no immediate comment from Israeli military. More than a dozen people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since a ceasefire went into effect on Nov. 27, ending the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war. WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East this week on his 12th visit since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but his first since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad . Assad's departure has sparked new fears of instability in the region now wracked by three conflicts despite a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Blinken will travel to Jordan and Turkey on Thursday and Friday for talks expected to focus largely on Syria but also touch on long-elusive hopes for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza that has devastated the territory since October 2023. The State Department said Blinken would meet Jordanian officials, including King Abdullah II, in the port of Aqaba on Thursday before flying to Ankara for meetings with Turkish officials Friday. Other stops in the region are also possible, officials said. Blinken “will reiterate the United States’ support for an inclusive, Syrian-led transition to an accountable and representative government,” department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. BEIRUT — Insurgents have set on fire the tomb of Syria’s former President Hafez Assad in his hometown in the northwest, a war monitor and a local journalist said Wednesday. Hafez Assad had ruled Syria for 30 years until his death in 2000, when his son, Bashar, succeeded him. Both ruled Syria with an iron fist and were blamed for crackdowns that left tens of thousands dead, mainly in the central city of Hama in 1982, and in much of the country since the civil war in 2011. Bashar Assad was ousted over the weekend and fled to Russia where he was given political asylum. Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian journalist Qusay Noor told The Associated Press that the tomb was set on fire Wednesday in the town of Qardaha in Latakia province. JERUSALEM — The United Nations is asking donors for over $4 billion to fund humanitarian operations in the Palestinian territories, most of it earmarked for war-ravaged Gaza. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also called for the “lifting all impediments to the entry of aid” in its appeal issued Wednesday. U.N. agencies say aid operations in Gaza are hindered by Israeli restrictions and the breakdown of law and order. Israel says it allows enough aid to enter and blames the U.N. for not distributing it within the territory. The appeal for 2025 includes $3.6 billion for Gaza and about $450 million for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel’s offensive, launched after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, has destroyed vast areas of the besieged territory and displaced around 90% of its population of 2.3 million. Many have been displaced multiple times and are now crammed into squalid tent camps with little in the way of food or other essentials. Most of the population relies on international aid. JERUSALEM — The president of Paraguay addressed the Israeli parliament Wednesday ahead of the reopening of the country’s embassy in Jerusalem. The decision to reopen the embassy in Jerusalem and recognize the city as the capital of Israel is a diplomatic win for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and puts Paraguay in a small group of countries that have taken the move. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in 1967 but it wasn't recognized by the international community, and most countries run their embassies out of Tel Aviv. “Without Jerusalem, the land of Israel is a body without a soul,” President Santiago Peña said in a speech to the Knesset. “So I say here today that without an embassy in Jerusalem, diplomatic relations with Israel do not have a real heart.” He said he hoped the move would inspire other countries to do the same. The embassy is set to open Thursday. Pena’s move was welcomed by Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, along with other Israeli leaders. “Tomorrow we will inaugurate together the embassy of Paraguay in our eternal capital, and that will happen not for the first time, but for the second time,” Netanyahu said. Paraguay had an embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, under Former President Horacio Cartes. That embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv by Cartes’ successor, Mario Abdo Benitez, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Asuncion. Israel reopened its embassy in September. MOSCOW — Russia said Wednesday it has maintained contacts with the new authorities in Syria. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “we are monitoring most closely what is happening in Syria.” “We, of course, maintain contacts with those who are currently controlling the situation in Syria,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. “This is necessary because our bases are located there, our diplomatic mission is located there and, of course, the issue related to ensuring the security of these facilities is extremely important and of primary significance.” Peskov wouldn’t give details of those contacts, saying only that Russia has contacted “those who are controlling the situation on the ground.” He wouldn’t give the number of Russian troops in Syria. Asked to comment about Israel’s seizure of a buffer zone on the border with Syria, Peskov called them destabilizing. “The strikes and actions in the Golan Heights area, in the buffer zone area, are unlikely to help stabilize the situation in an already destabilized Syria,” he said. Russia has granted political asylum to ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family after they fled rebels who seized Damascus over the weekend. TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the recent events in Syria, including the fall of its government, were part of a joint plan by the United States and Israel. “There should be no doubt that what has happened in Syria is the result of a joint American and Zionist plan," Khamenei said in a speech in Tehran on Wednesday that was broadcast on state TV. “We have evidence, and this evidence leaves no room for doubt.” The Supreme leader added: “A neighboring state of Syria has played a clear role in this matter, and it continues to do so. Everyone can see this.” Khamenei also rejected speculation by analysts who have said that Iran will be weakened by the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government. “Those ignorant analysts are unaware of the meaning of resistance. They think that if resistance weakens, Islamic Iran will also weaken. But I say, with the help and power of God — by the will of Almighty Allah — Iran is powerful and it will become even more powerful," he said.