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Best of the West rankings: Utah upsets BYU (now comes the hard part); Arizona remains on top; Colorado and New Mexico rise

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:26 GMT

There was no luck involved in Utah’s upset of 14th-ranked Brigham Young last weekend.The Utes grabbed a double-digit halftime advantage and led for 38 of the 40 minutes in recording their first victory over a ranked BYU team in 30 years. In every sense, it was one of Utah’s most inspired performances in years.Now comes the deflating reality: The Utes must root for BYU.Yep, they’re cheering for the enemy.Such is life in the NCAA Tournament selection process, where a 73-69 victory in December carries implications for March and a bitter rival becomes a staunch supporter.The strength of Utah’s resume will depend, in part, on BYU’s success in the Big 12.The more quality wins the Cougars collect in their new conference — and it’s arguably the toughest league in the land — the more weight Utah’s head-to-head victory carries.If the Utes fare well in Pac-12 play and are in the pool of teams competing for at-large bids to March Madness, ev...

As respiratory viruses spread everywhere, what should you do if you get sick?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:26 GMT

By Katia Hetter | CNNThe spread of respiratory illnesses is well underway, as US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Mandy Cohen told Congress recently. She noted the rise of three particular viruses: flu, the coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV.Hospitalizations for these three viruses continue to increase, according to CDC data. As more people have symptoms such as cough, sneezing and fever, they may wonder if they should get tested to find out exactly which virus is causing their symptoms. What symptoms can be treated at home, and what should prompt someone to seek medical care? Does it matter if you go to the doctor’s office versus urgent care or the emergency room? And if people have not gotten vaccinated yet, is it too late?To assist us with answering these questions, I spoke with CNN wellness medical expert Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington Univers...

What’s next in the fight over Apple and Google’s app stores

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:26 GMT

By Leah Nylen | BloombergJurors took less than four hours to find Alphabet Inc.’s Google unfairly wields monopoly power in its Android app store, a lightening fast win by Fortnite maker Epic Games Inc. that’s galvanizing efforts to rein in the power that Google and rival Apple Inc. wield over mobile ecosystems.Google has said it plans to appeal, but key legislation in Europe, investigations in the US and UK and an expected wave of follow-on lawsuits will keep pressure on the tech giants’ app store duopoly.Billions of dollars are at stake: in-app spending is forecast to reach $182 billion next year and $207 billion in 2025, according to research firm Sensor Tower. And competitors are ready to steal a piece of it: Microsoft Corp. said last month that it’s already in talks to launch a mobile app store focused on gaming.Epic’s earlier case against Apple’s App Store policies was mostly unsuccessful, with a federal judge ruling the iPhone maker’s practices don’t violate federal antitrust ...

Can opium dens and secret tunnels get people to stop for lunch in this Bay Area city?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:26 GMT

In the popular mythology of Pleasanton, the sleepy city of 78,000 was once one of the most lawless, dangerous and sordid settlements in the state.Known as “the most desperate town in the West,” the story claims that Pleasanton was an outpost for desperados and bandits and a haven for outlaws and drunkards who rustled cattle and robbed travelers between the gold fields of the Sierra Nevada and the lights of San Francisco.Related ArticlesEconomy | San Jose Airport passenger totals sputter Economy | Argentina devalues peso to respond to economic ’emergency’ Economy | Why investors have targeted Macy’s for a takeover Economy | Huge San Jose housing project will be 100% affordable homes Economy | PG&E customers face higher bills — yet again — after new company request It’s a compelling and cinematic history for a wealthy suburban city that is now decidedly undramatic. But it...

The Sharks preached patience with their top prospect. It’s starting to pay off

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:26 GMT

SAN JOSE – It’s almost vital for the San Jose Sharks that William Eklund fulfills his immense promise and develops into a full-time top-six forward at the NHL level.His two minor penalties Tuesday notwithstanding, Eklund, in his first full season with the Sharks, is showing he’s capable of playing that type of role.Eklund’s power-play goal at the 15:09 mark of the third period proved to be his fourth game-winner of the season as the Sharks earned a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at SAP Center, maintaining the momentum they built up during their recently completed six-game road trip.On his goal, Eklund stood near the faceoff dot to the left of the Sharks’ net, took a pass from Mikael Granlund, and fired a one-timer past Jets goalie Laurent Brossoit for his seventh goal of the season.Eklund now has three goals and three assists in his last six games, as he joined Jeff Friesen, Patrick Marleau, and Logan Couture as the only Sharks players to have four game-winning goals within a se...

California establishes official state bat, mushroom in 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:26 GMT

(KRON) --As the new year rolls in, California will add two things to its list of official state emblems: a bat and a mushroom.Joining the ranks of other golden state symbols including the California poppy as the state flower, the California redwood as the state tree, the California grizzly bear as the state animal and the state flag, are the California golden chanterelle as the state mushroom and the California pallid bat as the state bat.Mushrooms play a crucial role in nourishing forests and grasslands helping decompose dead wood, improve groundwater quality and quantity and maintain healthy soils. California is home to numerous species of mushrooms but the California Golden Chanterelle took home the win. It is a commonly collected edible mushroom found beneath California oak trees. The pallid bat goes to work munching on mosquitoes, wasps, flies, bark beetles and wood borers providing more than $1 billion in pest control for California's agriculture and reducing the risk of ...

‘This is monumental’: Capitals, Wizards owners partner up with Virginia for proposed arena, entertainment district in Alexandria

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:26 GMT

Monumental Sports, the organization that owns the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin will announce plans that could mean a relocation for both teams from the District to Potomac Yard.Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he couldn’t be more excited to discuss the plans Wednesday morning inside three tents at 3405 Potomac Avenue in Alexandria alongside Monumental Sports majority owner Ted Leonis and representatives for the city and state planning boards.“I am pleased to announce that right here, in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard, we have a plan to release a brighter, more amazing future,” Youngkin said.Monumental Sports said the state and organization would partner to create a new entertainment district campus that would include a “new Capitals and Wizards arena for the region and Monumental Sports’ new global business headquarters.”“This would relocate the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wi...

For a holiday craft that creates light, try making marbled candles by hand

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:26 GMT

Candles, already an integral part of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve, can be made even more special when they carry a personal touch. Try marbleizing them by hand, or simply using candlelight in creative ways.Paula Lavender Tucker of Bellows Falls, Vermont, started marbleizing simple white candles about five years ago. Before that, she marbleized quilt fabrics. Both are for sale at her Etsy site, HippyDippyDyed.Her marbleizing process is simple and inexpensive, and the results are mighty (directions below).“You want to think about using contrasting colors,” says Lavender Tucker. “Black and white are a stunning combination.”She recommends learning how to marbleize candles with only two or three colors, and the holidays carry traditional color combinations: red, green and white for Christmas; blue and white for Hanukkah; red, green and black for Kwanzaa; and black, white and gold, or dark blue, light blue and white for New Year’s Eve.SCENE SETTERSOne easy w...

Body in Philadelphia warehouse IDed as inmate who escaped in 4th city breakout this year

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:26 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A body found inside a Philadelphia warehouse has been identified as an inmate who walked away from a work detail almost two weeks ago in the fourth breakout from a city lockup this year, police announced late Tuesday.The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office identified the body found on Monday as escaped prisoner Gino Hagenkotter, police said in a news release.Hagenkotter, 34, who was serving time on theft and burglary charges, was working in the orchard on the grounds of the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on Nov. 30 when he asked the guard assigned to him for permission to use the bathroom, Philadelphia Department of Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney said at the time. The guard checked the restroom when Hagenkotter failed to return, but he wasn’t there, officials said.Hagenkotter scaled a fence, walked through a city sanitation department yard next to the prison, took off his jumpsuit and was last seen on surveillance video walking down the stree...

Switch from selling COVID-19 drugs on market rather than to governments continues to sting at Pfizer

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:47:26 GMT

Pfizer’s forecast for sales of its COVID-19 vaccine and treatment next year falls more than $5 billion short of the Wall Street consensus. The drugmaker’s sales tumbled in early morning trading.Pfizer expects sales for both the treatment, Paxlovid, and the vaccine, Comirnaty, to total $8 billion in 2024, according to an initial forecast the drugmaker released Wednesday.Analysts expect nearly $14 billion combined sales, with $8.34 billion coming from Comirnaty and Paxlovid contributing $5.55 billion, according to FactSet.Those products combined to rake in more than $56 billion in sales last year, Paxlovid’s first full year on the market. But both Pfizer and the Street expected a decline starting this year as demand waned and the drugmaker switched to selling through the commercial market instead of in bulk to the federal government.Still, Pfizer warned in October that sales of the vaccine and treatment were turning out weaker than expected. T he drugmaker also reported a third-...