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Avalanche Journal: Why Colorado is home to the best defense corps in the NHL

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:56 GMT

Jack Johnson has been part of some pretty good defense corps.He played with a group led by a young Drew Doughty that eventually won the Stanley Cup twice in Los Angeles. The Rangers had the Norris Trophy winner, Adam Fox, plus Jacob Trouba and a couple of other exciting young talents during Johnson’s one season in Manhattan.But even start a question with, “So you’ve played with some pretty good defense …” and Johnson will be quick to cut it off.“Ehhh,” he said. “Nothing like this one.”The Avalanche is one of the top contenders to win the Stanley Cup this season for many of the same reasons Colorado won the title in 2022. The core of star players and playing style that meshes so well with their talent are two major reasons.But the No. 1 reason is pretty simple: The Avs have a strong claim to make about having the best defense corps in the NHL.“I don’t even think it is a question,” Devon Toews said. “I feel like no one can contend with us because of the way we move the puck, the way w...

Palestinian Health Ministry says at least 198 killed, 1,610 wounded in Gaza in Israeli retaliation after Hamas attack

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:56 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian Health Ministry says at least 198 killed, 1,610 wounded in Gaza in Israeli retaliation after Hamas attack.

2 inmates allegedly stab third prisoner to death at Kern Valley State Prison 

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:56 GMT

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has opened an investigation into what led up to the death of an inmate at Kern Valley State Prison. A CDCR release indicates that two prisoners allegedly attacked a third prisoner with an “inmate-manufactured” weapon shortly before 6:40 p.m. Saturday evening. The prisoner who was attacked – identified as 46-year-old Richard A. Aguirre – sustained “multiple stab wounds” and was transported to Kern Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries less than an hour after he was attacked. No other prison staff or inmates were injured, officials said.  Gas prices beginning to fall across all of California; SoCal drivers still paying more than most Aguirre was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder and was received by the Kern Valley State Prison from Los Angeles County on April 8, 1998. Richard A. Aguirre pictured on March 13, 2022. (Calif. Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitat...

Gas prices beginning to fall across all of California; SoCal drivers still paying more than most 

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:56 GMT

A little relief at the pump may be in sight for SoCal. Last week’s state average of $6.08 per gallon of regular gas has fallen to $5.83 per gallon as of Saturday, according to AAA. Despite the local price drop, drivers in nearly every Southern California county are still paying more than some of their NorCal counterparts, data shows. The most expensive gas can be found in San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles and San Diego counties, where motorists are forking over an average $6.04, $6.03 and $6.01 per gallon, respectively. Other SoCal counties with prices higher than the state average include Ventura ($5.99 per gallon); Santa Barbara ($5.97 per gallon); Riverside and Orange counties ($5.87 per gallon). Meanwhile, Kern and Imperial County residents are paying a bit less for fuel than most Southern Californians, with motorists in those regions paying around $5.79 and $5.81 per gallon, respectively.  Out-of-control driver floods street after slamming into hydrant, buildin...

Hamas attacked Israel and Netanyahu says his country is 'at war.' Follow live updates

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:56 GMT

The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip have carried out an unprecedented, multifront attack on Israel, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel was “at war” and called for a mass mobilization of army reserves. The invasion revived memories of the 1973 war practically 50 years to the day.Follow our live updates.NEW YORK MAYOR CONDEMNS HAMAS ATTACKNew York Mayor Eric Adams, whose city is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, called the attack a “cowardly action by a terrorist organization.”The mayor said city authorities are monitoring the situation for any possible threats.“While there is no credible threat to New York City at this time, our administration is in touch with Jewish leaders across the five boroughs, and we have directed the NYPD to deploy additional resources to Jewish co...

And Utah makes 10: How every departing Pac-12 school drove a knife into the conference

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:56 GMT

No single individual is to blame for the death of the Pac-12. Rather, it was a conspiracy of the witless and the unwitting.The two commissioners, Larry Scott and George Kliavkoff, have plenty of blood on their hands; both made a series of gross strategic miscalculations. If we’re identifying suspects, they are the first to be rounded up and cuffed.But as in Murder On The Orient Express, there are many accomplices in the demise of a 108-year-old college sports institution — a demise that began before USC and UCLA bolted for the Big Ten in June 2022 and the Pac-12 entered its media rights negotiations in a weakened state.Each of the 10 outbound schools, in fact, drove a knife into the body.Utah had been the lone holdout, in a sense — the one school of 10 that did not have fingerprints on the murder weapon. But a report this week that identified president Taylor Randall as the force behind the outlandish $50 million per school counteroffer to ESPN closes the circle.(Only Oregon S...

San Jose Taiko to celebrate 50th anniversary with concerts

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:56 GMT

San Jose Taiko has become such a staple in the community’s cultural fabric that as the group celebrates its 50th anniversary, it’s easy to take for granted the amazing performance ensemble we have right in our backyard.The rhythmic beat of the taiko drums is a familiar sound not only at festivals in the historic Japantown district but at events at City Hall and throughout the city. Nowadays, the idea of San Jose without taiko would be like San Jose without mariachis, fruit cocktail or microchips.Fortunately, San Jose will get a chance to show its appreciation when San Jose Taiko performs its 50th Anniversary Concert, with two shows — a matinee and an evening performance — at the majestic California Theatre downtown on Oct. 14.San Jose Taiko artistic director Franco Imperial performs during San Jose's annual Obon festival in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 8, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Jose Taiko performing member Stewart Kume perfo...

‘The OC’ actor Ben McKenzie details crypto’s crash in new book: ‘Dumb idea that got dumber’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:56 GMT

Ben McKenzie Schenkkan, actor and author, speaks during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on FTX in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. US prosecutors in Manhattan yesterday revealed eight criminal counts against the FTX founder and federal regulators said he committed a range of securities and derivatives law violations. Photographer: Ting Shen/Bloomberg It was the middle of the coronavirus lockdowns and actor Ben McKenzie was out of work and depressed.So McKenzie – perhaps best known for his role as heartthrob Ryan in the early 2000s teen drama “The OC” – curiously becomes a journalist, at least temporarily, thanks to an old friend named Dave.The pal suggested McKenzie invest in cryptocurrencies, technology’s new-fangled twist on money that was the hot bet of the early pandemic days. Due to a bad experience with a previous tip from Dave – an ill-fated medical company – research was in order, and it wasn’t like ...

Borussia Dortmund beats Union Berlin 4-2 in Bundesliga, Guirassy hits hat trick for Stuttgart

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:56 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Two former Union Berlin players scored to help Borussia Dortmund come from behind and beat their old team 4-2 in the Bundesliga on Saturday, stretching the visitors’ losing streak to seven games across all competitions.Niko Schlotterbeck and Julian Ryerson netted in the second half for Dortmund, which recovered from 2-1 down at the break with Leonardo Bonucci scoring his first Bundesliga goal for Union.Serhou Guirassy’s hat trick helped Stuttgart come from behind to beat Wolfsburg 3-1. The Guinea player took his league tally to 13 goals in seven matches.Stuttgart’s win lifted the club to the top of the league before Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich play on Sunday, when Leverkusen hosts Cologne for the Rhine derby and Bayern hosts Freiburg.Also, promoted Darmstadt won 2-1 at Augsburg, and Leipzig drew with Bochum 0-0.Werder Bremen was hosting Hoffenheim later. DORTMUND BACK IN FORMDortmund endured a rocky start to the season but appears to have returned to form ...

‘Rock solid and unwavering’: Biden pledges support for Israel after Hamas attacks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:56 GMT

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday morning about the “horrific” Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians, offering “all appropriate means of support” to the U.S. ally amid the ongoing fighting.“Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My Administration’s support for Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering,” Biden said in a statement.Netanyahu declared early Saturday that the U.S. ally was “at war” as sirens rang out in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and the Israel Defense Forces responded by striking Hamas targets in neighboring Gaza. Israel says at least 40 people have died.More than 2,200 rockets were fired into Israel Saturday morning, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. Hagari said the Hamas militants infiltrated from land, sea and air.“The Prime Minister thanked the US President for his...