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Some OPEC+ members cut oil they send to the world as they try again to boost prices

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:12 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The OPEC oil cartel led by Saudi Arabia and allied producers including Russia made another big swipe at propping up lagging crude prices Thursday, expanding some output cuts into next year and bringing up-and-coming oil supplier Brazil into the fold.Lower oil prices have been a good thing for U.S. drivers, who have been able to fill their gas tanks for less money in recent months. But it’s bad news for OPEC+ countries whose oil income bolsters their economies and who have faced setbacks in pushing prices higher despite initial fears that the Israel-Hamas war could affect oil flows.The OPEC+ oil ministers came out of an online meeting with more than 2 million barrels per day in voluntary cuts through the first three months of next year and declared that Brazil will join the bloc in January, bringing one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers into an alliance that is trying to rein in global supply.However, sweeping cutbacks that have been imposed by OPEC+ and indi...

DC gym owner arrested in FBI sting on charge related to child sex abuse images

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:12 GMT

Editor’s Note: This story contains disturbing language and details.A D.C. gym owner is being held without bond after being arrested and charged Tuesday with distributing child sex abuse images, a federal crime, as part of a Federal Bureau of Investigation sting.Michael Everts, 48, owns FIT Personal Training in Dupont Circle, according to the company’s website, which describes the business as “Dupont Circle’s oldest personal training gym in Washington, D.C.”Everts came to the FBI’s attention when an employee for Sniffies — which charging documents describe as a meetup app for “gay, bisexual, and bicurious” men reported that an account user — Everts — was actively seeking underage males.In late September 2023, an online covert employee, or OCE, for the FBI contacted Everts, using the Telegram app, posing as the father of a young boy.Over a period of about three months, Everts exchanged images and discussed child sexual abuse with the OCE...

DC steakhouse Medium Rare opens in Baltimore (‘Secret steak sauce’ now sold online)

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:12 GMT

New Baltimore location. (Courtesy Medium Rare)Cleveland Park Steakhouse Medium Rare has opened a location in Baltimore’s hip Hampden neighborhood — its second of several planned locations outside of the D.C. metro area.The Baltimore location is in a former CineBistro at The Rotunda in Hampden.Medium Rare, whose simple, $29 prix fixe steak frites menu is bread and salad, steak and fries and dessert (it has a weekend brunch menu too, and an off-menu vegetarian menu), began nationwide expansion in August, with a location in New Orleans. It also plans locations in New York City, Houston and San Francisco.Medium Rare is also selling its Dijon-based salad dressing and its “secret steak sauce” online again. The online sales push is thanks to the new Baltimore location.It started selling both dressing and sauce online during the early days of the pandemic as one way to keep staff employed, but eventually stopped actively promoting the e-commerce sales.“It wasn’t our primary business, With t...

Rams look to continue unexpected playoff push, hosting injury-depleted Browns

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:12 GMT

CLEVELAND (7-4) at LOS ANGELES RAMS (5-6)Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, FOX BETTING LINE: Rams by 3 1/2 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Browns 6-4-1; Rams 5-4-2.SERIES RECORD: Rams lead 13-11.LAST MEETING: Rams beat Browns 20-13 on Sept. 22, 2019, in Cleveland. LAST WEEK: Browns lost to Broncos 29-12; Rams beat Cardinals 37-14.BROWNS OFFENSE: OVERALL (20), RUSH (3), PASS (27), SCORING (15).BROWNS DEFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (12), PASS (1), SCORING (7).RAMS OFFENSE: OVERALL (17), RUSH (T-14), PASS (14), SCORING (16).RAMS DEFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (18), PASS (14), SCORING (16).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Browns minus-7; Rams minus-3.BROWNS PLAYER TO WATCH: DE Myles Garrett played much of last week’s game after re-injuring his left shoulder, which was initially hurt in a single-car crash last year. Garrett is the Browns’ most indispensable player and leader of Cleveland’s top-ranked defense. He has 13 sacks and because he’s often double-teamed, Garrett&#...

Roger Penske pumps brakes on NASCAR champ Ryan Blaney’s Indy 500 ambitions. Larson to attempt double

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:12 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — One NASCAR championship down and Ryan Blaney already has his eyes on another prize. The Indianapolis 500. Roger Penske said Thursday that NASCAR’s reigning Cup champion had inquired about someday running “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” but “The Captain” pumped the brakes. “It’s interesting to me that Blaney said to me that he’d looked to go to Indy,” Penske said Thursday ahead of Blaney and Team Penske’s coronation as Cup champions. “I said we’re going to have to slow down a little bit. We’re going to have everybody coming to Indy.” Kyle Larson will try to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 this May and become the first driver since Kurt Busch in 2014 to attempt to complete both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Five drivers have attempted it nine times, and only Tony Stewart has completed all 1,100 miles. Blaney’s interest in doing the double was revealed Thursday by Penske, who said Lar...

Indiana Hoosiers finalizing deal to hire Curt Cignetti as new football coach, sources say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:12 GMT

The Indiana Hoosiers are finalizing a deal to hire Curt Cignetti as their new football coach, two people with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday.The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because contract details and approval were still to be completed.The 62-year-old Cignetti has spent the past five seasons at James Madison, where he presided over the Dukes’ transition from FCS to FBS. He’s gone 52-9, won three conference titles and led No. 24 James Madison to a Sun Belt East Division title this season.Cignetti replaces Tom Allen, who was fired Sunday after seven full seasons in charge of the Hoosiers.___AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo contributed to this report.___Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll 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-footballSource

Playoff spot on the line when Oregon and Washington meet in Pac-12 Championship

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:12 GMT

No. 5 Oregon (11-1) vs. No. 3 Washington (12-0) in the Pac-12 Championship in Las Vegas, 8 p.m. EST Friday (ABC)Line: Oregon by 9½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Washington 62-48-5WHAT’S AT STAKE?An almost certain spot in the College Football Playoff. There also a chance the Huskies could lose and both teams get into the four-team postseason field given the two teams would have split their head-to-head meetings and beaten everyone else. Either way, the Pac-12 is almost assured of placing a team in the playoffs for the first time since Washington in the 2016 season.KEY MATCHUPWashington WR Rome Odunze vs. Oregon’s secondary. Odunze is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation’s top receiver. He broke 100 yards eight times this season, including against the Ducks when Odunze caught eight passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Oregon’s defense otherwise has been lights out. The Ducks are tops in the Pac-12 in passing...

Indiana is hiring James Madison’s Curt Cignetti to be its next head coach, AP sources say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:12 GMT

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Indiana is hiring James Madison’s Curt Cignetti to be its next head coach, AP sources say.Source

Stamp honoring UCLA’s John Wooden to be released in 2024

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:12 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A limited-edition stamp honoring the late UCLA basketball coach John Wooden will go on sale early next year.The U.S. Postal Service announced the stamp on Thursday. He is the second college basketball coach to be honored with a stamp, joining the game’s inventor, James Naismith, who had a stamp in 1961.Nearly 18 million Forever stamps will be issued featuring an original portrait of the coach who guided UCLA to 10 national championships during his 27-year tenure in Westwood, which ended in 1975.Wooden died in 2010 at age 99.The stamp depicts Wooden at courtside in the early 1970s, focused on a game and wearing a pinstripe suit, patterned tie and black-framed glasses. The name John is in blue and Wooden is in gold in a nod to the school’s colors. The image is based on a photo by university photographer Norm Schindler.In the stamp’s background, one player attempts a jump shot as another tries block it. Their jersey numbers of 4 and 10 signify UCLA’s four undefeated ...

CSP providing funds for car, catalytic converter theft victims

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:12 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Colorado State Patrol is beginning to facilitate a program for victims of auto or catalytic converter theft funds to offset victims' secondary costs associated with those thefts.CSP will specifically be able to help motor vehicle and catalytic converter theft victims with secondary costs associated with a stolen vehicle — but none of the primary costs associated with vehicle repair or replacement qualify. Mayor Mike Johnston’s car stolen in Denver, recovered in Aurora The goal is to lessen the financial blow of an auto theft or catalytic converter repair by paying for secondary costs, like alternative transportation, towing and storage fees of a recovered vehicle, cleaning and sanitizing of a stolen car and vehicle and catalytic converter hardening to prevent further victimization. "These secondary costs, such as the price of getting around without your vehicle, can feel like a re-victimization," state patrol said in a release. "Life doesn’t stop when your car...