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Vikings running back Cam Akers is all about words of affirmation. Just ask his teammates in the huddle.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:51 GMT

There was something very specific that stood out about running back Cam Akers in his team debut, and it had nothing to do with him carrying the ball.Allow quarterback Kirk Cousins to explain.“He was hilarious,” Cousins said. “He was in the locker room talking to himself like, ‘Come on, Cam.'”It continued when Akers finally got on the field for the Vikings against the Carolina Panthers.“He’s in the huddle and he is doing the same thing,” Cousins said. “I called run and he’s like, ‘You got this, Cam.’ It was awesome. I was like, ‘This guy is really good for morale.'”It kept going from there.“We called a pass and I thought, ‘He probably won’t,’ ” Cousins said. “He did it again like, ‘We got this. Let’s go.’ ”The words of affirmation have been a calling card for Akers throughout his career. He prides himself on being somebody who brings energy every single time he step...

Franklin, Weinstein: What should we expect from COVID-19 this fall?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:51 GMT

The changing leaves of fall mark the country’s fourth autumn with COVID-19. Although most reporting is anecdotal, new variants have caused case counts to rise. The number of new cases in the country was recently the highest since last winter but still far below case totals during the last three autumns.The reporting of hospitalizations and deaths is more accurate than that of case counts, and the news is optimistic. While hospitalizations have risen significantly, paralleling cases, the numbers are proportionately fewer than in previous years. Deaths are rising but not significantly, and overall mortality from COVID-19 is dropping, slowly but steadily. This is probably the result of a combination of acquired population immunity (vaccination and previous infection) and reduced severity of the current variants.A dramatic uptick in COVID-19 cases or an emerging, more lethal variant could leave the country in the lurch, especially in light of the questionable decision by public he...

Behind the scenes at the Bills' practice field in London

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:51 GMT

WATFORD, England (WIVB) – Ahead of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Buffalo Bills are holding practice at The Grove, a five-star resort and spa roughly 20 miles northwest of London. News 4 Sports Director Josh Reed offered a look behind the scenes at the upscale facility -- "quite frankly, I'm not sure if that's enough stars," he said. Bills DE Greg Rousseau won’t play vs. Jaguars; Von Miller could return The Grove was first constructed in the early 1700s. About 20 years ago, during excavation, they found a stone ax that dated back almost 4,000 years. The Bills' history here isn't as extensive. They played the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in 2015 in their only game across the pond. The Bills lost that game, 34-31, in controversial fashion. EJ Manuel was playing quarterback for an injured Tyrod Taylor and led a furious comeback in the second half, regaining the lead after the Bills had fallen behind 27-3. But a phantom pass interferenc...

Already some signs of Christmas spirit around St. Louis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Here's another sign of the cooler temperatures. We haven't even hit Halloween yet, but you might notice some Christmas spirit around St. Louis. Holiday lights are already going up at Tilles Park near Brentwood. SkyFOX, powered by Bommarito Automotive Group, flew over the park on Friday and noticed several colorful light displays. VP Kamala Harris speaks in St. Louis during fall DNC meeting Since 1987, Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park has been a holiday tradition for those in the St. Louis area. This year, the venue will be for drive-through only, and there will not be carriage rides.Organizers say there will be more than 100 displays of festive characters and winter scenes glistening throughout 75 acres of the park. The display will open on Nov. 22 and run through Dec. 30.

Judge rules King Soopers shooting suspect is competent to stand trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:51 GMT

The man accused of killing 10 people at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder more than two years ago is competent to stand trial, Boulder District Court Judge Ingrid Bakke concluded in a 13-page ruling issued Friday.The criminal case against Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 24, can move forward, Bakke ordered, affirming the conclusion of state evaluators who found Alissa to be competent in August and rejecting his public defenders’ arguments that he is still too mentally ill to go through the court process.Alissa, who has schizophrenia, is charged with carrying out a mass shooting on March 21, 2021, at the Table Mesa King Soopers. The criminal case against him stalled for nearly two years after he was found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial.But now, after undergoing involuntary medication and competency treatment, Alissa is competent and the case against him can move forward, Bakke ruled.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Boulder King Soopers shooting suspec...

Broncos trade OLB Randy Gregory to 49ers in late-round pick swap rather than releasing him

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:51 GMT

The Broncos found a trade partner for Randy Gregory after all.They dealt him to San Francisco along with a 2024 seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a 2024 sixth-rounder, the team announced Friday.The compensation isn’t much, but Denver spent the week intending to release the veteran pass-rusher if they couldn’t find a trade partner for him. In that regard, moving up a few spots in the 2024 draft can’t hurt.“You always try to do that,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said after Friday’s practice of getting at least something in return. “That’s pretty common.”Denver is set to pay all of Gregory’s remaining salary besides the prorated veteran minimum, a source said. That trims about $840,000 off Denver’s books and leaves the Broncos on the hook for right about $10 million in remaining base salary.The remaining money is the same they would have been responsible for had they released Gregory and he signed with another ...

Rats running rampant along L.A.'s historic Olvera Street

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:51 GMT

Merchants along Los Angeles' famed Olvera Street say an increase in homelessness coupled with an infestation of rats are threatening their livelihoods.Video shared with KTLA shows rodents crawling along streets, sidewalks and under vendor stands, scavenging for food. Dead rats are everywhere, merchants say.“Part of the problem here is there is such a bureaucracy the way the city operates,” Edward Flores, owner of Juanita’s Café, told us. “There doesn’t seem to be any staffers here that are tasked with gathering them up.”Video shared with KTLA shows rodents crawling along streets, sidewalks and under vendor stands, scavenging for food. Oct 2023. Homeless tents and the surrounding areas, Flores says, are filled with food and human waste, and that has allowed the rat population to boom in an area frequented by tourists looking to dine and shop.Many vendors say they barely survived the pandemic and can’t afford any more setbacks.“They need to be more aggressive about this and try to thi...

Beachgoers urged to avoid swimming at these L.A. County beaches as autumn heat wave moves through region

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:51 GMT

Even though it's officially fall, Southern California is still experiencing summer-like weather as an autumn heat wave moves through the region.Residents hoping to escape the heat by heading to the beach are advised to avoid water-related activities at certain locations, officials announced Friday. Why some California beaches are always considered ‘dirty’ Officials with the County of Los Angeles Health Department are urging beachgoers to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters at the following locations:The entire swimming areas at Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro and Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey.100 yards up and down the coast at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica100 yards up and down the coast near the storm drains at Venice BeachThe warnings were issued since bacterial levels exceeded health standards when last tested by experts.However, it’s not all bad news since high bacterial warnings were cleared at the following locations:Malibu Point at Surfrider Beac...

Devin James Kilcoin Killed in Rollover Garbarge-Truck Crash on East Los Reales Road [Tucson, AZ]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:51 GMT

28-Year-Old Man Pronounced Dead after Rollover Commercial Truck Collision near South Alvernon WayTUCSON, AZ (October 6, 2023) – Tuesday afternoon, Devin James Kilcoin lost his life in a rollover accident involving a garbage truck on East Los Reales Road.The incident took place at the intersection of South Alvernon Way and East Los Reales Road at approximately 2:00 p.m. Initial reports indicate that Kilcoin was a passenger in a 2004 GMC C7500 garbage truck traveling north on Alvernon Way.For reasons yet unknown, the truck abruptly swerved, ultimately drifting onto the shoulder and eventually rolling over.Medical responders arrived at the scene and pronounced the 28-year-old Kilcoin deceased. Meanwhile, the driver was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition.An active investigation is ongoing to uncover further details about the incident. Additional information will be provided once it becomes available.In this sorrowful time, the Sweet James team would like to extend t...

Raymond Smith Fatally Struck in Motorcycle Accident on Old Spanish Trail Road [Vail, AZ]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:51 GMT

57-Year-Old Man Killed in Motorcycle Collision near Pistol Hill RoadVAIL, AZ (October 6, 2023) – Saturday night, a motorcycle accident claimed the life of Raymond Smith on Old Spanish Trail Road.At approximately 7:45 p.m., officers rushed to the scene, located just west of Pistol Hill Road.The circumstances leading to the accident are currently under investigation. Smith was traveling west on the eastbound lanes of the road when he collided head-on with an eastbound vehicle near Pistol Hill.Responding paramedics transported 57-year-old Smith to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.In addition, medical personnel attended to the driver of the eastbound vehicle, who sustained minor injuries. However, police have not yet disclosed the driver’s identity or place of residence.During cleanup and initial investigation, emergency crews temporarily closed off the surrounding area. Further details will be shared once they become available.The team at Sweet Ja...