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‘We need all the support we can get’: DC-area nonprofits stress importance of Giving Tuesday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:54:44 GMT

Giving Tuesday is just 11 years old, but the tradition that encourages people to donate to charitable organizations large and small can have a big impact — especially in years when giving trends downward.According to the Giving USA annual report on philanthropy issued in June of this year, total giving decreased in 2022, with individual donations down by 13.4% when adjusted for inflation.Nonprofits such as Montgomery County’s Tree House Child Advocacy Center said Giving Tuesday is helpful, as they work to offer services at a time when those services may see more demand.Dr. Evelyn Shukat, a pediatrician who specializes in the care of children who have been abused and neglected, told WTOP that many cases of abuse are referred through schools. She said child abuse has been underreported over the past few years due to the pandemic.She added that since schools reopened, “we’re seeing more and more children and our resources are stretched … We need all the support we can...

Matthew Stafford’s Rams can be a playoff contender if Kyren Williams keeps driving them forward

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:54:44 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matthew Stafford is throwing the ball with an injured thumb. His top two targets — Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua — are fighting through an accumulation of injuries from a punishing NFL season.Yet when Kyren Williams is running wild, the Los Angeles Rams (5-6) not only look like a dangerous offense, but a possible playoff contender.Williams racked up 204 total yards in a 37-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, rushing for 143 yards and catching two of Stafford’s four touchdown passes.The second-year pro from St. Louis has raised his game exponentially midway through his second season, providing coach Sean McVay with options he hasn’t had for his offense since Todd Gurley’s heyday. With a running back consistently fighting through contact and picking up extra yards while also providing a threat as a receiver, McVay’s playbook expands.“He’s a really good football player, and he’s one of those guys, he loves competing,” McVay said of William...

Live updates | Israel confirms release of 11 hostages by Hamas on fourth day of truce

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:54:44 GMT

Israel said 11 hostages have been released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip late Monday, the final day of a four-day truce between the warring sides. Early Tuesday, Israel’s prison service said it was releasing 33 Palestinian prisoners as part of the cease-fire deal. Hours earlier, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their truce for another two days. Monday’s releases bring the number of Israelis freed under the truce to 50, along with 19 hostages of other nationalities. So far, 117 Palestinians have been released from Israeli prisons. Roughly 240 hostages were captured by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. One was freed by Israeli forces and two were found dead inside Gaza. Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. After the announcement by Qatar — a key mediator in the conflict, along with the United States and Egypt — Hamas confirmed it had agreed to a two...

Willian converts two penalties including stoppage-time winner as Fulham wins amid VAR controversy

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:54:44 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Willian converted two of the game’s three second-half penalties — including the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time — to help Fulham defeat Wolverhampton 3-2 in another English Premier League match dominated by VAR calls on Monday.The former Brazil winger’s first spot kick in the 59th minute made it 2-1, only for Hwang Hee-chan to win and then convert his own penalty in the 75th to leave an end-to-end game at Craven Cottage heading for a draw.There was a late twist as Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes miscontrolled the ball in his own area and stuck out his leg, which brushed against Fulham substitute Harry Wilson as he nipped in to take possession.After a long video review, the on-field decision to not award a penalty was changed and Willian stepped up to send his kick into the bottom-left corner, giving Fulham a third league win.Fulham held the lead three times in the match, firstly after Alex Iwobi steered in a cross by Antonee Robinson in the seventh minute. Th...

Donald Trump is set to return to the witness stand in his civil fraud trial

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:54:44 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — After a pugnacious first turn on the witness stand, former president Donald Trump plans to testify again next month in his civil fraud trial, his lawyers said Monday.He is to return Dec. 11, defense attorney Christopher Kise said. Trump had plenty to say during his initial testimony Nov. 6 in the case, which has questioned his net worth, accused him of misleading banks and insurers and threatened his future in business in New York. The Republican 2024 presidential front-runner denies all the allegations, and he used his first stint on the witness stand to lambaste the case, the judge and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the lawsuit. “People don’t know how good a company I built. You know why?” Trump complained as one of James’ deputies questioned him. “Because people like you go around and try and demean me and try and hurt me, probably for political reasons.”He called James “a political hack” and dismissed a pretrial ruling agai...

Lawson apologizes for shoving Eagles fan, alleging person threatened Bills players and families

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:54:44 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills pass rusher Shaq Lawson apologized Monday for shoving a Philadelphia Eagles fan behind the team’s bench after alleging the person was making threatening remarks about players and their families.Lawson posted his apology on his Instagram account a day after a video showed him and five defensive teammates approach a spectator in the first row behind Buffalo’s bench during a 37-34 overtime loss at Philadelphia. The video showed Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips walking up and exchanging words with the unidentified spectator, when Lawson followed and shoved the fan, who was wearing an Eagles shirt beneath his jacket and holding a can of beer.Lawson said the fan began heckling players before the game began, and was allowed to stay at his seat after the Bills asked stadium security officials to have the person removed.“Eventually, our emotions boiled over and I made a mistake,” Lawson wrote. “For that, I apologize, but there are certain lines t...

Suspended Aurora officer back to work after acquittal in Elijah McClain's death

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:54:44 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Aurora Police Officer Nathan Woodyard will return to work after being acquitted of all charges in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, according to the city.Woodyard had been suspended without pay from the department since September 2021. However, that ended as soon as his Nov. 6 acquittal became finalized, the city said. Final trial over Elijah McClain’s death in Aurora spotlights paramedics’ role After his suspension ended, he elected to reintegrate with Aurora police, according to the city.Woodyard was placed on restricted duty pending the next steps in the reintegration process. This means he will not be in uniform, will not have public contact and will not take any enforcement actions. According to the city, any civil service member on extended leave must reintegrate to "bring them up to speed" on practice and policy changes that have happened. Once the reintegration ends, Woodyard will be eligible for reassignment to a position in the department, the city said....

11 horses killed in large Franktown barn fire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:54:44 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Several horses were killed and one person was injured in a large fire that engulfed a barn in Franktown.Around 3:56 a.m. Monday, Douglas County Sheriff's deputies along with the Franktown Fire Department, South Metro Fire Rescue, Castle Rock Fire Department, Elizabeth Fire Department, West Douglas Fire Department and Elizabeth Fire Department responded to the scene. Driver says she’s ‘very lucky’ after pole smashes her windshield on I-25 In total, 30 firefighters were at the scene.The building was burning near North Russellville Road and North State Highway 83. The large flames and smoke could be seen for miles.Crews worked to contain a large barn fire near North Russellville Road in Franktown. (Franktown Fire Department)Crews worked to contain a large barn fire near North Russellville Road in Franktown. (Franktown Fire Department)Crews worked to contain a large barn fire near North Russellville Road in Franktown. (Franktown Fire Department)FOX31's Vicente Arenas ...

Woman shocked with Taser while on ground sues Pueblo officer, chief for not reporting it

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:54:44 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A woman who was shocked in the back with a Taser while lying on the ground in Pueblo last year is suing the police officer who stunned her and the city's police chief, accusing the police department of failing to report excessive force by the officer to state regulators.The federal lawsuit filed Sunday by Cristy Gonzales, who was suspected of stealing a vehicle, says the police department found Cpl. Bennie Villanueva used excessive force against Gonzales and another person several weeks later. However, it says the agency withheld the information from a state board that oversees who is qualified to serve in law enforcement. If it had been reported, Villanueva would have lost his certification to work as a police officer for at least a year, the lawsuit said. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Gonzales was suspected of stealing a truck in February 2022 and didn't stop for Villanueva, according to a police investigation. Eventually, the v...

Actor Joel Kinnaman takes on new challenge in dialogue-less action film ‘Silent Night”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:54:44 GMT

This holiday season, the gift of gab was not on actor’s Joel Kinnaman’s wish list. Instead, he wanted to leave audiences across the nation speechless. Literally.In fact, his new action pack film “Silent Night” does just that.Deco sat down with the actor to learn all about what we can expect to see and not hear in the movie.In the new action flick “Silent Night,” they take the word silent literally.Joel Kinnaman: “There is no dialogue in the whole film.”That’s right. Nearly two hours of of just butt-kicking action, there are no words.A role, actor Joel Kinnanman needed no convincing to take.Joel Kinnaman: “As an actor, that’s a great challenge, so for me, I was very psyched to jump on board.”The movie follows, Joel’s character, a dad on a quest to heal and avenge his young son’s death after they are both caught in crossfire of rival gangs on Christmas Eve.But acting with only your face and no dialogue...