Asian stocks mixed after Wall St steadies amid rate fears

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:00:01 GMT

Asian stocks mixed after Wall St steadies amid rate fears BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed Thursday after Wall Street steadied following a plunge on worries about more U.S. interest rate hikes.Shanghai and Seoul declined. Tokyo and Hong Kong advanced. Oil prices edged lower.Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index recovered some of the previous day’s loss following Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell’s warning rate hikes might speed up because upward pressure on prices is stronger than expected.Investors worry the Fed and other central banks look increasingly likely to tip the global economy into at least a brief recession to extinguish stubborn inflation. U.S. inflation rose to 5.4% in January over a year earlier from December’s 5.3% — well above the Fed’s target of 2%.“The risks of a higher and faster hike trajectory have risen,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a report. He said the Fed might be motivated by “mounting criticism” that it has “fallen behind the inflation curve...

Vucevic, LaVine lead Bulls to 117-96 win over Nuggets

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:00:01 GMT

Vucevic, LaVine lead Bulls to 117-96 win over Nuggets DENVER (AP) — Nikola Vucevic had 25 points and 15 rebounds, Zach LaVine scored 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting and the Chicago Bulls gave their playoff hopes an unexpected boost with a 117-96 victory against the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.It was Vucevic’s 40th double-double of the season, the third-most in the NBA. LaVine is averaging 34.8 points in Chicago’s last four games.With the win, the Bulls moved within a game of the Washington Wizards for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 16 games remaining in the regular season. The victory was just the fourth in the past 13 games for Chicago.Nikola Jokic led Denver with 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Aaron Gordon added 17 points and nine rebounds. Jokic made only seven of his 16 shots, snapping a 51-game streak in which he shot at least 50% from the field.Entering the night, Denver was an NBA-best 30-4 at home, which included wins in 24 of its last 25 games. The Nuggets, who lead ...

McCollum scores 32, Pelicans hold off Mavericks 113-106

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:00:01 GMT

McCollum scores 32, Pelicans hold off Mavericks 113-106 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — CJ McCollum stopped suddenly near the left sideline, dribbled between his legs, behind his back and then crossed over to create enough space to let fly a 3-pointer that New Orleans absolutely needed to avoid a late meltdown. McCollum scored 13 of his 32 points in the final four minutes and the Pelicans held off the Dallas Mavericks 113-106 on Wednesday night.“No excuse, just produce. Figure out a way to get the job done. That’s what it’s going to take for us down the stretch,” McCollum said. “Make or miss, I’ve got to be aggressive for us and make something happen.”McCollum’s compelling finish came after each team lost a top player. The Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram left late in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle after scoring 12 points. Dallas star guard Luka Doncic left in the third with a strained left thigh after scoring 15 points.“Pushing off is really hard for me,” Doncic said, noting he wasn’t sure what was causing the pain that he ...

Gun bills likely to face legal challenges if passed

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:00:01 GMT

Gun bills likely to face legal challenges if passed DENVER (KDVR) — Not one, not two but three gun measures were in committee on Wednesday. Although the bills are moving through the Capitol, several are already facing questions about their legality. Families of gun violence victims came out in handfuls Wednesday to testify on bills in committee, calling on lawmakers to do something. Some experts on constitutional rights say the bills may face a tough time outside the Capitol.Gun proposals face question of constitutionalityColorado families with connections to shooting tragedies like Columbine, King Soopers and Club Q showed up to testify on three bills aimed to prevent gun violence. One would expand the red flag law to allow teachers, mental health experts, doctors and district attorneys to petition to have someone's firearm removed."This is not going to solve all the crime by firearm for sure, but it gives us another tool. The police department in Denver uses this tool already successfully, and we would enjoy having that ability our...

St. Vrain Valley students push for district to bring back traditional snow days

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:00:01 GMT

St. Vrain Valley students push for district to bring back traditional snow days LONGMONT, Colo. (KDVR) — Hours after Denver Public Schools called a snow day on Jan. 18, students rushed to Ruby Hill Park, screaming with excitement as they sled down the hill.But 30 miles north, William Mills was stuck behind his Longmont computer, taking part in an online learning day. Wild crash, allegedly caused by I-70 pothole, caught on camera "It’s kind of annoying, because I really want to have a free day,” Mills said. While some districts have returned to snow days, St. Vrain Valley Schools continues to move forward with online learning days, where students have an abbreviated schedule.St. Vrain parents can excuse students on snow daysSpokesperson Kerri McDermid said parents have the choice to excuse their student from online learning, but said they've seen over 90% participation during past inclement weather online learning days.The district said students only attend class virtually for 1.5-2 hours, with additional time built in for one-on-one interaction with teachers ...

Cherry Creek School District offers free gun locks

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:00:01 GMT

Cherry Creek School District offers free gun locks ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — As legislative discussions surrounding firearms happen nationwide, safety is top of mind across the U.S. and in Colorado. The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office is teaming up with the Cherry Creek School District to provide free gun locks at area schools.The district's superintendent, Christopher Smith, said that ''responsible and safe gun storage in the home can save lives." That is something both Arapahoe Sheriff Tyler Brown and the superintendent are hoping to do. Proposed new gun laws advance in Colorado Senate committee The sheriff's office donated roughly 300 gun locks to the district."So it's a padlock that has a cable on it," Brown said. "And then it locks with a key. If people are going to bear arms, they need to do it responsibly."Just 1 gun incident can lead to 'tragedy'Brown said he was approached by Smith with the idea and wanted to be a part of the community effort."All it takes is one incident and one accidental lapse of judgment and we...

Arvada plans to refresh Olde Town and the city wants your ideas

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:00:01 GMT

Arvada plans to refresh Olde Town and the city wants your ideas ARVADA, Colo. (KDVR) — Arvada is getting ready to make long-term improvements to Olde Town and city officials want input from people who live, work and visit.Wednesday evening, Arvada hosted an open house to share a draft plan of its Olde Town strategic reinvestment plan with the community. Why you still have to mess with daylight saving time in Colorado "Arvada is a destination, and what we are in charge of as stewards of Olde Town is making it an environment that people want to come," Ryan Stachelski, director of community and economic development for the City of Arvada, said. Pedestrian zones could stay in Olde Town ArvadaOne of the main ideas being put forth is to keep the pedestrian zones that were implemented during the pandemic."Olde Town changed a lot as a result of the pandemic. We closed some streets and we wanted to make sure that we could accommodate social distancing and help businesses. Well, the community loved it so much that we really wanted to see how can we...

GOP leader McConnell hospitalized after fall, spokesman says

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:00:01 GMT

GOP leader McConnell hospitalized after fall, spokesman says WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell tripped and fell Wednesday at a hotel and was hospitalized, a spokesman for the senator said.McConnell, 81, was attending a private dinner at a local hotel when he tripped. He was admitted to a hospital for treatment, spokesman Doug Andres said.In 2019, the GOP leader, a survivor of childhood polio, tripped and fell at his home in Kentucky, suffering a shoulder fracture. At the time, he underwent surgery to repair the fracture in his shoulder. The Senate had just started a summer recess and he worked from home for some weeks as he recovered.First elected in 1984, McConnell in January became the longest-serving Senate leader when the new Congress convened, breaking the previous record of 16 years.The Senate, where the average age is 65, has been without several members recently due to illness.The office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., 90, said she was hospitalized last week to be treated for shingles.Sen. John Fetterman, ...

Florida Senate passes ‘Live Local’ affordable housing bill unanimously

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:00:01 GMT

Florida Senate passes ‘Live Local’ affordable housing bill unanimously The current Florida legislative session promises to be a battle of the bills, but one measure that aims to address one of the state’s biggest crises appears to have widespread support from both parties. The crisis, as lawmakers in the Florida State and House repeatedly pointed out on Wednesday, is housing.“We are in a housing crisis,” said Florida State Sen. Alexis Calatayud.It’s not something lawmakers need to tell most residents of the Sunshine State.Akilya Drake, an assistant public defender who lives in Broward County, said she understands what’s at stake all too well.“It was more than half my paycheck, the raise in rent for the same apartment,” she said. “I’m not living on South Beach; I’m living in Tamarac.”Wednesday evening, the Florida Senate passed what’s called the “Live Local” bill The measure would funnel millions of dollars to state housing programs, provide tax incentives for developers...

Emerson College graduates among Oscar nominees

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:00:01 GMT

Emerson College graduates among Oscar nominees Two of this year’s Oscar-nominated directors have ties to Boston as graduates from Emerson College. As the Oscars approach, one of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s former professors said he remembers the pair well.Kwan and Scheinert, known as “the Daniels,” directed “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”The pair met while studying film at Emerson. They thanked Professor John Craig Freeman while on stage this weekend for an awards ceremony.“We would not be here without the advocates, the cheerleaders, the people who really believed us and snuck us into the back door, starting with our teachers,” Kwan said.Kwan said Freeman “taught us how to teach ourselves.” “Thank you,” Kwan said. 7NEWS spoke with Freeman, the duo’s visual and media arts professor, who said the recent shoutout was the ultimate compliment coming from students he remembers well. “They were self actualizing artists, and they very much knew what they wanted to do, and they tr...