Hezbollah fires about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding at least 7 BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah has fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding seven people in one of the militant group’s heaviest barrages in months. Sunday's attacks in northern and central Israel came in response to deadly Israeli strikes in central Beirut on Saturday. Israel struck southern Beirut on Sunday. Meanwhile, negotiators press on with cease-fire efforts to halt the all-out war. And Lebanon's military says an Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center in the southwest killed one soldier and wounded 18 others. Israel's military has expressed regret and said its operations are directed solely against the militants. Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was killed, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Somalia says 24 people have died after 2 boats capsized in the Indian Ocean MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's government says 24 people died after two boats capsized off the Madagascar coast in the Indian Ocean. Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said 46 people were rescued. Most of the passengers were young Somalis, and their intended destination remains unclear. Many young Somalis embark every year on dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities abroad. A delegation led by the Somali ambassador to Ethiopia is scheduled to travel to Madagascar on Monday to investigate the incident and coordinate efforts to help survivors. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. Moscow offers debt forgiveness to new recruits and AP sees wreckage of a new Russian missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting debt forgiveness to new army recruits who enlist to fight in Ukraine. The measure, whose final version appeared on a government website Saturday, underscores Russia’s needs for military personnel in the nearly 3-year-old war, even as it fired last week a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. Russia has ramped up military recruitment by offering increasing financial incentives to those willing to fight in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Security Service on Sunday showed The Associated Press wreckage of the new intermediate-range ballistic missile that struck a factory in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Sunday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast last week, killing two people. After Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizers ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump's victory has dismayed many politically engaged Black women, and they're reassessing their enthusiasm for politics and organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote, and they had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Kamala Harris. AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. Pakistani police arrest thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of rally in the capital ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani security officer says police have arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in Islamabad to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year. But he remains popular and his party says the cases against him are politically motivated. Police Sunday arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters in eastern Punjab province, a Khan stronghold. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off the capital with shipping containers. It also suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” Uruguay's once-dull election has become a dead heat in the presidential runoff MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans are heading to the polls to choose their next president. In Sunday's election, the candidates of the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition are locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month’s vote. It's a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, a coalition of leftist and center-left parties that governed for 15 years until the 2019 victory of center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou — overseeing the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation.For the Birds: Interesting facts about eastern coyotes, by Chris Bosak
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DULUTH — Friends and colleagues took to social media to remember Mary Murphy upon the news of her death on Wednesday, Dec. 25. Murphy was the longest-serving female legislator and second-longest-serving member of the Minnesota House. Murphy died at the age of 85 on Christmas Day, just days after suffering a stroke . ADVERTISEMENT House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Fridley) announced Murphy’s death in a post on Facebook, which read: “She was a wonderful state representative and human being. So many people will miss her, and remember her and her accomplishments fondly.” “Mary was in so many ways ahead of her time and was often the only woman at the table in northern Minnesota,” U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a statement. “That’s changed now thanks to her trailblazing legacy.” Murphy was first elected to serve House District 14B from 1977-1982 and went on to serve District 8A from 1983-2002, District 6B from 2003-2012 and District 3B from 2013-2022. In 2022, Murphy lost the District 3B race against Republican Natalie Zeleznikar by a mere 33 votes. Zeleznikar, who retained the seat in the 2024 election, expressed condolences in a Facebook post, writing: “Mary worked hard for northern Minnesota, a place she called home her entire lifetime. Her dedication, service and hard work can be witnessed in multiple projects across the communities she served. I was honored to know her, and work with her on senior care issues during my nursing home administrator years.” A Hermantown High School graduate, Murphy earned a bachelor's degree in history and economics from the College of St. Scholastica and attended graduate school at multiple universities. Before retiring from the classroom in 1997, Murphy also served as a history and social studies teacher at Central High School in Duluth for more than three decades, a career Klobuchar cited in her tribute. ADVERTISEMENT “As a former teacher, she was a strong advocate for improving education for our children and she also fought to protect victims of domestic violence and stalking,” Klobuchar’s statement said. Murphy had championed programs like Head Start and DARE, as well as initiated legislation to fund statewide juvenile correction facilities. Last January, St. Louis County commissioners honored Murphy by renaming the Environmental Trust Fund in her honor. Having worked alongside Murphy during the redistricting process in 2010, Deputy Mayor of St. Paul Jaime Tincher commented: “Mary didn’t raise her voice, she didn’t engage in political sparring. Instead, she led with the quiet power of earned trust and deep credibility. Her effectiveness was rooted in the respect she had built over decades of service, and her ability to bring people together in ways that made them feel heard and valued, no matter their political affiliation.” During Murphy’s time in the House, she chaired multiple committees, including the judiciary finance, ethics, energy, and state government and veterans affairs committees. “As chair of bonding and later the Ways and Means Committee, she demonstrated an unwavering dedication to institutional support, always willing to offer her wisdom and advice on how best to approach the financial needs of our zoos,” State Rep. John Huot (DFL-Rosemount) posted on Facebook. “Mary was a remarkable legislator and a compassionate friend and mentor to many,” State Rep. Jay Xiong (DFL-St. Paul) said in a Facebook post. “Her unwavering commitment to her community and tireless advocacy for those in need have left an indelible mark on our state. Mary's legacy will continue to inspire us all as we strive to uphold the values she championed.” ADVERTISEMENT Murphy left a legacy of advocacy for women’s rights, health care, criminal justice, and labor and advocacy issues. Gov. Tim Walz spoke of Murphy as a “true champion for the Northland” in his post on Facebook and said “Gwen (his wife) and I are sending our love to her family.”
WASHINGTON — Jaylen Brown scored 31 points, and the Boston Celtics overcame an off night for Jayson Tatum to beat the Washington Wizards 108-96 in the NBA Cup on Friday night. The Celtics improved to 2-1 in East Group C of this competition with one game remaining. Washington is 0-2 and has lost 10 in a row overall. The Wizards hung in there in front of a crowd that included recently injured Capitals star Alex Ovechkin. Washington trailed by five in the final minute when Brown made a high arcing jumper to make it 99-92 with 46 seconds remaining. Tatum went 0 for 10 from 3-point range and scored 16 points, although a couple free throws with 11 seconds left enabled him to extend his streak to 55 consecutive games with at least 15 points. Jordan Poole led Washington with 23 points. Neither team shot well from 3-point range, with Boston finishing 11 of 46 and the Wizards going 7 of 28. Takeaways Celtics: Boston was missing Al Horford because of a non-COVID illness, and with Kristaps Porzingis also out, it fell to players like Luke Kornet to provide size. Kornet had six points and six rebounds without missing a shot from the field. Wizards: Washington did outscore Boston 52-30 in the paint, but this was a missed opportunity on a night the Celtics weren't at their best. Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, center, passes the ball off against Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly, left, and Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Washington. Credit: AP/John McDonnell Key moment Down by six in the fourth, Washington's Kyle Kuzma got himself free but missed a shot from in close. Tatum's jumper at the other end completed a four-point swing that gave the Celtics a 97-89 advantage. Key stat Only Luka Doncic (84 games entering Friday) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (61) have longer active streaks of scoring 15 points than Tatum. Up next The Celtics return home to face Minnesota on Sunday. Washington plays at Indiana that same day.Good Mama rewards consumers
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Amorim set for Man Utd bow, Man City aim to end slump(The Center Square) – Although it remains unclear how many Democratic Senators will vote for the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, some House members in the party have explained why they voted yes, despite a controversial provision restricting military-funded transgender surgeries for minors. The nearly $900 billion bill passed the House 281-140 Wednesday, with 200 Republicans and 81 Democrats voting in favor versus 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans voting against it. Most of the NDAA consists of bipartisan agreements, such as pay raises for service members, strengthened ties with U.S. allies, and funding of new military technology. But a critical point of contention is a Republican addition that would prohibit the military’s health program from covering any gender dysphoria treatments on minors that could "result in sterilization.” The must-pass bill is so critical that nearly 40% of House Democrats voted in favor–but not without expressing their disappointment. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., condemned Republican colleagues who, she said, “chose to sully this bill with political culture wars;” nevertheless, she voted in favor. “While it doesn't address everything we asked for and consider important, including the full ability of parents to make their own decisions about healthcare for their children, it marks a rare moment of productive bipartisan agreement on what is arguably the most crucial legislation we take up as a body each year,” Houlahan said. The bill’s provision does not forbid service members’ children from receiving transgender therapy. It forbids the military’s health insurance provider, TRICARE, from covering treatments on minors that “may result in sterilization.” Reps. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, and Terri Sewell, D-Ala., also voted in favor of the bill despite their displeasure at the ban. “The NDAA is a hugely important bill. We had to pass it, which is why I voted yes,” Landsman posted on X Friday. “However, the anti-trans language that was attached to it was mean and awful and should never have been included.” “I have serious concerns about some remaining provisions that were placed in the bill for political purposes,” Sewell said Wednesday. “Still, the responsibility to support our service members and provide for our national security is one that I do not take lightly, which is why I ultimately chose to support the bill.” Besides the importance of annual military funding, another reason some House Democrats assented to the legislation is because they were successful in axing other House Republican amendments, such as a plan to eliminate reimbursements for service members who travel to obtain abortions. The Senate is expected to pass the bill within the next few days, after which President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law.About 60 people filter into the large, open room in Northeast Portland, filling rows of metal-framed chairs. Some grab a cup of coffee. Others chat. The low rumble of conversation quickly subsides as a woman begins. “Our primary purpose is to stay crime-free,” she tells them, reading the group’s preamble from a laminated sheet of paper. While the setting is familiar to anyone who has attended an Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous session, this meeting has a different purpose. The one-of-a-kind Criminals Anonymous started in an Oregon prison six years ago when two men wanted to prove a prosecutor wrong by showing that they could change. The group now has chapters that meet weekly in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Lincoln counties. Participants pledge to follow its 12 steps to halt their “endless cycles of misery and disappointment.” They range from young men and women in their 20s to those in their 50s with long rap sheets. Some are parents balancing toddlers on their laps. Some are in drug treatment. Others are homeless. One night, a woman shuffled into the meeting using a walker. They have shoplifted, stolen cars, dealt drugs, assaulted others and more. “The reality is that some of us don’t know there is another choice because we’ve been doing it for so long,” said Jacquinetta Suzette “Suzy” Leon, 43, who helps lead the weekly Wednesday night meetings at the Miracles Club recovery center in Portland’s King neighborhood. Leon’s father was a member of a Mexican drug cartel, according to documents filed in court, and she grew up immersed in drugs and crime. “We get addicted to that fast money, fast life, the thrill of committing crime,” Leon said. No one is turned away at the Criminals Anonymous sessions. People tell their stories, typically using their first names. They share their latest achievements and struggles. They’re congratulated for staying crime-free for even one day, but many have made it past a year or two. They step up to receive color-coded rubber bracelets to mark how long they’ve stayed sober and avoided crime, all based on an honor system. The crowd enthusiastically applauds each person’s accomplishments. “My name is Kenneth,” a man says as he rises from his chair at a recent meeting. “Welcome, Kenneth!” people shout back in unison. “I’m an addict, a criminal, a liar ... all that good (expletive) that will get you locked up,” he continues. His first drinking buddy, he says, was his mother, who gave him alcohol when he was 6 years old. He smoked PCP, popped pills and did cocaine before moving to Oregon, where he got hooked on oxycodone, Adderall and eventually fentanyl. He ended up living on the streets of downtown Portland, “sleeping half of the day ... doing nothing with my life pretty much.” He tried treatment and other recovery programs, but nothing stuck until Crim-Anon, the group’s nickname. “I started listening to the message. I started doing what was suggested to me and then just worked the steps. ...I started feeling like me,” he says. He’s now 27 months sober and crime-free, he says. The group claps and cheers. BUNK MATES It’s far more than Harold R. “Bear” Cubbedge dreamed he could accomplish when he was serving a sentence of two years and three months at Columbia River Correctional Institution for stealing a Maserati. The theft conviction was his last in a string of crimes that put Cubbedge, now 58, behind bars for a total of 23 years, nearly half of his life. In 2018, Cubbedge was bunking next to Zane Grey Macziewski, who was serving about four years for burglary, theft, criminal mischief and fleeing police. The two already knew each other from Portland’s streets. Macziewski had a copy of his criminal case file and Cubbedge began reading through it. A prosecutor in the case notes observed that Macziewski, in his 50s, hadn’t aged out of crime and described him as a menace with “little hope” of changing. That damning pronouncement galvanized the men. They took it as a challenge to change. “There is hope,” Cubbedge protested. They convinced staff at the Northeast Portland prison to let them use a classroom to prove a point. Cubbedge promised a candy bar or container of instant soup from the prison canteen to their dorm mates if they attended a group meeting with him and Macziewski. All were doing time for shoplifting or theft. A motley group of largely “lethargic guys” gathered around a table, Cubbedge recalled. Their demeanors changed only when he asked them to describe their best “boosting” techniques. “All of a sudden they lit up,” he said. “Those guys’ heads were lighting up like Christmas trees.” Cubbedge said the reaction proved a revelation: These men were addicted to the thrill of committing crimes. “We get high off of thinking about it. We got a high off of planning it and carrying it out,” he said. Criminals Anonymous was born. Together, Cubbedge and Macziewski drafted 12 steps and 12 precepts to accept responsibility for their crimes, recognize the consequences of the crimes to their victims and themselves and pledge no further harm with help from a community of others committed to doing the same. Cubbedge drew from books he read by the Dalai Lama and other philosophers about their “keys for living life.” “It’s really about coming up with new values because my old ones weren’t working,” he said. The first step is acknowledging: “We suffer an attachment to crime, the actual act of crime, the criminal lifestyle and the self-image that’s attached to it, and that our lives have become unmanageable.” The first precept: “We believe in the fundamental gentleness and goodness in ourselves and all human beings.” Macziewski was released from prison first in mid-July 2019 and promised to start meetings on the outside. He had trouble finding a place to meet because no one wanted to host “a bunch of criminals,” he said. But finally, they were allowed to gather in the kitchen of a Southeast Portland church. “I’ve been to a lot of different meetings and a lot of treatment. They never talk about the crime part of it,” said Macziewski, 59. “For me, I was more addicted to crime than I was to drugs or anything else. We decided there’s got to be a better way.” In addition to the meetings, Cubbedge, Macziewski and other veteran participants speak in court on behalf of Crim-Anon colleagues – some who have slipped up and others who joined the group while awaiting sentencing. “We don’t shoot our wounded,” said Cubbedge, who this week celebrated seven years crime-free, his longest stint. “Some people go on extended relapses and go back to the lifestyle. But the seed has been planted. It’s about being there for them. We are not responsible for the outcome. We are responsible for the effort.” Those who wish to take on a leadership role in the group can apply to become part of its “Elders Circle” if they’ve committed no crimes for at least 90 days. They must attend at least four events each month, lead community outreach or fundraising activities, sponsor others and vow not to break the law or use drugs. Cubbedge estimates that thousands of people have attended the group’s meetings. Multnomah County Senior Judge Eric J. Bloch said he has seen the difference that Criminals Anonymous can make. Cubbedge graduated from the judge’s specialty court that helps provide treatment to repeat property offenders addicted to drugs. Bloch said the idea that crime can be an addiction has resonated with people who come before him. “If folks are willing to put together a program where they’re willing to connect, support and rally around general concepts of sobriety and law-abidingness, I’m all for that,” Bloch said. “It’s a fairly large network at this point.” John Fitzgerald, a licensed professional counselor and certified addiction specialist who has advised Bloch, said the definition of addiction -- psychological and physical dependence – is no longer restricted to alcohol and drug abuse. It has expanded to address other behaviors, including gambling, sex, eating and technology addictions. So it’s not surprising, he said, that the definition can apply to repeat offenders. Extreme behavior often stems from untreated trauma, he said. “I would never take anything away from people who are trying to help themselves,” Fitzgerald said. Christina Anderson, program director of community and corrections counseling for Volunteers of America, said the nonprofit allows the support meetings at some of its sites. It shows that they can reimagine themselves despite their entrenched identity – “their criminal lifestyle is part of who they become,” she said. “Crim-Anon gives them this sense of community and relationships and recognition that they can rebuild their lives after a life of crime,” she said. RAP SHEETS Cubbedge and Macziewski talk openly about their decades in and out of prison. Cubbedge started stealing at a young age in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was a way to find relief and pleasure, he said, after his father left his mother when he was 6 and he blamed himself. At the beach, he would swipe people’s keys off their towels and run back to their hotel rooms and take whatever they had. By 12, he said he ran “a little burglary ring.” “I had pockets full of money,” he said. “I had buyers for all kinds of stuff.” He thought of himself as Robin Hood. He befriended tennis pros at a local club, got personal lessons, played tennis in high school and got a four-year scholarship to play at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia. But he was expelled after two years when someone found a gun in his dorm room. He said he had stolen the pistol used in competitive shooting during one of his earlier hotel room burglaries. By age 21, he had dropped out of another school, Florida State University. He started using cocaine and stole $20,000 out of the safe at a Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant where he worked as a night cook. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. Once he got out, he followed a girlfriend to Oregon, got a job as a meat wholesaler and salesman and soon married the woman. But he relapsed into using cocaine and returned to crime. From 1996 through 2008, he racked up six convictions in Oregon and Washington for being a felon with a gun, criminal mischief, robbery, theft, burglary and possession of methamphetamine, according to court records. He stole the red Maserati Ghibli in Clackamas County in June 2017 at age 51. While serving time for stealing the sports car, he promised his dying mother that he would start Criminals Anonymous. He said goodbye to her over a phone from prison. He said he watched his mother, cousins and sister “grow old in pictures without being there for them.” “That’s the greatest theft that I’ve ever committed in my life – stealing time away from my family,” he said. Cubbedge now lives in and manages a group home in Hillsboro for the nonprofit Transcending Hope Recovery Homes. He’s also a certified alcohol and drug counselor and runs a side business printing mini pamphlets to promote recovery housing and second-chance employment. Agencies pay him to advertise their programs. “We can’t make up for all the stuff that we’ve done,” he said. “But we can make living amends and become better human beings.” Macziewski was raised in unincorporated Redland in Clackamas County by an alcoholic and a drug addict, he said. “I’ve been committing crimes ever since I can remember,” he said. “I stole every single day, every single night to pay for drugs.” He started with heroin, then methamphetamine. He typically stole from job sites or unfinished homes to get money for drugs. “I never had more than one day of sobriety,” he said. “Stealing was all I knew.” In 2016, he stole a refrigerator from a home under construction in Northwest Portland, then fled from police in a truck and was caught with a fake ID. Those crimes landed him in prison for the eighth time – but also put him in the same dorm as Cubbedge. After his release five years ago, Macziewski went to work to establish Criminals Anonymous outside the prison walls, armed with a laminated copy of the 12 steps and 12 precepts. “When I came back out, this gave me something else. This gave me hope,” he said. Macziewski now works as a foreman for a construction company, is married and lives in a house with his wife and 4-year-old daughter. ROAD TO RECOVERY Simon Cheesman, who once ran Avalon Antiques & Vintage Clothing store, credits Criminals Anonymous for helping pull him out of his descent into drug use and dealing. He had moved the longtime family-owned business out of downtown to the east side after protests erupted in the city core when Donald Trump was first elected. The business went downhill. When he couldn’t keep up with the rent and bills, he said, he shuttered the shop and turned to selling cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine. He had one cocaine possession charge that was dismissed. Last year, Cheesman went to detox with the help of his son and then to residential treatment. During his first week of treatment, someone from Criminals Anonymous showed up to talk about the group. What stood out to him about Crim-Anon was how its members have each other’s backs. If someone in another recovery group relapsed, they might be ashamed to show their face at a subsequent meeting, he said. “But at Crim-Anon, they’re like, ‘Hey, if you slipped, just get back up,’” he said. Crim-anon mentors share their phone numbers with others and check in on people. Meetings are held several times a week at different locations, including separate ones for men’s or women’s groups. Leaders of drug treatment programs often allow a Crim-Anon leader to pitch their program at their sessions. Now Cheesman, 57, is 20 months crime-free and a manager of a sober house of 21 men in Oregon City. Addison “Addy” Blackmon III, addicted for decades to cocaine and crack, said Criminals Anonymous helped him realize the devastation his drug dealing brought to people like him. He has been busted for cocaine, heroin and marijuana possession and running from police. “It’s not OK to have fine things by taking advantage of someone else’s disease,” said Blackmon, 53. “Criminals Anonymous gave me a conscience.” He serves as a mentor to others and manages a recovery house. Leon, the meeting leader who grew up with a father who worked for a cartel, became addicted to methamphetamine at age 12. She pleaded guilty in September in federal court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. She had been caught more than a year earlier on a wiretap working to get methamphetamine from a supplier in Mexico. Drug Enforcement Administration agents then seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine from Leon in late June 2023, according to court records. After her indictment, she was released while awaiting trial to inpatient drug treatment at Volunteers of America. Part of the treatment included weekly trips to the Criminals Anonymous meeting in Northeast Portland, she said. Leon said she spent years in and out of drug recovery programs. She found “the vibe” different at Criminals Anonymous. The people, she said, were raw and honest about their pasts. “Everyone was welcoming and non-judgmental,” she said. “It made me realize the persona that I had built over the years was all around this criminal mindset. I sort of normalized it.” She has spent 17 months crime-free, she said. “We praise people for their first day crime-free,” she said. “They come in broken, their life’s a mess. We all know that reality. You realize how quickly your life can look like that again.’’ Members of the group pursue what they call “fields of merit,” such as community service and fundraisers, to make amends for their past. Leon has sought donations for a clothing closet for people in treatment and for Christmas toy drives. She works as an outpatient drug and alcohol counselor for Northwest Family Services, helps manage a recovery house for LatinX Transcending Hope in Milwaukie and is a certified recovery mentor who uses her bilingual skills to support others. Crystal Gallaher has watched her friend go through recovery only to relapse multiple times, but she said Leon has found support and accountability with Criminals Anonymous. Gallaher used to be on the street selling drugs with Leon but got clean nearly 13 years ago and now works for Multnomah County’s Behavioral Health Department. “She’s always been a hustler,” Gallaher said. “It’s a matter of changing what she’s hustling. She always ended up back in the environments that were risky.” Now, Gallaher said, Leon recognizes: “Oh, I got something else to hustle. There is hope for me. I can use it to motivate and create change.” It’s a powerful responsibility, Leon said. “I get to help people on their journey. I get to be all of the things that I never had,” she said. “I get to advocate for women who are losing their children or women who don’t know where they’re going in life -- and I get to help them find their way.” She has reunited with her three grown children and one grandchild. “I hurt a lot of people,” she said. “I’ve created a life I really adore now. I have something to lose now.” While she still faces a future sentencing in court, she said she’s confident in her ability to stay crime- and drug-free. “Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. I’ve got to pay for it,” she said. “And I’m going to get out and still be on the right path. I don’t want to do it again.” Find more about Criminals Anonymous, locations and times of group meetings, its 12 steps and contacts at crimanon.org -- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com , follow her on X @maxoregonian , or on LinkedIn . Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com .
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — SMU will visit Penn State in the opening round of the College Football Playoff with the winner advancing to face Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. The Mustangs lost 34-31 to No. 13 Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game but earned the No. 11 seed as the CFP's last at-large selection over Alabama on Sunday. SMU's berth gave the ACC two teams in the 12-team playoff a year after unbeaten Florida State was left out of the four-team bracket. Penn State earned the CFP's No. 6 seed after losing 45-37 to top-ranked Oregon in the Big Ten championship. The winner will face No. 8 Boise State and electric running back Ashton Jeanty at Glendale's State Farm Stadium on Dec. 31. The Mountain West champion Broncos (12-1) were awarded the No. 3 seed in the CFP over Big 12 champion Arizona State. Boise State has a strong history at the Fiesta Bowl, starting with its wild win over Oklahoma in 2007. The Broncos lost to Oregon by three early in the season, then closed the season with 11 straight wins. SMU (11-2) has made a long climb back to relevance since receiving the death penalty from the NCAA in 1987. Coach Rhett Lashlee has ushered the Mustangs into a new era, leading them to three straight bowl games and consecutive 11-win seasons — the latest good enough for a CFP berth. The Nittany Lions (11-2) overcame their own scandal to reach the CFP for the first time. James Franklin has steadied the program since the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal led to the firing of longtime coach Joe Paterno in 2011. The Nittany Lions have won at least 10 games six times in 11 seasons under Franklin. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 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-footballLooking back at his unsuccessful attempts at entering politics, actor Rajinikanth on Sunday recalled how he was overwhelmed upon being bombarded with advice. The actor lauded Chief Minister Janaki Ramachandran for not having listened to any advice, and for making a decision on her own to endorse Jayalalithaa’s leadership of the AIADMK (following the divided AIADMK’s defeat in the 1989 Assembly election). “I had said in 2017 that I will enter politics. After that, I met so many people, and many came to advice me. If I had to listen to all of them, that was it, I would have lost my peace. I do not know if they actually knew what they were talking about,” Rajinikanth said in a video, which was played at the birth centenary celebrations of Janaki, organised by the AIADMK here. Quoting spiritualist Ramakrishna Paramahamsa that decisions should be made for one’s good as well as others’ welfare, Mr. Rajinikanth said the decision that Janaki had taken was in line with this ideal. He recalled various anecdotes to underline the lives of AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran and his wife Janaki. Referring to the split of the AIADMK after MGR’s death, Mr. Rajinikanth recalled how the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol, “the brahmastram of the AIADMK”, was frozen and the factions lost in the elections soon after. Having realised that she was not cut out for politics, Janaki invited Jayalalithaa and said that the latter had the courage and maturity to lead the AIADMK. She then withdrew from politics, the actor said. He thanked AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and others for having organised Janaki’s birth centenary celebrations. Published - November 24, 2024 11:15 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
‘Gave absolutely everything’: Qld swimming great McKeon retiresRuth Langsford spends Boxing Day in hospital with her elderly mother following horror fall as she celebrates first Christmas since Eamonn Holmes split
Pep Guardiola admits he is questioning himself after Manchester City’s latest defeat left them in danger of missing out on the Champions League knockout stages. City slumped to their seventh defeat in 10 games in all competitions as they were beaten 2-0 at Juventus in their latest European outing on Wednesday. Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie at the Allianz Stadium left Guardiola’s side languishing in 22nd place in the standings. Juventus beat Man City 💪 #UCL pic.twitter.com/H4KL15iCke — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 11, 2024 With just two games of the league phase remaining, a place in the top eight and automatic last-16 qualification looks beyond them and they face a battle just to stay in the top 24 and claim a play-off spot. City manager Guardiola said: “Of course I question myself but I’m stable in good moments and bad moments. “I try to find a way to do it. I’m incredibly honest. If we play good (I say) we played good and today I thought we played good. “Our game will save us. We can do it. We conceded few chances compared to the Nottingham Forest game that we won. We’re making the right tempo. “We missed the last pass, did not arrive in the six-yard box (at the right time) or have the composure at the right moment. “But I love my team. This is life, it happens. Sometimes you have a bad period but I’m going to insist until we’re there.” City now face a crunch trip to Paris St Germain, who are also at risk of failing to qualify, next month. Guardiola accepts the top 24 is now the only aim. He said: “It’s the target. We need one point or three points. We go to Paris to try to do it and the last game at home.” Veteran midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said after the game he felt City were suffering from a loss of confidence but Guardiola dismissed his player’s comments. “I am not agreeing with Ilkay,” he said. “Of course it is tough but, except one or two games in this period, we’ve played good.” City now face a further test of their resolve as they host rivals Manchester United in a derby on Sunday. "We played well" Pep Guardiola trusts in his squad despite 2-0 loss to Juventus... 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/VrmTzcTrEF — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 11, 2024 Gundogan told TNT Sports: “It (confidence) is a big part of it. That’s a mental issue as well. “You can see that sometimes we miss the ball or lose a duel and you see that we drop immediately and lose the rhythm. They (the opponents) don’t even need to do much but it has such a big effect on us right now. “Even more you have to do the simple things as good as possible and create and fluidity, then it’s work hard again. This is how you get confidence back – do the small and simple things, (but) in crucial moments at the moment we are always doing the wrong things.” Juventus coach Thiago Motta was pleased with the hosts’ performance, which boosted their hopes of making the top eight. “It was a deserved victory,” he said. “We had to defend as a team and be ready to attack with quality. “We have shown we can compete at this level and now we have to do it consistently.”
Day 3 explored the philosophical contributions to the quality of life, and the ethical implications of AI and its impact on human life RIYADH, Saudi Arabia , Dec. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Riyadh International Philosophy Conference 2024 concluded its third and final day with a series of thought-provoking sessions exploring the theme of quality of life. The three-day event was held at the King Fahad National Library in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia , and brought together over 60 renowned global thinkers, including prominent figures such as Dr. Fausto Fraisopi, Dr. Abdelrahim Dekkoun, and Dr. Nermine Ezzeldin . Mr. Khalid AlSameti, General Manager of the General Administration of Literature at the Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission Dr. Mohammed bin Hasan Alwan , Chief Executive Officer of the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, expressed his happiness with the success of the conference, stating: "This conference has showcased the power of philosophy to address the most pressing challenges of our time. By bringing together leading thinkers from around the world, we have fostered meaningful dialogue and inspired new ideas for a better future". The conference concluded with a powerful speech by Mr. Khalid AlSameti, General Manager of the General Administration of Literature at the Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission, who confirmed that: "The conference attracted visitors from all segments of society, with more than 5,400 visitors over its three days, creating a fertile environment that brings together the unique capabilities that the Kingdom embraces with its strategic understanding with its local and international partners. The General Administration of Literature seeks to make this conference a platform that leads the philosophical research movement and a pioneering academic event, not only in the Middle East , but also around the world". A Global Gathering of Minds The third day's program addressed a variety of topics related to human flourishing, from the role of philosophy in shaping a better future to the challenges of achieving quality of life in a multicultural world. A key highlight of the day was a session titled " A Philosophical Framework for Enhancing the Quality of Life in Cities in the Context of Diversity and Multiculturalism " led by Dr. Walid Al-Zamil . He discussed the importance of creating inclusive and equitable cities that respect the diverse needs and values of all residents. Another session titled " The Role of Social Solidarity in Supporting Female Athletes with Disabilities " by Ms. Najat Al-Shafai shed light on the importance of social support in empowering women with disabilities to participate in sports and recreation. Furthermore, the conference explored the intersection of philosophy and religion through sessions investigating the nature of the soul and its role in human life. Dr. Chafik Graigue discussed the concept of despair and its philosophical implications, while Professor Hossam Abdellatif examined the changing meaning of human dignity and its challenges in a high-tech society. These sessions offered valuable insights into the eternal questions of human existence and the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements. Inspiring Future Generations The conference also featured a panel discussion by Dr. Robert Bernasconi , and a session on " Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on the Quality of Human Life: New Horizons and Ethical Challenges " led by Dr. Ingy Hamdi . This session delved into the complex ethical implications of AI and explored how to ensure that technology is used to enhance human well-being rather than diminish it. It also offered a variety of workshops and seminars on topics such as argumentation skills, critical thinking, aesthetics, and the history of logic in Islamic civilization. These workshops provided participants with practical tools and insights to apply philosophical thinking in their daily lives. Additionally, the conference established partnerships with prestigious international organizations, including New Philosopher and The School of Life, for the first time in Saudi Arabia As part of the Quality of Life Program, the conference underscores the relevance of philosophy in addressing contemporary societal challenges. By bridging the gap between academic thought and real-world applications, the conference reflects the Kingdom's commitment to intellectual enrichment and cultural exchange. The Riyadh International Philosophy Conference 2024 achieved remarkable success by bringing together leading thinkers from around the world to discuss the most pressing issues of our time, explore the philosophical foundations of quality of life, and inspire new ideas and approaches to create a better future for all. For more information, visit the conference's webpage .
