A top US official sought to quell growing concern Sunday over reported drone sightings in the country's northeast, reiterating there was no known security threat as authorities monitor the situation. President Joe Biden's administration has faced mounting criticism for not clearly identifying origins of the objects seen hovering over parts of New York and New Jersey. The criticism has come even from Biden's own party, with top Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer calling Sunday for action to make it easier for federal, state and local authorities to work together to detect and if need be "bring down" any drone seen to pose a threat. Video footage of mysterious airborne phenomena recently has clogged social media, with spottings also reported in Maryland and Virginia. "Some of those drone sightings are, in fact, drones. Some are manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" program. "But there's no question that drones are being sighted," he said, noting there are more than one million registered across the United States. "I want to assure the American public that we are on it," he said. "If we identify any foreign involvement or criminal activity, we will communicate with the American public accordingly. Right now, we are not aware of any." Even as Mayorkas sought to reassure the public, Boston police announced Sunday that two Massachusetts men had been arrested the previous night for allegedly conducting a "hazardous drone operation" near the city's Logan International Airport. State police were conducting a search for a third suspect, who authorities said fled the scene. Schumer, in a letter to Mayorkas Sunday, urged the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special drone-detection technology across New York and New Jersey, since traditional radar struggles to detect such small objects. He also called for passage of legislation to explicitly authorize state and local law enforcement to work with federal agencies to detect and "bring down drones that threaten critical facilities or mass gatherings." Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, meanwhile expressed frustration at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over its communications around the issue. "The answer 'we don't know' is not a good enough answer," he told "Fox News Sunday." "When people are anxious... people will fill a vacuum with, you know, their fears and anxieties and conspiracy theories," he said, calling for the FAA to hold public briefings. White House national security spokesman John Kirby had previously said the aircraft could be lawfully operated planes or helicopters mistaken for drones. "While there is no known malicious activity occurring, the reported sightings there do, however, highlight a gap in authorities," he said Thursday, calling for Congress to pass new legislation to "extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities." New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Sunday that authorities had agreed to send a drone detection system to her state. "I am grateful for the support, but we need more. Congress must pass a law that will give us the power to deal directly with the drones," she said on X. On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump urged federal authorities to clearly identify the drones' origins. "Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!" he posted on social media. As the price of drones has fallen -- small quadcopter models with Wi-Fi camera capability can be purchased for as little as $40 -- their numbers and popularity have soared, making their presence in American skies a greater concern. acb/des/bbk/mlmBenfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. Both sides have already met once this season, with As Aguias claiming a 1-0 victory in their Primeira Liga clash back in August thanks to a first-half strike from Orkun Kokcu. © Imago Benfica turned in a performance of the highest quality in their final outing before the international break as they thrashed rivals Porto 4-1 in the latest edition of the heated O Classico on November 10. After Alvaro Carreras and Samuel Omorodion scored for either side to end the first half level, veteran forward Angel Di Maria put on a show in the second half as he scored either side of Nehuen Perez 's 61st-minute own goal to inspire the hosts to a comfortable victory. Prior to that, Benfica saw this run of three back-to-back victories across all competitions come to an end on November 6, when they were beaten 1-0 by German powerhouse Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena courtesy of Jamal Musiala 's 67th-minute effort. With the result against Porto, Bruno Lage 's men have now picked up eight wins and one draw from their 10 Primeira Liga matches to sit third in the standings, eight points adrift of league leaders Sporting Lisbon, albeit with one game in hand. Benfica now turn their focus to the Taca de Portugal, where they kicked off their quest for a record-extending 27th title with a 2-0 third-round victory over Campeonato de Portugal outfit Pevidem on October 19 courtesy of a brace from German midfielder Jan-Niklas Beste. © Imago Estrela Amadora, on the other hand, avoided an upset in the Taca de Portugal third round on October 19 when they needed extra-time to secure a 3-1 victory over third-tier Anadia at the Estadio Municipal Engenheiro Sílvio Henriques Cerveira on October 19. Yan Maranhao struck in the 25th minute to put Anadia in front before Pedro Gaio inadvertently netted a 92nd-minute own goal to level matters and take the tie to extra-time, where Rodrigo Pinho and Andre Luiz hit the target to turn the game on its head. Estrela Amadora head into this weekend's clash off the back of snapping their three-game winless run in the Primeira Liga on November 11, when they edged out Nacional 2-0 at the Estadio Jose Gomes thanks to late goals from Paulo Moreira and 26-year-old Kikas . Jose Faria 's men have struggled for consistency in the league this season, losing six of their 11 matches so far while claiming two wins and three draws to collect nine points and sit 15th in the standings, just one point above the bottom three. While Estrela will be looking to pick up from where they left off against Nacional and march on in their cup quest on Saturday, they face the daunting challenge of taking on a Benfica side who have won each of their previous seven encounters since November 2008. © Imago Benfica remain without the services of 23-year-old forward Tiago Gouveia , who has been out of action since coming off with a shoulder injury in the 1-0 victory over Estrela Amadora back in August. He is joined on As Aguias' injury table by teenage forward Gianluca Prestianni , who has missed each of the last seven matches since sustaining an ankle injury back in October. Luxembourg international Leandro Barreiro picked up a thigh problem while on international duty against Northern Ireland on November 18 and the 24-year-old is ruled out of Saturday's clash. As for Estrala, Bruno Brigido was forced off injured midway through the game against Nacional last time out and the 33-year-old goalkeeper is a doubt for the trip to the Estadio da Luz. Should he fail to shake off the injury, former Porto man Francisco Meixedo should start between the sticks, with Danilo Veiga , Ferro , Miguel Lopes and 35-year-old Ruben Lima forming the back four. At the opposite end of the pitch, we expect Rodrigo Pinho and Jovane Cabral to form the two-man attack while Igor Jesus and Brazilian midfielder Leo Cordeiro should retain their roles at the centre of the park. Benfica possible starting lineup: Trubin; Bah, Araujo, Otamendi, Carreras; Aursnes, Luis; Di Maria, Kokcu, Akturkoglu; Pavlidis Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup: Meixedo; Veiga, Ferro, Lopes, Lima; Bucca, Jesus, Cordeiro, Nilton; Pinho, Cabral Following their emphatic victory over Porto last time out, Benfica will look to keep the juggernaut rolling this weekend as they take on an Estrela side who have struggled for consistency this season. Given the gulf in quality and depth between the two teams, and their contrasting form, we fancy Lage's men to come away with the desired result in normal time. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .
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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Two people were rescued and a third swam to safety after a California pier under construction partially collapsed and fell into the ocean Monday as the state's central coast was pounded by heavy surf from a major storm expected to bring hurricane-force winds to the seas off the Pacific Northwest, authorities said. Residents were warned to stay away from low-lying areas near the beaches around the Santa Cruz Wharf, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco, as the storm rapidly gained strength. “You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service's Bay Area office said on the social platform X. Lifeguards rescued two people from the water, officials with Santa Cruz Fire Department said. No one had serious injuries, Mayor Fred Keeley said. The mayor said the section of the wharf that collapsed had been damaged over time. The structure was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter. “It’s a catastrophe for those down at the end of the wharf," said David Johnston, owner of Venture Quest Kayaking, who was allowed onto the pier to check on his business. Tony Elliot, the head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that about 150 feet (45 meters) of the end of the wharf fell into the water around 12:45 p.m. It was immediately evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely. Some of the wharf’s pilings are still in the ocean and remain “serious, serious hazards” to boats, the mayor said. Each piling weighs hundreds of pounds and is being pushed by powerful waves. Gov. Gavin Newsom's has been briefed and the state's Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with local officials, his office said. Forecasters warned that storm swells will continue to increase throughout the day. “We are anticipating that what is coming toward us is more serious than what was there this morning,” the mayor said. Ocean swells along California's central coast could reach 60 feet (18 meters) as the Pacific storm gains strength through Monday, the weather service said. “A rapidly developing storm will bring hurricane force winds to the areas well offshore of the Pacific Northwest tonight,” the weather service's Ocean Prediction Center said on X. The end of the pier that broke off had been shut down during renovations. The portion, which included public restrooms and the closed Dolphin restaurant, floated about half a mile (0.8 kilometers) down the coast and wedged itself at the bottom of the San Lorenzo River. Those who fell into the water were two engineers and a project manager who were inspecting the end of the wharf, officials said. No members of the public were in the area. Building inspectors were now looking at the rest of the Santa Cruz Wharf’s structural integrity. Monday's collapse came about a year after the Seacliff State Beach pier just down the coast was battered beyond repair by a heavy winter storm. Further up the West Coast, dangerous surf conditions and waves up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) were expected from the central Oregon coast up through southwestern Washington. Winds could peak near 80 mph (130 kph) and a high surf warning in effect until 10 p.m. Monday night, forecasters said. In a post on X, the National Weather Service office in Portland, Oregon, said “it will likely go down as some of the highest surf this winter.” ___ Dazio reported from Los Angeles.
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MINNEAPOLIS — For 15 years, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof has turned the traditional "holiday gift guide" into a philanthropic mission, highlighting organizations that champion health and education. He's helped raise more than $1 million for the nonprofit Reach Out and Read. For its Minnesota chapter, this additional funding comes at a crucial time. According to the Minnesota Department of Education, only 46.5% of third graders in the state are reading proficiently. At over 300 clinics across Minnesota, babies and young toddlers are getting more than a lollipop for going to the doctor. They get free books on every well visit thanks to Reach Out and Read. "The books that they're giving out at these visits might be the only books that these kids have in their home," said Kristen Hoplin, Executive Director of Reach Out and Read Minnesota. "Literacy is absolutely a health care issue," said Dr. Gigi Chawla, Chief of Pediatrics at Children's Minnesota. She believes so much in the program she also serves as its state medical director. Chawla says she and other doctors use the books to gauge a child's development. "Seeing how kids can transfer objects from one hand to another. How they are opening up a book," said Chawla. She says doctors are also studying the interaction between parent or caregiver and child. "That's actually the most important part. We really want to make sure that parents recognize that that is how they can start that interaction with their child and cultivate that social and emotional intelligence," Chawla said. "We know that kids that are read to early and have books in their home and are sharing books, they have higher language scores. Early on they go to school more ready to learn," Hoplin said. Reach Out and Read Minnesota has a catalog of diverse books that physicians can select for their patients. Chawla says they serve as both mirrors and windows. "Kids and families should see themselves as the star of a book as the star of their own story and windows as it gives you a context of which to see a whole new world," Chawla said. She says the program is changing lives. "It gives people a context for making up their own stories, telling their own stories and it cuts across all races, all demographics," Chawla said. Reach Out and Read Minnesota distributed close to 300,000 books across the state over the last school year. Funds raised over the holidays will help them serve more of Greater Minnesota. Click here to learn more. Derek James anchors Saturday and Sunday evening newscasts and contributes stories during the week on "The 4."Crisis PR on the Hot Seat After Blake Lively Alleges ‘Smear Campaign’: Hollywood Insiders Say ‘There’s a Code You Don’t Breach’
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Tony Osburn's 23 points helped Omaha defeat Lamar 65-59 at the Akron Basketball Classic in Akron, Ohio on Sunday. Osburn shot 7 of 13 from the field, including 5 for 9 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line for the Mavericks (3-5). Ja'Sean Glover added 14 points while going 4 of 9 from the floor, including 3 for 5 from 3-point range, and 3 for 5 from the line while they also had five rebounds. Marquel Sutton had 13 points and shot 4 of 14 from the field and 4 for 4 from the line. The Mavericks ended a five-game losing streak with the victory. The Cardinals (1-5) were led in scoring by Alexis Marmolejos, who finished with 15 points and four assists. Cody Pennebaker added 11 points and six rebounds for Lamar. Andrew Holifield finished with nine points, three steals and four blocks. NEXT UP Both teams play on Saturday. Omaha hosts Abilene Christian and Lamar hosts Our Lady of the Lake. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
German auto supplier Bosch to cut 5,500 jobs in further sign of auto industry woesEDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Ray'Sean Taylor had 18 points in SIU-Edwardsville's 100-52 win over Eureka on Sunday. Taylor finished 6 of 9 from 3-point range for the Cougars (7-4). Jordan Pickett shot 4 of 7 from the field, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 7 from the line to add 17 points. Ring Malith had 16 points and shot 6 for 7, including 3 for 3 from beyond the arc. Raymond Bandzoumouna Jr. led the way for the Red Devils with 10 points. Sam DeJesus added eight points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
