Pope says ‘our hearts are in Bethlehem’ as he presides over the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:58:24 GMT

Pope says ‘our hearts are in Bethlehem’ as he presides over the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s VATICAN CITY (AP) — Recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable in Bethlehem, Pope Francis in a Christmas Eve homily said that “the clash of arms even today” prevents Jesus “from finding room in the world.” The pontiff presided Sunday over the evening Mass attended by about 6,500 faithful who took their place amid the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica behind rows of white-clad prelates.“Our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, ” the pope said, referring to the war sparked by Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 rampage and hostage-taking in Israel. As Mass began, a statuette of the Christ child was unveiled before the altar bedecked in greenery and white flowers, and children representing all corners of the globe placed flowers around a gilded throne.Francis, draped in white robes, led the Mass standing at the foot of one of St. Peter’s grand columns.Recalling that Jesus was born during a census meant to reinforce King David’s power, Franc...

A big avalanche has closed the highway on the Kenai Peninsula south of Anchorage

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:58:24 GMT

A big avalanche has closed the highway on the Kenai Peninsula south of Anchorage SEWARD, Alaska (AP) — A large avalanche and blizzard conditions in southern Alaska cut off road access Sunday to much of the Kenai Peninsula south of Anchorage.The avalanche hit the Seward Highway near the intersection of the Sterling Highway around 8 a.m. Sunday. Highway officials expected the road to remain closed for at least 12 hours.The closure 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Anchorage cut off communities served by the two roads including Seward, a town of about 2,600 on the Gulf of Alaska.Avalanche warnings were in effect for the southeastern Kenai Peninsula amid a combination of snow and wind gusting to 30 mph (50 kilometers per hour).The Associated Press

'Babe...I just got shot': Bullet hits pregnant Colorado mom, barely misses kids

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:58:24 GMT

'Babe...I just got shot': Bullet hits pregnant Colorado mom, barely misses kids AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — A pregnant Colorado woman has been released from the hospital after she was hit by a stray bullet while sleeping inside her home this week.Kendall Heinold said she and her family woke up to the sound of gunfire in their Aurora neighborhood early Thursday morning. “[There] was just a really loud noise and then a lot of pain on my left side,” she said. "My husband was sleeping next to me, and he got up and was like, ‘Did you hear that?’ because it was so loud. And I just looked at him and was like, ‘Babe, call 911, I just got shot.'" Unexpected factor behind death of former NFL player Mike Williams Heinold was taken to a hospital, where doctors found a bullet lodged in her shoulder.The 27-year-old is 16 weeks pregnant and said doctors decided to leave the bullet in her rather than place her under anesthesia for surgery. Aurora police believe that the bullet may have traveled hundreds of feet in the air over a greenbelt that backs up to the family's home.B...

FDA warns of fake Ozempic in US drug supply chain

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:58:24 GMT

FDA warns of fake Ozempic in US drug supply chain (The Hill) -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an advisory Thursday warning customers not to use counterfeit Ozempic shots found in the drug supply chain.The administration said it is investigating occurrences of fake semaglutide — the drug found in weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy — and said it has already seized thousands of units of the counterfeit product. What doctors are saying about the new weight loss drug Zepbound The agency advised wholesalers, retail pharmacies, health care practitioners and patients to check the products they receive and to not distribute, sell or use products labeled with NAR0074 and serial number 430834149057, as some counterfeit products may still be available.This photo combo provided by the FDA shows an authentic Ozempic needle, left and a counterfeit needle, right. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it has seized “thousands of units” of counterfeit Ozempic, the diabetes drug widely used for weight loss, t...

House explosion in Rogers kills one, injures five others

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:58:24 GMT

House explosion in Rogers kills one, injures five others Rogers (FOX 44/KWKT) -- The Bell County Fire Marshal is investigating a house explosion that killed one person and injured five others in Rogers Sunday morning.The Rogers Volunteer Fire Department tells FOX 44 News the explosion happened around 9:05 a.m. on West Gulf Avenue. When firefighters arrived, they found the home damaged by the blast. All of the injured adults were taken to Baylor Scott and White with minor to serious injuries. Some had burns from the explosion.While the cause of the explosion is unknown at this time, a gas leak was discovered and firefighters evacuated all of the surrounding houses on the block. There is no word yet on when the people will be allowed to return to their homes. Along with Rogers VFD, firefighters from Temple, Cameron Troy, Little River, and Buckholts responded to the scene.

Austin Fire Department donates toys to Travis County office

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:58:24 GMT

Austin Fire Department donates toys to Travis County office TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Kids visiting the Travis County Attorney's Office will have plenty of toys to preoccupy themselves with following a donation from the Austin Fire Department.In late October, Travis County Commissioners approved a license agreement allowing AFD to temporarily house its downtown station operations in the county's Ned Granger Building. The temporary move came as the AFD downtown station undergoes renovations, county officials said in an email Friday.To repay the favor, AFD donated toys and games to the Travis County Attorney's Office kid's room for guests to enjoy. "The County Attorney’s Office is also in the Granger Building, and this room is used for kids when their parents have to come to the County Attorney’s Office for meetings or cases they’re involved in," a county spokesperson said in the email.

A North American military command in Colorado is tracking Santa’s every move and kids can follow along

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:58:24 GMT

A North American military command in Colorado is tracking Santa’s every move and kids can follow along By SAGAR MEGHANI (Associated Press)WASHINGTON — As children around the world eagerly await Santa’s arrival on Christmas, the military is closely tracking his every move.Armed with radar, sensors, aircraft and Christmas spirit, the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado is reporting on the movements of Santa’s sleigh since his takeoff from the North Pole for parts of the globe where Christmas comes first. Once again it is sharing those details so kids can follow along.NORAD is the joint military command that is responsible for protecting U.S. and Canadian airspace, but it has a jolly side, too. It has launched its noradsanta.org website, social media sites and mobile app, loaded with games, movies, books and music. By late Christmas Eve in Thailand, late morning Sunday in the eastern U.S., the tracker reported that Santa had departed Bangkok and moved on to Burma, Tibet, China and Russia, distributing nearly 2 billion gifts so far in his travels.NORAD’s findings c...

Etkin Johnson co-founder lists Cherry Hills glass mansion for $8.5M

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:58:24 GMT

Etkin Johnson co-founder lists Cherry Hills glass mansion for $8.5M David Johnson, who co-founded Etkin Johnson Real Estate Partners with Bruce Etkin in 1989, is selling his 8,300-square-foot Cherry Hills Village mansion made with $1 million of imported Belgian glass.Johnson listed the two-story, six-bedroom, five-bath home on Random Road, which was designed by Michael Brendle for $8.5 million on Nov. 17.He purchased the home for $3.6 million in 2003.Johnson said the glass walls make the home unique.“The natural light you get is stunning. You get to experience being outside while being inside at the same time,” he said.The mansion’s floor-to-ceiling glass walls offer views of the mountains and Glenmoor Country Club, and its layout takes advantage of the glass by putting the living area on the second floor.“That lets you enjoy the views when you’re in the kitchen or entertaining. The views are spectacular in the winter or the summer,” Johnson said.Despite all the glass, the home’s location on a wooded 2.4-acre lot makes it secluded and private.Listin...

KTLA's Yule Log returns for Christmas 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:58:24 GMT

KTLA's Yule Log returns for Christmas 2023 L.A.'s Very Own KTLA 5 invites you and your loved ones to warm up by a virtual fire this Christmas as we present our annual Yule Log broadcast on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.The KTLA Yule Log with a live KOST 103.5 FM radio simulcast of holiday tunes airs from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 24, and from 4 a.m. until noon on Christmas Day on KTLA 5, KTLA+ and KTLA.com.The KTLA/KOST Yule Log is not just a broadcast - it's an invitation to experience the magic of Christmas morning in Southern California. Gather your loved ones, cozy up in your PJs, and let KTLA and KOST 103.5 sprinkle a bit of seasonal enchantment into your day. Don't miss the chance to make your Christmas morning merry, bright, and unforgettable!Merry Christmas from your friends at KTLA 5!

New analysis reveals California's favorite Christmas movie

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:58:24 GMT

New analysis reveals California's favorite Christmas movie It's the season for cozy socks and holiday movies, which begs the question: Which is your favorite Christmas flick?For many of us, it's an impossible question to answer. Sometimes, we're in the mood for a festive comedy like "Elf" or "Christmas Vacation," but other times, we're partial to more romantic fare, à la "Love Actually" or "The Holiday." And then, there are nights when we feel like watching "The Nightmare Before Christmas," which is basically an animated movie musical with overt elements of horror, for children. 2 Southern California cities among ‘Grinchiest’ in U.S. To get a sense of which films are actually the most popular among Americans, a group or researchers with CenturyLinkQuote, a residential home internet service provider, did some data-digging to figure out which Christmas movies each state was Googling the most in 2023.In conducting their analysis, CenturyLinkQuote's research team made a list of the 50 "best" Christmas movies based on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes ...