Belichick stands by kicking off to start OT

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – Bill Belichick stood by his decision Monday to kick off to start Sunday’s overtime in New Jersey. The New York Jets scored quickly to win 26-20 and boost their playoff hopes. The loss deprived the Patriots of clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. After the Patriots rallied to […]

Despite obstacles, Brees strong in 38-27 win over Jaguars

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – If playing on an injured right foot wasn’t challenging enough, Drew Brees also took the field with a Saints offense missing several starters, including franchise all-time receiving yards leader Marques Colston, running back Mark Ingram and right tackle Zach Strief. Coach Sean Payton had also decided that C.J. Spiller had yet […]

Court rejects Madrid’s appeal against Copa del Rey exclusion

MADRID (AP) – Real Madrid has refused to concede defeat in its disqualification from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player. The club said Monday it will switch to the country’s regular law courts to challenge the Spanish soccer federation’s decision. Spain’s top sports tribunal, the Administrative Court of Sport, had earlier Monday […]

No. 19 Florida without Halter, Harrell for Citrus Bowl

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – No. 19 Florida will be without starting right tackle Mason Halter in the Citrus Bowl. The Gators announced Sunday that Halter and backup linebacker Anthony Harrell did not make the trip to Orlando for the New Year’s Day game against No. 17 Michigan. Both players are redshirt seniors, so their college […]

Documents: Officer tried put woman in car after collapse

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – A police officer tried to put a woman into a patrol car after she collapsed at a hospital, believing that she was “making herself dead weight” to avoid going to jail, according to a police report released Monday. The woman, 57-year-old Barbara Dawson, died about 90 minutes later at Liberty-Calhoun Hospital. […]

Holiday spending up 8 percent, online sales surge

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans have been doing more of their shopping by sitting at home — and they’ve been buying more items to sit on. And overall, spending during the holidays is up by nearly eight percent from a year ago. According to a report released today, Americans spent more on items like furniture […]

TSA increases screening of airport and airline employees

NEW YORK (AP) – The Transportation Security Administration is increasing random checks of airport and airline employees who hold badges that enable them to bypass security checkpoints. The decision follows instances in the past two years in which employees used restricted entrances to smuggle guns and launder money. It’s also part of a larger push […]

Mr. Food: Meatball calzone

What You’ll Need: 1 pound store-bought pizza dough 1 (14-ounce) package frozen meatballs, (about 18 meatballs) 1/4 cup sliced fresh mushrooms 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce, plus extra for dipping 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese 2 teaspoons olive oil What To Do: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking […]

World’s busiest airport welcomes 100 millionth passenger

ATLANTA (AP) – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport said it hit a major milestone Sunday. The airport that calls itself the world’s busiest announced on its social media sites said it served its 100 millionth passenger this year. That makes it the first single airport to serve that number of passengers in one calendar year. The […]

Chicago police shooting of grandmother, teen draws criticism

CHICAGO (AP) – Bettie Jones, known in her Chicago neighborhood for her work with anti-violence community groups, was killed by police responding to a domestic disturbance just hours after she hosted family on Christmas Day. The fatal shooting of Jones, 55, and 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier, a college student visiting his father for the holiday, at […]