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LOS ANGELES — The day after JuJu Watkins’ first college basketball season ended, her tears long dried but the pain still burning, longtime trainer Phil Handy texted the USC sensation to keep her head held high.The Trojans’ cardinal-carpet run had ended at the start of April at the hands of a UConn program that represented everything Watkins and these Trojans wanted to be. She was hounded off the ball and there was only so much the freshman could do, taking over a third of her program’s shots from the floor in a 29-point losing effort. And Watkins broke down at…

The party is over for a US retailer that for decades bedazzled birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers and weddings.Party City Holdco’s chief executive told corporate employees on Friday that the company is shuttering all stores, according to a report by CNN.The nation’s largest retailer of party supplies has been dogged by lagging sales, putting pressure on the company to pay its rent at some 800 locations. It has at least 80 locations in California.Also see: Big Lots liquidation looms after plan to sell to Nexus Capital falls apart“That is without question the most difficult message that I’ve ever had to deliver,” Barry…

Matt Vasilogambros | (TNS) Stateline.orgMore than two years after the U.S. Supreme Court fundamentally expanded its interpretation of the Second Amendment, federal courts throughout the country continue to strike down state restrictions on gun ownership.Since the high court’s 2022 decision — in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen — that firearm regulations must have some historical comparison going back to the country’s founding, some state restrictions have been ruled unconstitutional. But lower courts are still figuring out the limits of that historical test and have not yet come to a broad agreement on key gun-related laws.Still,…

The Chargers have done the heavy lifting and now they can clinch an AFC wild-card berth without moving a muscle. Then again, it might be a big ask for the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins to lose their games Sunday while the Chargers watch from afar.If it doesn’t happen Sunday, if the Colts defeat the Tennessee Titans and the Dolphins beat the San Francisco 49ers, then the Chargers can handle their business with either a victory in Week 17 over the New England Patriots and/or a win in Week 18 over the Las Vegas Raiders.The Chargers (9-6) put themselves…

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s special legislative session to “Trump-proof” the state has begun, raising immediate questions about the true intent behind such a move. One might wonder, in his quest for protection, what exactly is he looking to defend? The governor’s position becomes particularly ambiguous when we consider California’s record-breaking failures in various metrics, which seemingly outstrip those of any other state in the nation.Let’s take homelessness as a starting point. California houses approximately half of the unsheltered homeless population in the entire United States. Is this the benchmark of success that Newsom aims to safeguard? If so, it speaks…

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated PressWorkers at Starbucks stores plan to go on a five-day strike starting Friday to protest lack of progress in contract negotiations with the company.The strikes by baristas and other workers were scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle and could spread to hundreds of stores across the country by Christmas Eve. The planned walkouts would come a day after the Teamsters union announced strikes at seven Amazon delivery hubs.Starbucks said early Friday that there was “no significant impact” to its store operations. Workers at 535 company-owned U.S. stores have voted to unionize, but…

By LISA MASCARO, FARNOUSH AMIRI and MATT BROWN, Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — Hours before the start of a federal government shutdown, President-elect Donald Trump doubled-down Friday on his insistence that a debt ceiling increase be included in any deal — and if not, let the closures “start now.”Trump, who is not yet even sworn into the White House, issued his latest demand as House Speaker Mike Johnson arrived early at the Capitol, instantly holing up with some of the most conservative Republicans in the House Freedom Caucus who helped sink Trump’s bill in a spectacular Thursday evening flop. The clock is now racing toward the midnight deadline…

The world according to Jim:• Sad to say, but the evidence is mounting that the traditional bowl game, historically considered an end-of-season reward for all of the toil that college football players put in during the year, might be reaching its expiration date.Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin may have been the loudest voice, willing to call out the current procedure as a “dumb system,” but I’d guarantee he wasn’t and isn’t the only coach complaining about the perfect storm of the early signing period and opening of the transfer portal coming right on the heels of the end of the…

SACRAMENTO – In his remarks at the Minnesota State Fair on Sept. 2, 1901, Vice President Teddy Roosevelt gave his famous “speak softly but carry a big stick” speech. It mainly detailed his view of the proper federal approach toward foreign affairs – one that promoted quiet, resolute action rather than loud, disrespectful and inflammatory rhetoric. But his remarks also outlined his vision for government involvement in domestic affairs.Roosevelt was then a Republican, but the major parties have shifted ideologies over the years. At the time, many Republicans championed progressivism – a “square deal” that prioritized environmental protection, trust-busting, consumer…

Offered with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore.‘Twas the night before Christmas, and throughout the communityNot a complaint was heard – there existed pure unity;The thank-you notes were placed on the bulletin board with care,In hopes that the board and manager would soon see them there.The homeowners were nestled all snug in their beds,No worries of paint, roofs, or plumbing disturbing their heads,And the Vice President in her condo, and I in mine too,Had just settled down for a break from reviewing the dues.When out in the courtyard there arose such a clatter,I sprang to my balcony to see just what…