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San Jose mellows cannabis rules to help industry grow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:36 GMT

(BCN) -- San Jose officials are relaxing cannabis regulations and instead want to refocus efforts to end the black market industry.The San Jose City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to reduce fines on dispensaries that violate city policy. Councilmembers also expanded hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The move is aimed at helping the legal cannabis industry remain competitive and profitable, but officials said there is more work to be done to crack down on illegal weed sales.A dispensary will receive a $250 fine for a first-time violation, lowered from $1,200. That can escalate into $5,000 for a litany of reasons, including repeat offenders, issues with registration or failure to display identification badges clearly. In comparison, a first offense in Redwood City is $100. UCSF study reveals cannabis smoke can affect blood vessels Councilmember Peter Ortiz wants to take changes a step further by having the San Jose Police Department's cannabis division...

Thousands in DC area travel Wednesday ahead of Thanksgiving celebrations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:36 GMT

Reagan National Airport is packed with travelers as the Transportation Security Administration expects to screen an additional 6,000 to 7,000 passengers at the airport alone Wednesday. (WTOP/Shayna Estulin) Reagan National Airport is packed with travelers as the Transportation Security Administration expects to screen an additional 6,000 to 7,000 passengers at the airport alone Wednesday. (WTOP/Shayna Estulin) Holiday travelers are leaving the D.C. area in droves Wednesday ahead of the Thanksgiving feast.Travelers on the road got an early start, with some drivers telling WTOP they headed out of town late Tuesday night.Meanwhile, Reagan National Airport is expecting to accommodate as many as 7,000 additional travel...

No. 13 Oklahoma needs a win over TCU to improve its chances of reaching the Big 12 title game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:36 GMT

TCU (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) at No. 13 Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2, No. 13 CFP), Friday, noon ET (FOX)Line: Oklahoma by 9 1/2, according to  FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Oklahoma leads 17-6.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Oklahoma could reach the Big 12 Conference championship game in its final season before joining the Southeastern Conference. The 13th-ranked Sooners are in a three-way tie with Oklahoma State and Kansas State for second place in the Big 12, and a win on Senior Day would help their cause significantly. Oklahoma bounced back from losses to Kansas and Oklahoma State with victories over West Virginia and BYU, and now the Sooners sit a game behind Texas. A year after playing for the national title, TCU needs a win to become bowl eligible.KEY MATCHUPTCU quarterback Josh Hoover vs. Oklahoma DB Billy Bowman. Hoover, a freshman, has passed for more than 300 yards in three straight games. Bowman is tied for second nationally with five interceptions and is tied for the national lead with two returns fo...

South Korea says North Korea has fired a ballistic missile toward the sea but the launch likely failed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:36 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea says North Korea has fired a ballistic missile toward the sea but the launch likely failed.Source

No. 13 Oklahoma to face TCU in its final regular-season game before joining the SEC

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:36 GMT

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma wants to leave the Big 12 Conference the way it ended 14 of its 27 years as a league member — as champion.The 13th-ranked Sooners would increase their chances of reaching the conference title game with a win over TCU on Friday in their final Big 12 regular-season game. Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2, No. 13 CFP) is tied with Oklahoma State and Kansas State for second place, a game behind Texas in the Big 12 standings.The Sooners will join the Southeastern Conference next year, but they’ve got business to handle first.“They’re excited about what’s in front of them,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “A lot is at stake. For several guys, this is it. A chance to be undefeated at home. A chance to enhance our opportunity for postseason play. This is a group of players that have put in a tremendous amount of work. The finish matters.”Venables said Monday that if quarterback Dillon Gabriel continues to improve after suffering an upper-body injury last...

No. 9 Louisville seeks to win 11th game, first Governor’s Cup since 2017 against archrival Kentucky

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:36 GMT

Kentucky (6-5) at No. 9 Louisville (10-1, No. 10 CFP ), Saturday, 12 p.m. EST (ABC)Line: Louisville by 6 1/2, according to FanDuel.com Sportsbook.Series: Kentucky leads, 19-15.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Louisville looks to end a four-game series slide against rival Kentucky and win the Governor’s Cup for the first time since 2017 with 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson. The Cardinals also seek their 11th win for the first time since 2012 before playing in their first ACC championship game. Kentucky has lost five of six overall but seeks its third consecutive winning regular season after falling 17-14 last week at South Carolina.KEY MATCHUPLouisville is tied for 26th nationally in scoring at 33.2 points per game and beat Miami (Florida) 38-31 last week. Quarterback Jack Plummer rang up his third three-touchdown passing game this season along with 308 yards, hitting 10 receivers. Kentucky is allowing 24.3 points and 347.8 yards per game (fourth in SEC) and must slow down an offense capable...

No. 10 Missouri seeks continued dominance over Arkansas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:36 GMT

Missouri (9-2, 5-2 SEC, No. 9 CFP) at Arkansas (4-7, 1-6), Friday, 4 p.m. ET (CBS)Line: Missouri by 7 1/2, according to  FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Missouri leads 10-4.WHAT’S AT STAKEMissouri has won seven of the nine meetings for the Battle Line Trophy since the schools have played as permanent rivals. Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said he isn’t worried about his team overlooking Arkansas, even with nothing but a trophy to really play for. The Tigers are looking to improve their bowl destination and could win 10 regular-season games for the first time since 2014. Arkansas cannot qualify for a bowl, but the Razorbacks have more motivation than usual for a 4-7 team after athletic director Hunter Yurachek announced that coach Sam Pittman would return in 2024.KEY MATCHUPArkansas QB KJ Jefferson vs. Missouri defense. Jefferson set career records for yards passing and passing touchdowns last week in leading the Razorbacks to a win over Florida International. When he has time, Arkan...

Clarification: ML-Israel-Palestinians-Hospital Strike Analysis story

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:36 GMT

Editor’s Note: The Associated Press is publishing an updated visual analysis of the Oct. 17 explosion at Gaza’s Al-Ahli Hospital. The AP initially assessed that the explosion was likely caused by a rocket launched from within Gaza that misfired, and that assessment has not changed. However, new images that emerged after AP’s story was published show that a key video used in the initial analysis is no longer tied to the hospital explosion.Source

No. 2 Ohio State plays at No. 3 Michigan in The Game with Big Ten championship game bid on the line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:36 GMT

No. 2 Ohio State (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten, No. 2 CFP) at No. 3 Michigan (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten, No. 3 CFP), Saturday, Saturday, 12 p.m. EST (Fox)Line: Michigan by 3 1/2 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Michigan leads 60-52-6.WHAT’S AT STAKE?The winner will represent the East Division in the Big Ten title game, where it will be a big favorite to earn a championship and a likely bid to the College Football Playoff.KEY MATCHUPMichigan’s passing game vs. Ohio State’s defense. To win, the Wolverines will likely need QB J.J. McCarthy to make more plays through the air than he did the last two weeks. He was 12 of 23 for a season-low passing percentage with 141 yards passing and an interception in last week’s seven-point win at Maryland. The Buckeyes are No. 1 in FBS against the pass, second in scoring defense and third in yards allowed. CB Jordan Hancock has an INT in two of the last three games. DE J.T. Tuimoloau has a team-high four sacks and 20 tackles for losses i...

No. 21 Oklahoma State faces BYU with possible Big 12 title game berth on the line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:36 GMT

BYU (5-6, 2-6 Big 12) at No. 21 Oklahoma State (8-3, 6-2, No. 20 CFP), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Line: Oklahoma State by 16 1/2, according to  FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Oklahoma State leads 2-0.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Oklahoma State is well positioned to compete for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game after rallying for a 43-30 win over Houston last week. Depending on what happens in Friday’s games, a win over BYU on Saturday could clinch the berth. The Cowboys are tied with Oklahoma and Kansas State for second place, and they already have defeated both. They have won six of their past seven games under longtime coach Mike Gundy. BYU could become bowl eligible in its first season in the Big 12. The Cougars have qualified for bowl games for five straight years.KEY MATCHUPOklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II vs. BYU run defense. Gordon is tied for the national rushing lead with 1,414 yards. He had a rough game against UCF before getting back on track with a 164-yard, three-touchdown...