U.S. needs a saner approach to immigrationSUNRISE, Fla. — After recording his first shutout in nearly 14 months Monday, Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson was looking forward to a late-night drive back to Tampa with his dad to start the holiday break. He had stopped all 36 shots he faced in a 4-0 win over the reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers, including nine against a power play that is ranked third in the NHL. Extra rewarding for Johansson was having his father, Per-Johan, at Amerant Bank Arena to watch him play for the first time in about a year. His dad was visiting from their native Sweden and made the 31⁄2-hour drive from Tampa to Sunrise to watch him play. “I’ll drive with him back too, so he doesn’t have to drive alone in the night,” Johansson said. “A little road trip.” Johansson’s father had plenty to be proud of. In a win that was a total team effort, Johansson was the unquestioned top star, shutting out a Panthers squad that created 41 scoring chances, including 17 on the power play. “He was outstanding,” said Lightning forward Brandon Hagel. “They had a tremendous amount of chances. We had blocks when we needed to, but we definitely had saves when we needed them as well. He was incredible (Monday), and super happy for him. And I think that’s a good one to finish off when you have three days off.” With the Lightning needing points after losing to the Panthers Sunday with Andrei Vasilevksiy in net, Johansson proved up to the task. The shutout was his first since Oct. 26, 2023, against the Sharks. He’s won his past three starts, stopping 86 of 89 shots for a sparkling .966 save percentage. Johansson, who made just five starts over the first 10 weeks of the season, is playing his best hockey at an important time. The two games against Florida were the first of six back-to-back sets for the Lightning over the next five weeks. “Personally, it doesn’t change anything for me,” Johansson said of his recent stretch. “I have the same approach if I don’t play, or if I play, I just try to stay sharp, have good practice habits. And then when I play, just, just do my best and see how far it goes.” Johansson, who started the first six weeks of last season while Vasilevskiy recovered from back surgery, struggled out of the gate this season, allowing 17 goals over his first three starts. Coach Jon Cooper said Johansson is beginning to benefit from the success he experienced at the end of last season, when he performed well despite infrequent work. “I think it happened at the end of the year,” Cooper said. “Last year, he settled into his role. Vasy came back, played the lion’s share of the games. But J.J. has got a unique (ability), and it’s a gift to be able to hang in there, not play for 7, 10 days and then come in and give you a good one. And those guys are hard to find, but he’s done a great job for us.” What stands out about Johansson’s current stretch is that he’s gotten better as games progress, even after allowing an early goal. In his Dec. 14 win at Seattle, he allowed a power-play goal to Brandon Montour on the Kraken’s third shot but nothing else, stopping the final 19 shots he faced. His Nov. 29 victory in Nashville was similar. Johansson allowed a goal to Roman Josi on the Predators’ first shot, then stopped 20 of the next 21, holding Nashville to two goals in a 3-2 win. “You kind of get into a rhythm,” said Lightning goaltenders coach Frantz Jean. “The challenge for a backup is really to get through the first period. Your reads are not as sharp. You’re kind of trying to find the connection to the game. Some guys that have a certain experience are able to do this quicker. “JoJo is actually pretty good at it. He’s been pretty good early in games this year, when you look at his overall body of work. But you’d like to think that the more he’s going to play, like, the more he’ll get in the rhythm and the easier it’s going to be for him to come out and be on top of his game.” The Lightning play another back-to-back coming out of the holiday break, so Johansson will start again this weekend against either the Rangers Saturday or the Canadiens on Sunday. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Interpublic Group of Cos. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitorsTinubu’s media chat confirmed his disconnection from reality – PDP
Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup. But when exactly?
Stories that dominate the pages of this newspaper are often negative. So many articles in the region are about controversies and bleak stories about crime, budget woes and political bickering. From murder and mayhem to fatal car crashes and fires, bad news often dominates our headlines. Throughout the year, we report a lot of good stories as well. As we celebrate the holiday season, we reflect on some of the positive news that appeared this year in our paper. Gilmartin returns to Scranton a hero Triumph emerged from tragedy in March when Scranton police detective Kyle Gilmartin was discharged from a Philadelphia-area rehabilitation hospital and returned to Scranton seven weeks after he was shot twice in the head in the line of duty. Hundreds of supporters and well-wishers gathered at Scranton police headquarters to welcome Gilmartin home. “That night I was just an ordinary man who was placed in an extraordinary circumstance in which I faced evil and won due to the grace of God,” Gilmartin said. “My family and I are beyond proud of Northeast Pennsylvania and how its people responded to this senseless tragedy. We thank you for the prayers, which have worked, as well as the donations which will be needed greatly in the future.” Gilmartin and two other detectives were working to prevent a gang-related shooting early Jan. 11 when a suspect fired five rounds from point-blank range into their unmarked police sedan. Two of the rounds hit Gilmartin above his right eye before a colleague returned fire and downed the suspect, who was arrested. Yuengling celebrates 195th with Stars & Stripes celebration Yuengling, the oldest brewery in America, hosted its annual Stars & Stripes Summer Celebration in Pottsville in July with a free concert by country music star Lee Brice. Thousands flocked to the city for the daylong celebration, which included the 90-minute concert and a fireworks show. The event coincided with the brewery’s 195th anniversary and supported the brewery’s longtime partner Team Red, White & Blue, a nonprofit that supports better mental, emotional and physical health among America’s veterans. Brice, who previously performed at the event in 2022, said he was glad to be back. “The fans here in Pottsville really know how to have a good time,” he said prior to the concert. “Pottsville is a special place for us, and we look forward to being here.” Wawa arrives in Luzerne County, more stores planned for NEPA After years of waiting, Luzerne County finally got a modern Wawa store – and several others are on the way. A Wawa convenience store and gas station celebrated a grand opening this month in the Union Center Plaza along Route 309 in Wilkes-Barre Twp., the former KMart Plaza. Shortly after, a new Aldi discount grocery store opened in the plaza and a Cloud 9 car wash will open there next. In addition, Wawa broke ground on a new store in Dallas Twp., submitted plans for one in Plains Twp. near the Mohegan Pennsylvania casino, and is eyeing one for Market Street in Kingston. Wawa is in the planning stages of three stores in Lackawanna County, off Cold Spring Road in Dickson City, on Meredith Street in Carbondale Twp. and at Moosic Street and Meadow Avenue in Scranton. Elsewhere in the region, Wawa has stores in Kidder Twp. in Carbon County and Blakeslee in Monroe County. Hazle Twp. Little Leaguer meets the majors A badly injured Hazle Twp. Little League player had a dream come true this summer by getting to meet members of his favorite team, the Houston Astros, and its star player, Jose Altuve. The young player, Aiken, badly injured his face and lost several teeth when he rammed into an outfield fence to catch a fly ball for the final out in a game. Three weeks later, the recovering 12-year-old found himself at an Astros game against the Philadelphia Phillies. After weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the Astros organization invited Aiken and his group to the field for batting practice to meet some players who heard of his ordeal. Altuve was scheduled for a day off, but came out to the field and surprised Aiken with a signed bat, baseballs and a card. The Astros later posted photos of the experience on Facebook, writing “Moments that matter most.” NEPA’s new ‘pizza trail’ Following the lead of Lackawanna County, Luzerne County’s tourism bureau launched its own “pizza trail” competition this year. More than 40 pizza shops from Pittston to Wilkes-Barre to Hazleton signed up to be part of the contest to see who could visit all participating businesses. “Everyone knows that Northeastern Pennsylvania has the best pizza in the country, and many of those great pizzerias are right here in Luzerne County,” said Alan K. Stout, executive director of Visit Luzerne County. “How many times have we all heard from people that have moved out of the area say that the first thing they do when they come home for a visit is order a pizza? They often say that they just can’t find great pizza outside of this area.” Nearly 60 pizza places participated in the Lackawanna County pizza trail that was launched several years ago by the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau, which called it “the cheesiest tour you’ll ever take.”DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys won’t play in the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. Sitting at 7-8 and out of the race in the NFC, the Cowboys have unequivocally been a disappointment, especially after team owner Jerry Jones called the 2024 campaign an “all-in” season earlier in the year as he made it clear that the goal was Super Bowl or bust. Now, however, despite being a bust, Jones was quick to dole out stocking stuffers of praise to his coaching staff after Dallas rattled off four wins in five games that culminated in a 26-24 win over the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. Full of holiday cheer following the victory, Cowboys owner, president, and general manager Jones made his weekly visit on the Shan & RJ show on Audacy's 105.3 The Fan Tuesday to discuss Dallas’ win over a probable playoff-bound opponent and just the second win of the year at AT&T Stadium. The main key in Jones’ eye for improved play despite the team’s playoff chances crumbling has been the coaching staff and their ability to coax improvements out of young players who have taken over for an injury-depleted squad. “Really proud of these young players,” said Jones. “They just are growing mentally and physically by leaps and bounds, makes me think we’ve got an outstanding future ahead of us.” Despite the losses of franchise quarterback Dak Prescott, Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs, several starters on the offensive line, and many others to injury, the Cowboys showed fight, especially in the Week 16 win where they were playing for nothing but pride while their opponent was trying to maintain their playoff destiny. After starting the season 3-7, including a five-game losing streak, the Cowboys have won four of their last five games to draw near to the .500 mark at 7-8. With the potential to completely collapse, Dallas has rallied and that appears to be something Jones attributes to McCarthy and his coaching staff. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of the way the coaching staff, led by Mike McCarthy, and the leadership on this team,” Jones said, after McCarthy went from lame duck status in the last year of his contract to on the hot seat all season. Now Jones is potentially laying the foundation for a potential extension for the former Super Bowl-winning coach. Another part of the recent success has been the steady play of backup-turned-starter Rush, who threw for 292 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay and now has nine passing scores to just one interception over his last five games after he took over for the injured Prescott mid-season. To that end, Jones was asked if he has had any second thoughts about the protracted contract talks that ended with a record-breaking extension for Prescott now that Rush is producing results at the helm. "No. No. Not at all," Jones assured, as Prescott will almost certainly be back under center for the Cowboys next season. More curious, perhaps, is the fact that third-stringer Trey Lance hasn’t gotten more of a look, especially with Dallas out of contention. “The very best chance that we have on the next play or series, that’s what I want every play to be,” Jones responded when asked specifically about giving Lance an opportunity in the final two weeks. “So the people who go out there are the ones that I want who give us the best chance.” With Christmas upon us, Jones was also asked about the league’s unusual schedule this season which will see four AFC squads play three games in eleven days as part of the league’s mandate to have games on Christmas Day, which falls on an unwieldy Wednesday this year. “Christmas Day is Christmas Day and it doesn’t wait around for what day it’s on,” Jones, ever a major influence on NFL broadcasting decisions chimed in. “We want to be there on Christmas Day. I would think the future is whatever day it’s on, we’re going to be there on Christmas.” The Cowboys won’t be among the teams playing on Christmas Day, as they next suit up against the archrival Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at noon from Lincoln Financial Field where they will once again try to play the role of spoiler against a playoff-bound team in Week 17. Do you think the Cowboys should bring back their coaching staff for 2025? Share your thoughts with us on X (formerly Twitter) @WFAASports .
By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.Lineage Explores Connection Between Food Infrastructure and Economic Development in New Research by Economist Impact