Comment on Hamas makes Mideast peace elusive -- Christopher J. Rodel

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s hush money case in New York dealt with a host of weighty, unprecedented questions before deciding Friday that the president-elect should be sentenced later this month for the crime of falsifying business records. Related Articles National Politics | Why are US flags being flown at half-staff on Inauguration Day? National Politics | Judge sets Trump’s sentencing in hush money case for Jan.

ORLANDO — Police shot an armed man previously convicted of murder outside an Orange County gas station on Friday, according to Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith. Orlando Police officers and Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a BP gas station on South John Young Parkway after receiving reports of a man with a gun about 2:20 p.m., Smith said at a Friday news conference. Smith said that officers confronted the man on the sidewalk outside the gas station and he refused verbal commands to drop the gun, after which an Orlando officer shot him.

By MIKE STOBBE The holidays came with a side of flu for many Americans, with 40 states reporting high or very high levels of illness last week, according to the latest government health data. Related Articles National News | Have an extra $4 million? You could buy the ‘Breaking Bad’ house National News | Why Apple TV+ is offering a free weekend of binge-watching National News | The French Quarter’s metal barriers were gone on New Year’s, leaving a critical security gap National News | Soldier who died by suicide in Las Vegas told ex-girlfriend of pain and exhaustion after Afghanistan National News | Soldier who died in Las Vegas explosion left note saying it was to be a wakeup for country’s ills “A lot of flu out there,” said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Carrie Reed. Of course, there are a number of bugs that cause fever, cough, sore throat and other flu-like symptoms.

By MARLON GONZÁLEZ TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Honduras President Xiomara Castro ’s comments earlier this week threatening to stop her country’s cooperation with the U. S. military if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on promised mass deportations have generated political heat at home, even as the U. S. government has remained silent. Related Articles World News | Mexico opens possibility of receiving non-Mexican deportees from Trump World News | Trump’s strength and unpredictability can help end the war in Ukraine, Zelenskyy says World News | Israeli strikes kill at least 42 in Gaza as ceasefire talks set to resume in Qatar World News | South Korea’s impeached president defies warrant after hourslong standoff World News | Today in History: January 3, the ‘Curse of the Bambino’ begins In a New Year’s Day speech on a national television channel, Castro said that if Trump goes ahead with massive deportations, Honduras would reconsider military cooperation with the U.

Four Delray Beach Fire Rescue employees, including top brass, have been placed on administrative leave with pay after a Brightline train smashed into a fire truck last Saturday. Assistant Chief Kevin Green, Division Chief Todd Lynch, Captain Brian Fiorey, and Driver Engineer David Wyatt are all on leave “pending the results of an internal administrative investigation to determine if City and Fire Rescue policies and procedures were followed,” Fire Chief Ronald Martin said in a statement. “This action is consistent with City policy and a procedural step as we review the facts,” the statement continued.

The Hurricanes brought in transfer centers to anchor their offensive line the last two years, and it worked out well, so they are doing it again. Miami landed former Alabama and TCU center James Brockermeyer on Friday night. He chose the Hurricanes over offers from Florida State and USC. Brockermeyer, the son of former NFL offensive lineman Blake Brockermeyer, is the first offensive lineman UM has added in the transfer portal this offseason. Brockermeyer, who is listed at 6 feet 3 and 295 pounds, started his college career at Alabama after being rated a four-star prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings.