Van Wyck Kicks Off Christmas

By COLLEEN LONG and ZEKE MILLER WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to go back on his word and issue a categorical pardon for his son, Hunter, just weeks before his scheduled sentencing on gun and tax convictions was a surprise that wasn’t all that surprising. Not to those who had witnessed the president’s shared anguish over his two sons after the boys survived a car crash that killed Biden’s first wife and a daughter more than a half-century ago.

By JOHN HANNA, HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and NICK INGRAM, Associated Press TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A white Kansas police detective accused of sexually assaulting Black women and girls — and terrorizing those who tried to fight back — is dead, prosecutors said as his trial was set to begin Monday. Prosecutors say female residents of poor neighborhoods in Kansas City, Kansas, feared that if they crossed paths with Roger Golubski, he’d demand sexual favors and threaten to harm or jail their relatives. Golubski, 71, was facing six felony counts of violating women’s civil rights.

By HALELUYA HADERO Shopping on Temu can feel like playing an arcade game. Instead of using a joystick-controlled claw to grab a toy, visitors to the online marketplace maneuver their computer mouses or cellphone screens to browse colorful gadgets, accessories and trinkets with prices that look too good to refuse. A pop-up spinning wheel offers the chance to win a coupon.

GAINESVILLE — Florida’s three-game winning streak, recruiting spike and potential for success with quarterback DJ Lagway has intensified the competition for a roster spot, much less a key role. Players seeking a new start or better situation announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal hours after the Gators’ 31-11 win Saturday night at Florida State, with former starting defensive end Justus Boone and promising receiver Andy Jean leading the way. The transfer portal window runs from Dec.

South Floridians can expect a crisp, cool start to December with another dip into cooler temperatures and near-zero chances of rain. Temperatures aren’t likely to budge past the upper 60s and low-70s across South Florida this week as the region feels the effects of cold, dry air from the northern United States, according to the National Weather Service Miami. Overnight lows will hover around the 50s in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, with lows in the 40s and even 30s near Lake Okeechobee. “Coupled with the breezy conditions, it’ll feel like the 60s across pretty much all of South Florida on Tuesday,” the National Weather Service in Miami wrote in a forecast discussion on Monday morning. 12/2: Breezy northerly winds will result in wind chill values tonight several degrees below actual forecast low temperatures. How low?

Last month, Floridians voted on Amendment 3, a measure to legalize the use of recreational marijuana in the state. Although the amendment garnered almost 56% of the vote, it was not enough to meet the 60% threshold set for ballot measures. Now, it’s up to the whim of the state Legislature to decide whether cannabis products can be legally bought and consumed by Florida adults. As a native Floridian, I was ecstatic to see Amendment 3 on the ballot — but as a current Virginia resident, I wasn’t able to vote on this issue.